Don Altobello

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Don Altobello is a fictional character in The Godfather: Part III, portrayed by Eli Wallach.

He is an aging gangster and longstanding ally of the Corleone crime family. By the time of Godfather III, he has become a close friend and ally of Michael Corleone. Altobello even donated one million dollars so he could be a part of the Vito Corleone Foundation. Aside from being an associate of Michael's, Altobello is also Connie Corleone's godfather.

Michael became suspicious of Altobello's motives after Joey Zasa, the Corleone family's chief rival, orchestrated an assassination attempt on Michael and Vincent that ended up killing other associates, but sparing Altobello and the Corleones present. Michael then instructs his nephew Vincent to go to Altobello and pledge his allegiance to him, without promising to betray Michael. (Vito Corleone enlisted Luca Brasi to spy on the rival Tattaglia family in much the same way in The Godfather Part I.)

While in Sicily, Altobello enlists the services of a famous assassin and conspires to kill Michael in an opera house when Anthony Corleone was set to debut in Cavalleria Rusticana. Since Michael did not lose all respect for Don Altobello, it is assumed that he supplied Connie with poisoned pastries that Altobello was to receive on his birthday. Sure enough, Altobello indulges in them while sitting alone at the opera house. Equipped with binoculars, Connie spots Altobello to ensure his quick and easy death.