Every Major Actor from ‘The Godfather’ Trilogy Who Died

The ‘Godfather’ trilogy left a permanent mark on film history, and its cast became part of the story of modern cinema. Many of those unforgettable performers have since passed away, leaving behind roles and work that continue to be studied and celebrated.

Below is a concise look at the major actors from ‘The Godfather’, ‘The Godfather Part II’, and ‘The Godfather Part III’ who are no longer with us. Each entry notes the character they played, a few other key credits, and when they died so you can quickly place their careers in context.

Marlon Brando

Brando played Vito Corleone in ‘The Godfather’, shaping the image of the character for generations. His long career included ‘On the Waterfront’, ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, and ‘Last Tango in Paris’, along with later appearances in ‘Superman’ and ‘Apocalypse Now’.

He died on July 1, 2004 at age 80 in Los Angeles. Reports cited respiratory failure and congestive heart failure, and he was remembered worldwide for reshaping screen acting.

James Caan

Caan portrayed Santino Sonny Corleone in ‘The Godfather’. Beyond the saga, he starred in ‘Thief’, ‘Misery’, and ‘Brian’s Song’, and worked steadily in film and television for decades.

He died on July 6, 2022 at age 82 in Los Angeles. His family noted heart related causes, and tributes highlighted a versatile career that spanned crime dramas, thrillers, and comedies.

John Cazale

Cazale played Fredo Corleone in ‘The Godfather’ and ‘The Godfather Part II’. He also appeared in ‘The Deer Hunter’, ‘Dog Day Afternoon’, and ‘The Conversation’, creating a rare run of films that became critical landmarks.

He died on March 12, 1978 at age 42 in New York City from lung cancer. His small but extraordinary filmography has remained a touchstone in acting classes and retrospectives.

Abe Vigoda

Vigoda played Salvatore Tessio in ‘The Godfather’. He was also known for television work on ‘Barney Miller’ and ‘Fish’, and continued to appear in films and commercials well into later life.

He died on January 26, 2016 at age 94 in New Jersey. His passing prompted wide remembrances of a distinctive character actor with a steady presence in film and television.

Richard S. Castellano

Castellano played Peter Clemenza in ‘The Godfather’. He was previously acclaimed for ‘Lovers and Other Strangers’ and remained a recognizable face on television.

He died on December 10, 1988 at age 55 in New York. Family statements at the time cited a heart attack, and his Clemenza scenes remain among the trilogy’s most quoted.

Sterling Hayden

Hayden appeared as Captain McCluskey in ‘The Godfather’. His earlier career included ‘The Asphalt Jungle’ and ‘Dr. Strangelove’, and he also wrote a noted memoir titled ‘Wanderer’.

He died on May 23, 1986 at age 70 in Sausalito, California from prostate cancer. He left behind a body of work that crossed noir classics, war films, and satirical comedy.

Al Lettieri

Lettieri played Virgil The Turk Sollozzo in ‘The Godfather’. He also appeared in ‘Mr. Majestyk’ and ‘The Getaway’, often cast as formidable antagonists.

He died on October 18, 1975 at age 47 in New York. Reports at the time cited a heart attack, and his brief career left a strong impression in crime and action films.

John Marley

Marley portrayed studio head Jack Woltz in ‘The Godfather’. He worked widely in film and television, including ‘Faces’ and ‘Love Story’, and remained active across genres.

He died on May 22, 1984 at age 76 in Los Angeles following complications after heart surgery. His Woltz performance continues to be referenced in Hollywood lore.

Alex Rocco

Rocco played Las Vegas figure Moe Greene in ‘The Godfather’. He later won an Emmy for ‘The Famous Teddy Z’ and appeared in ‘Get Shorty’ along with many television roles.

He died on July 18, 2015 at age 79 in Los Angeles from cancer. Colleagues remembered his distinctive voice and his enduring association with the Greene character.

Morgana King

King portrayed Carmela Corleone in ‘The Godfather’ and ‘The Godfather Part II’. She was also a respected jazz vocalist with albums that drew strong followings.

She died on March 22, 2018 at age 87 in Palm Springs, California. News of her passing became widely known later that year, and admirers noted her dual legacy in film and music.

Richard Bright

Bright played Al Neri across all three films. Outside the trilogy he appeared in ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ and ‘Red Heat’, and worked on stage as well.

He died on February 18, 2006 at age 68 in New York City after being struck by a bus. His steady presence as Michael’s enforcer linked the trilogy across decades.

Joe Spinell

Spinell portrayed Willi Cicci in ‘The Godfather’ and ‘The Godfather Part II’. He also headlined the cult film ‘Maniac’ and appeared in ‘Rocky’ and ‘Taxi Driver’.

