Al Lettieri

Alfredo Lettieri (February 24, 1928 – October 18, 1975) was an Italian-American actor and screenwriter. During his career he acted with some of Hollywood's biggest screen stars, including Steve McQueen in The Getaway,[2] Charles Bronson in Mr. Majestyk,[3] John Wayne in McQ,[2] Richard Harris in The Deadly Trackers, Michael Caine and Mickey Rooney in Pulp, and Marlon Brando and Al Pacino in The Godfather.[2] In most of those roles he was cast as a villain and was sometimes credited as Anthony Lettieri.[4]

Al Lettieri
Al Lettieri as Virgil Sollozzo in The Godfather
Born
Alfredo Lettieri[1]

(1928-02-24)February 24, 1928
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 18, 1975(1975-10-18) (aged 47)
New York City, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1958–75

Background

Lettieri was an Italian American who spoke Italian fluently. His brother-in-law was Pasquale Eboli, brother of Genovese crime family boss Thomas Eboli.[5] Married and divorced once, Lettieri died of a heart attack in 1975, at the age of 47, leaving behind two children.

Career

1950s to 1960s

Lettieri had a role in the 1958 Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Fugitive Nurse" as Arthur Strome.[6] At the age of 36, he had a role in the television film The Hanged Man (1964).[7]

1970s

Lettieri is best known for his role as Sicilian heroin trafficker Virgil Sollozzo in the 1972 American crime film The Godfather. This was his second film where he and Marlon Brando had worked together in, the first being The Night of the Following Day (1969).

He wrote the film adaptation that became the screenplay for the 1971 gangster movie Villain, which starred Richard Burton and Ian McShane.[8][9] Lettieri played the menacing hit-man Frank Renda in the 1974 Charles Bronson film, Mr. Majestyk.[10] He played the part of Ciro Musante in the Tonino Valerii directed 1976 film, Go Gorilla Go.[11]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1964The Hanged ManAlTV movie
1965Wild Seed (Fargo)Bartender(as Anthony Lettier)
1965Dark Intruder (Black Cloak)2nd SergeantTV film, (as Anthony Lettier)
1966After the Fox(as Anthony Lettier)
1967The BoboEugenio Gomez
1969The Night of the Following DayPilot aka Al(as Al Lettier, though is also listed on the credita as Alfredo Letteri, associate producer)
1971A Town Called BastardLa Bomba
1972The GodfatherVirgil "The Turk" Sollozzo
1972PulpMiller
1972FootstepsZimmermanTV film
1972The GetawayRudy Butler
1973The Don Is Dead (Beautiful But Deadly, The Deadly Kiss)Vince Fargo
1973The Deadly TrackersGutierrez, Mexican Policeman
1974McQManny Santiago
1974Mr. MajestykFrank Renda
1975Piedone a Hong Kong (aka Flatfoot Goes East, Flatfoot in Hong Kong)Frank Barella
1975Winner Take All ("Time Lock")Man at TrackTV series
1976Dublin Murders
1976Vai Gorilla (Go Gorilla Go)Ciro Musante
1976House of Pleasure for WomenEddie Mordace(final film role)
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References
  1. "Person Details for Alfredo Lettieri, "U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014" — ancestry.com".
  2. "Notes on Lettieri". The Sumter Daily Item. September 25, 1973. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  3. "'Mr. Majestyk' is more violence, more sexism". The Miami News. August 8, 1974. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  4. Al Lettieri at IMDb
  5. "Meadow Soprano on Line One!" by Mark Seal, Vanity Fair, 26 February 2009
  6. Aveleyman.com - Al Lettieri
  7. AllMovie - The Hanged Man (1964)
  8. EMI Films and the Limits of British Cinema, By Paul Moody - Page 112
  9. Rotten Tomatoes - Villain (1971)
  10. Screen Anarchy, July 18 2018 - 70s Rewind: MR. MAJESTYK, Melons, Migrants and Murder - Peter Martin
  11. Rotten Tomatoes - The Hired Gun (Vai Gorilla) (Go Gorilla Go), Cast


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