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Richard S. Castellano

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Richard S. Castellano
Richard S. Castellano in The Super in 1972
Born
Richard Salvatore Castellano

(1933-09-04)September 4, 1933
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 10, 1988(1988-12-10) (aged 55)
North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1962–1982
Notable workThe Godfather

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

Early life

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Castellano was born in the Queens borough of New York City on September 4, 1933. His parents, Mariantonia Angello and Filippo Castellano, were Italian immigrants from Castrofilippo, Sicily.[2] His middle name, Salvatore, was in honor of his oldest brother who had died two years before he was born.[3]

After his death, Castellano's widow Ardell Sheridan, who had played his character Peter Clemenza's wife in The Godfather,[4][5] claimed that he was the nephew of Gambino crime family boss Paul Castellano;[6] however Richard's own sister dismissed this claim as false: "we're not related to Paul".[7]

Career

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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. Castellano, along with several other cast members, became widely known from the popular film. He spoke one of the film's most famous lines, "Leave the gun; take the cannoli," which he partially ad-libbed.[8]

Castellano also appeared on television, playing the lead role of Joe Girelli in the television situation comedy The Super (10 episodes in 1972). His real-life daughter Margaret Castellano portrayed his character's daughter Joanne. He also portrayed the lead Joe Vitale in Joe and Sons (1975–1976).[citation needed]

Castellano did not reprise his role as Clemenza in The Godfather Part II (1974). Bruno Kirby portrayed Clemenza as a young man in The Godfather Part II. He had played the son of Castellano's character in The Super.

Death

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Castellano died from a heart attack at his home in North Bergen, New Jersey, in 1988 at age 55.[9]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1963 Love with the Proper Stranger Extra Uncredited
1965 Three Rooms in Manhattan Angry American Uncredited
1966 A Fine Madness Arnold
1968 A Lovely Way to Die The Bartender Uncredited
1970 Lovers and Other Strangers Frank Vecchio
1972 The Godfather Peter Clemenza
1973 Honor Thy Father Frank Labruzzo
1973 Incident on a Dark Street Frank Romeo
1980 Night of the Juggler Lieutenant Tonelli
1981 The Gangster Chronicles Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria
1982 Dear Mr. Wonderful FBI Agent (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ Canby, Vincent (March 16, 1972). "REVIEW 'THE GODFATHER' Moving and Brutal 'Godfather' Bows". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "FamilySearch.org profile of Richard S. Castellano (1933-1988)". Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  3. ^ "The Town Talk from Alexandria, Louisiana on September 10, 1972 · Page 64". Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "AFI Movie Club: THE GODFATHER". AFI. August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  5. ^ "Ardell Sheridan". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  6. ^ Sheridan-Castellano, pp. 183-184
  7. ^ Seal, Mark (October 19, 2021). Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of The Godfather. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781982158613 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Seal, Mark (March 2009). "The Godfather Wars". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
  9. ^ "Richard Castellano Is Dead at 55; An Actor of Stage, Screen and TV". The New York Times. December 12, 1988.
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