He died on January 13, 1989 at age 52 in New York City. Reports indicated he suffered complications after a cut at home, and his genre work grew in stature over time.

Michael V. Gazzo

Gazzo played Frank Pentangeli in ‘The Godfather Part II’. He was also a playwright and appeared in ‘A Woman Under the Influence’ and ‘Streets of Fire’.

He died on February 14, 1995 at age 71 in Los Angeles. He earned awards recognition for Pentangeli and remained active as a teacher and writer.

Lee Strasberg

Strasberg portrayed Hyman Roth in ‘The Godfather Part II’. He was the influential head of the Actors Studio and mentored performers associated with method acting, and he appeared in ‘And Justice for All’.

He died on February 17, 1982 at age 80 in New York City from a heart attack. His impact on American acting extended far beyond his screen appearances.

G. D. Spradlin

Spradlin played Senator Pat Geary in ‘The Godfather Part II’. His screen work included ‘Apocalypse Now’ and ‘War of the Roses’, and he often portrayed authority figures.

He died on July 24, 2011 at age 90 in California. He had retired to the Central Coast and was remembered as a late career success who moved from law and business into acting.

Bruno Kirby

Kirby appeared as young Peter Clemenza in ‘The Godfather Part II’. He was also seen in ‘When Harry Met Sally’, ‘City Slickers’, and ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’.

He died on August 14, 2006 at age 57 in Los Angeles from complications related to leukemia. Friends and collaborators reflected on a career that spanned comedy and drama.

Gastone Moschin

Moschin played Don Fanucci in ‘The Godfather Part II’. He had a long career in Italian cinema, including ‘Caliber 9’ and ‘Amici Miei’.

He died on September 4, 2017 at age 88 in Terni, Italy. His performance as Fanucci remains a key chapter in the film’s Little Italy flashbacks.

Richard Conte

Conte portrayed rival boss Emilio Barzini in ‘The Godfather’. He was a fixture of mid century noir with credits like ‘Thieves’ Highway’ and ‘The Big Combo’.

He died on April 15, 1975 at age 65 in Los Angeles from a heart attack. His sharp screen presence made Barzini one of the saga’s defining antagonists.

Al Martino

Martino played singer Johnny Fontane in ‘The Godfather’ and returned for ‘The Godfather Part III’. He was also a charting vocalist with hits like ‘Here in My Heart’.

He died on October 13, 2009 at age 82 in Springfield, Pennsylvania. His dual career kept him active on stage and on screen for many years.

Lenny Montana

Montana portrayed Luca Brasi in ‘The Godfather’. Before acting he was a professional wrestler, and his intimidating size helped land the role.

He died on May 12, 1992 at age 66 in New York. His brief but memorable appearance became one of the film’s most cited character turns.

Franco Citti

Citti appeared as Calo in ‘The Godfather’ and ‘The Godfather Part III’. He was a frequent collaborator of Pier Paolo Pasolini with films such as ‘Accattone’ and ‘Oedipus Rex’.

He died on January 14, 2016 at age 80 in Rome. His work bridged Italian art cinema and an American studio epic.

Eli Wallach

Wallach played Don Altobello in ‘The Godfather Part III’. His long career included ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’, ‘The Magnificent Seven’, and ‘The Holiday’.

He died on June 24, 2014 at age 98 in New York. He continued acting into his nineties and was honored for lifetime achievement.

Victor Rendina

Rendina portrayed Philip Tattaglia in ‘The Godfather’. He also worked in television through the seventies with guest roles across crime and drama series.

He died in 1985 at age 70. His role anchored the Tattaglia presence in the first film’s depiction of New York families.

Angelo Infanti

Infanti played Fabrizio in ‘The Godfather’. He continued to appear in Italian and European productions and worked in genre films and television movies.

He died on October 12, 2010 at age 71 in Rome after a heart attack. His character’s betrayal remains pivotal to the Sicily storyline.

Enzo Robutti

Robutti appeared as Don Licio Lucchesi in ‘The Godfather Part III’. He was known in Italy for stage and screen work and appeared in comedies and dramas across several decades.

He died on February 13, 2022 at age 88 in Verona. His turn as Lucchesi added a political dimension to the final film’s conflict.

Mario Donatone

Donatone portrayed the assassin Mosca in ‘The Godfather Part III’. He worked widely in Italian cinema and international co productions with roles in crime and thriller projects.

He died on April 14, 2020 at age 86 in Rome. His imposing screen presence helped shape the climactic events in the final act.

Share your memories of these performances and tell us which roles from the trilogy still resonate with you most in the comments.