Summary
- The Godfather trilogy is an iconic film series with all-star Hollywood actors and captivating storylines that have influenced cinema for over 50 years.
- Al Pacino's breakthrough role as Michael Corleone paid off, earning him two Oscar nominations and one win, and he has since starred in other crime movies like The Irishman.
- The ing cast of The Godfather, including Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, and Talia Shire, has made significant contributions to both the franchise and other films in their careers.
The Godfather trilogy is a truly iconic film series, and part of its universal acclaim comes from The Godfather cast being made of all-star Hollywood actors and amazing newcomers. The mobster movie franchise is about the rise and fall of war-hero-turned-evil-gangster Michael Corleone, and it's an endlessly captivating crime drama that's had an influence on cinema for more than half a century. The first Godfather movie was released in 1972 and put writer-director Francis Ford Coppola on the map, The Godfather Part II was released in 1974 and is as good as, if not better than, the original, and the legacy sequel The Godfather Part III was released in 1990.
The franchise continues to have a significant legacy, with The Offer, a drama series about the true story behind the making of The Godfather, released on television in 2022. The trilogy has received tons of accolades, and even The Godfather Part III, which didn't have the greatest reception, was nominated for seven Academy Awards. In total, the franchise won seven Oscars, and only two were for acting, which comes as a surprise given how stacked The Godfather cast is compared to almost any other film series.
Al Pacino As Michael Corleone
Al Pacino plays Michael Corleone, the heart of The Godfather cast. Michael is introduced as a war hero in the opening act of the first movie, becomes an evil mobster blinded by power in the second movie, and dies alone as a regretful old man in the final movie. Michael was the actor's breakthrough role, but Pacino's Godfather casting was controversial at the time because he was an unknown leading an expensive production.
The risk paid off, and he's one of only a few actors to ever be nominated for two Oscars for playing the same character, and he went on to win an Oscar for his performance in the 1993 film Scent of a Woman. Pacino has starred in tons of crime movies and appeared in the recent films Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Irishman, and House of Gucci.
Marlon Brando As Vito Corleone
Portrayed by Marlon Brando in The Godfather cast, Vito Corleone is introduced in as the mellow but firm head of his family. While he's no better than other criminals, he has morals, as he refuses to go into the drug business, which is what causes a feud with the Tattaglia family. The character isn't murdered, but he dies from a heart attack midway through The Godfather.
Brando was already an Oscar winner for his role in On the Waterfront when he took on the role of Vito, and his performance as Vito won him the Oscar for Best Actor in 1973, though he declined the award. The famous actor died in 2004, and his final film role was the 2001 film The Score where he famously acted alongside Robert De Niro for the first time.
Robert De Niro As As Vito Corleone
A younger version of Vito, played by Robert De Niro, appears in The Godfather Part II. While the movie follows Michael becoming corrupted by his power, The Godfather Part II is a part-prequel, too, as it also follows young Vito moving to New York from Sicily and building his empire.
Like Brando, De Niro won an Academy Award for playing Vito. He went on to become Hollywood's go-to mobster actor and a regular collaborator of Martin Scorsese's, starring in Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and The Irishman along with comedies like Meet the Parents, The Intern, and Dirty Grandpa.
Diane Keaton As Kay Adams
Diane Keaton is one of the very few actors who starred in all three The Godfather movies. Keaton plays Kay Adams, who dates Michael before he flees to Sicily after murdering Captain McCluskey and Virgil Sollozzo. While mob wives are generally depicted as hypocritically enjoying what their husbands' professions can afford them, Kay always feels like she's captive, and Keaton does a great job of portraying that.
Keaton became a household name after appearing in The Godfather cast, but she veered away from mob movies and focused more on comedic roles including Something's Gotta Give, Love the Coopers, and the TV series The Young Pope.
Talia Shire As Connie Corleone
Connie Corleone, played by Talia Shire, is Michael's sister, and while her brothers protect her and shield her from the lives that they lead, that's also what makes her so paranoid. Shire is Francis Ford Coppola's sister, but regardless of whether Coppola cast Shire because she's a blood relative, she plays the emotional and unpredictable Connie with so much intensity.
Aside from being in The Godfather cast, Shire is an important part of another '70s franchise, Rocky, playing Adrian in the boxing movie series. In recent years, she has appeared in her son's directorial debut Dreamland, and she will appear in Coppola's film Megalopolis.
Robert Duvall As Tom Hagen
Played by Robert Duvall in The Godfather cast, Tom Hagen is the advisor to the Don — first to Vito and then to Michael. He's also the adopted son of Vito, though he's Irish-German rather than Italian. Unfortunately, Tom's arc is one of the few that isn't neatly and satisfactorily wrapped up.
Though he continued to work with Francis Ford Coppola on other films, Duvall didn't return for The Godfather Part III in 1990 simply because of salary disputes. Duvall has remained a busy actor and appeared in popular films like Jack Reacher, The Judge, Widows, and Hustle over the years.
