Richard S. Castellano

Richard S. Castellano

Richard S. Castellano (seated) as Joe Girelli in The Super in 1972. Standing left to right are cast members Margaret Castellano (his real-life daughter) as Joanne Girelli, Ardell Sheridan as Francesca Girelli, and Bruno Kirby as Anthony Girelli.
Born Richard Salvatore Castellano
September 4, 1933
The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Died December 10, 1988 (aged 55)
North Bergen, New Jersey, United States
Occupation Actor
Notable work The Godfather
Relatives Paul Castellano (uncle)

Richard Salvatore Castellano (September 4, 1933 – December 10, 1988) was an American actor who is best remembered for his Oscar-nominated role in Lovers and Other Strangers and his subsequent role as Peter Clemenza in The Godfather.[1][2][3]

Biography

Castellano was born in the Bronx. According to Castellano's widow, he was the nephew of Gambino crime family boss Paul Castellano.[3][4]

Career

Castellano gained worldwide fame for his role in Lovers and Other Strangers (1970), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. He achieved further stardom in 1972 for playing the part of Peter Clemenza, in The Godfather. The Godfather became the highest-grossing film up to that time when unadjusted for inflation and Castellano, along with several other cast members, became household names. He spoke one of the film's most famous lines, "Leave the gun, take the cannoli," which he partially ad-libbed,[3][5] as well as a second iconic line—"It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes"—spoken when Castellano's character responds when Sal Tessio, played by Abe Vigoda, brings in a dead fish wrapped in Luca Brasi's bulletproof vest.

Castellano also appeared on television, playing the lead roles of Joe Girelli in the television situation comedy The Super (10 episodes in 1972)—in which his real-life daughter Margaret Castellano portrayed Joe Girelli‍ '​s daughter Joanne—and Joe Vitale in Joe and Sons (1975-1976).

Castellano did not reprise his role as Clemenza in The Godfather Part II (1974)—the movie‍ '​s scriptwriters explained his absence by writing in that Clemenza had died sometime between the end of the first movie and the start of the second—reportedly because Castellano and his agent insisted on having control over the character's dialogue. Director Francis Ford Coppola said that this was untenable, and therefore Castellano was not in the movie. This story was disputed by Castellano‍ '​s widow in a 1991 letter to People magazine.[6] Castellano himself said that he did not return because he did not believe that the character of Clemenza would become a traitor, and over other disagreements with Coppola, including confusion over how much weight he was expected to lose for the role.[3] Coincidentally, Bruno Kirby, who played Anthony Girelli, the son of Castellano‍ '​s character in The Super, portrayed Clemenza as a younger man in The Godfather Part II.

Death

Castellano died from a heart attack in 1988 at age 55.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Canby, Vincent (March 16, 1972). "REVIEW 'THE GODFATHER' Moving and Brutal 'Godfather' Bows". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ Sheridan-Castellano, Ardell (2003). Divine Intervention and a Dash of Magic... Unraveling The Mystery of "The Method" + Behind the Scenes of the original Godfather film. Trafford Publishing. ISBN 1-55369-866-5.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lou Lumenick (March 15, 2012). "Leave the gun-Take my career". New York Post.
  4. ↑ Sheridan-Castellano, pp. 183-184
  5. ↑ Seal, Mark (March 2009). "The Godfather Wars". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
  6. ↑ Sheridan-Castellano, pp. 227–229

External links