Rocco Lampone
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Rocco Lampone (1917 - 1959) is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather and the first two installments of the Godfather trilogy in the cinema. He was portrayed by actor Tom Rosqui.
Lampone began his career in organized crime during Peter Clemenza's regime and "made his bones" assassinating the treacherous Paulie Gatto in The Godfather. He and another unnamed associate also shoot Philip Tattaglia. He subsequently becomes caporegime to Michael Corleone after the family's move to Nevada, and arranges security for the Lake Tahoe compound; he is, however, unable to prevent the attempted assassination of Michael by two mobsters hired by his rival Hyman Roth and allowed in by fellow conspirator Fredo Corleone. When the time comes to take revenge on Roth, it is Rocco who opines that assassinating him would be "difficult, not impossible", and is personally entrusted with the hit. Disguised as a reporter, Rocco successfully approaches Roth at Miami Airport and shoots him, but despite the ensuing panic and confusion, he is in turn shot by a police officer while fleeing the scene.
Rocco appears in Mark Winegardner's sequel novel The Godfather Returns.
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