John Cazale As Fredo Corleone
Fredo Corleone, portrayed by John Cazale, is Michael's older brother, but there's a reason he isn't the head of the family when Vito dies. Fredo is a layered but flawed character, as nobody expects anything from him, but he embarrassingly tries to gain the same power and status as his much more revered brothers.
A brilliant dramatic actor, Cazale only starred in five movies before he ed away in 1978, including The Conversation, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Godfather movies. His final film The Deer Hunter was released posthumously, and he later appeared in The Godfather Part III through archival footage.
James Caan As Sonny Corleone
While Sonny's massacre inspired many Godfather memes, it's such a hard-to-watch moment in The Godfather, mostly because of how exciting of a character Sonny is. Played by James Caan, Sonny is a terrible person, as he cheats on his wife, vandalizes other people's property, and gets up to all sorts of mob-related crimes, yet he still has some lovable qualities.
Caan was perfectly cast as Sonny, as he had that distinct combination of uncaged energy and likability. Following The Godfather, his best-known role is as Buddy's father in Elf. Before his death in 2022, Caan appeared in films including Con Man and Queen Bees, and his final film Fast Charlie is set to be released posthumously in 2023.
Andy Garcia As Vincent Corleone
While The Godfather Part III doesn't have the same universal acclaim as the first two movies, it did introduce Vincent Corleone, a fresh, young character in the series played by Andy Garcia in The Godfather cast. Vincent is Sonny's long-lost son, and he's just as hotheaded and unpredictable as his father.
Garcia earned an Oscar nomination for playing Vincent, and after his time in The Godfather trilogy cast he leaned into playing criminals with swagger in films like Ocean's Eleven and Let's Be Cops. In recent years he appeared in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, The Mule, and Father of the Bride, and he is set to appear in the 2023 film Expend4bles.
The Godfather Trilogy ing Cast & Characters
Richard S. Castellano and Bruno Kirby as Peter Clemenza: Peter Clemanza is Vito's oldest friend and acts as a mentor to Vito's sons. Richard S. Castellano played Peter in the original and Bruno Kirby played a younger version of the character in The Godfather Part II. Both actors have since ed away. Castellano died in 1988 while Kirby died in 2006.
Al Martino as Johnny Fontane: Johnny Fontane is Vito's godson and a famous Italian singer, ad The Godfather character is based on Frank Sinatra. Before his death in 2009, Al Martino was a pop singer himself, and his only acting credits are the first two The Godfather films.
Gianni Russo as Carlo Rizzi: Carlo Rizzi is Connie's husband, who constantly abuses her, which leads to his eventual murder at the end of The Godfather. Carlo was Gianni Russo's first movie role, and he has appeared in movies such as Any Given Sunday and Rush Hour 2, and in 2019 he released a memoir about his career.
John Marley as Jack Woltz: Jack Woltz is the studio head working on the movie that Johnny Fontane wants to star in. John Marley was an Oscar nominee before being part of The Godfather cast. The actor died in 1984, and his final film was the movie On the Edge.
Abe Vigoda as Salvatore Tessio: Salvatore Tessio betrays Michael despite having worked with the Corleones for years, as he maneuvers to become the head of the crime family himself. Abe Vigoda landed many roles following The Godfather's success, most notably a voice-only role in Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. His final film role was in the 2014 film Sweet Destiny, and he later died in 2016.
Richard Conte as Emilio Barzini: Emilio Barzini is the head of the Barzini crime family and the mastermind behind an attempt to build a heroin empire. Conte was nearing the end of his career in 1972, but he had starred in over 100 movies before his death in 1975.
Lenny Montana as Luca Brasi: Luca Brasi was terrifying in the Godfather novel, but in the movie, the assassin is a bumbling fool who's quickly murdered. Lenny Montana, a professional wrestler, ed The Godfather cast as Luca Brasi. Before his death in 1992, Montana transitioned to acting and appeared in a handful of films.
Al Lettieri as Virgil Sollozzo: Al Lettieri's character Virgil Sollozzo attempts to have Vito fund Barzini's drug operation, but when Vito declines, he attempts to kill Vito and muscle the Corleone family into working with him. Lettieri died in 1975, and his final film role was in the comedy film House of Pleasure for Women.
Sofia Coppola as Mary Corleone: Mary Corleone is Michael's daughter, who starts a relationship with Vincent and has a bright future ahead of her, but she's killed at the end of The Godfather Part III. The character is played by Francis Ford Coppola's own daughter, Sofia, who is better known now as a director of the films Marie Antoinette, The Bling Ring, and Priscilla.
G.D. Spradlin as Pat Geary: Pat Geary is a corrupt U.S. senator from Nevada whom Michael tries to bribe, and when that doesn't work, the mobster turns to blackmail. G.D. Spradlin retired from acting after appearing in the 1999 movie Dick, and he later died in 2011.
Sterling Hayden as Captain McCluskey: Captain McCluskey is a crooked police captain in The Godfather who is on the Tattaglia crime family's payroll. He sucker-punches Michael, who then kills him along with Virgil in the restaurant. Besides being part of The Godfather cast, the late Sterling Hayden appeared in The Outsider, 9 to 5, and Venom.
