Movies

10 Godfather Actors You Never Knew Were Played by Two Different People

BBG News

In the chronicle of a criminal dynasty that lasts nearly a whole century, the Godfather trilogy shows numerous characters at different points in their lives. Remarkably, the films skillfully create consistent portrayals of some of the most renowned figures in American cinema using various performances by different actors. Notably, how The Godfather Part II presents its prequel storyline, especially, offers a strikingly realistic setting for the events depicted in the original film.

In “The Godfather Part II,” Robert De Niro’s portrayal of a 30-year-old Vito Corleone was remarkably similar to Marlon Brando’s depiction in the original film, earning them both Oscars for Best Actor. Interestingly, Vito isn’t the only Corleone character to be played by more than one actor across the Godfather trilogy. Four relatives and five gangster associates also took on significant roles in different movies of the saga. Consequently, a total of 10 Godfather characters have been associated with at least two actors.

10. Vito Corleone

Marlon Brando, Oreste Baldini & Robert De Niro

Despite starring in just a single Godfather film, Marlon Brando’s characterization of Vito Corleone stands out as one of the most legendary performances ever in the crime genre. Brando’s impact on Robert De Niro’s portrayal in The Godfather’s first sequel was significant, yet he wasn’t the only actor to leave an indelible mark on the series.

Apart from De Niro, young Vito Corleone, portrayed by Oreste Baldini who went by the name Andolini during most of his childhood, also played a significant role in The Godfather Part II. Baldini’s scenes were particularly difficult for any actor in the film, with dramatic moments like the murder of Andolini’s mother in Sicily and his arrival at New York’s Ellis Island on a boat being some of the most challenging to depict.

9. Carmela Corleone

Morgana King & Francesca De Sapio

In the same film, Francesca De Sapio portrayed a younger Carmela Corleone, a role that might have carried more weight than the one performed by Morgana King. Notably, De Sapio’s depiction shows Carmela nurturing each of the Corleone children since their infancy, as seen in a touching scene where she and a nurse care for baby Fredo Corleone when he has a high fever, with Vito looking on sympathetically.

Besides the two actors officially credited as playing Carmela Corleone, it’s also worth mentioning that Italia Coppola, the mother of The Godfather’s writer-director Francis Ford Coppola, portrayed her deceased character during the wake scene in The Godfather Part II. In this particular scene following Carmela’s death, it was Italia Coppola who took on the role of her lifeless body.

8. Sonny Corleone

James Caan & Roman Coppola

Although James Caan is famously known for his portrayal of Vito Corleone’s eldest son, Santino “Sonny” Corleone, it’s important to note that he wasn’t the only actor to bring Sonny to life. In “The Godfather Part II,” Roman Coppola, the younger son of the film’s director, Francis Ford Coppola, portrayed Sonny as a young child.

Roman Coppola has made a name for himself as an accomplished filmmaker, having worked alongside Wes Anderson on notable films such as “Moonrise Kingdom” and “Isle of Dogs”. However, his journey in the world of cinema began modestly with small roles in his father’s productions. This started with his depiction of a baby in the 1966 comedy “You’re a Big Boy Now.

7. Michael Corleone

Al Pacino & Louis Marino

Among a select few actors, Al Pacino is unique for having played the leading role in all three films of the Godfather trilogy. However, it’s important to note that Pacino isn’t the only actor to portray Michael Corleone in the Godfather series; another actor also took on this role at different points in the saga. The story primarily follows the transformation of Michael Corleone from an outsider within the family, to a powerful mob boss, then into a ruthless villain, and eventually into a victim of his own empire.

In an unacknowledged portrayal, Louis Marino takes on the role of infant Michael Corleone in “The Godfather Part II”. Notably, towards the end of the movie, as the older Michael reflects upon exiling his entire family, there’s an image that stands out – a depiction of Vito embracing his son (as a boy) and bidding farewell to their Sicilian relatives from the train window.

6. Salvatore Tessio

Abe Vigoda & John Aprea

Salvatore Tessio is one of Vito Corleone’s most trusted childhood companions and confidants. However, his betrayal of the Corleone family at the end of the first film adds an extra layer of pain. While the exact circumstances of Tessio’s death in The Godfather remain unclear, we do learn about their shared past in its sequel. As teenagers, they were small-time criminals in New York City’s Little Italy, forging a lifelong bond during those formative years.

Despite Abe Vigoda’s iconic portrayal of Tessio in The Godfather being widely recognized, John Aprea’s depiction of young Tessio in The Godfather Part II might be just as crucial to the Corleone crime family’s narrative. It’s Vigoda who appears on screen as Tessio last, but this occurs in a brief appearance at the end of The Godfather’s sequel.

5. Peter Clemenza

Richard Castellano & Bruno Kirby

In the film “The Godfather,” Salvatore Tessio and Peter Clemenza are appointed as two of Vito Corleone’s top lieutenants, or caporegimes. However, due to an actor’s refusal to rejoin the cast for contractual reasons, Peter Clemenza was not included in the contemporary storyline of “The Godfather Part II.

Regardless, the character of Clemenza is present in the movie, set within the prequel storyline that details Vito Corleone’s ascension within New York’s criminal underworld. Specifically, Bruno Kirby portrays a younger version of Clemenza as part of a teenage crew led by Vito and his friend, Genco Abbandando.

4. Anthony Corleone

Anthony Gounaris, James Gounaris & Franc D’Ambrosio

1) In the Godfather series, Anthony Corleone is among the few characters portrayed by over two distinct actors across different films. The son of Michael Corleone significantly appears primarily in The Godfather Part III where he decides to leave behind his family’s criminal empire and instead pursues a career as an opera singer.

In the first two Godfather films, Anthony is present, but initially he’s shown as a baby and later as a young child. Interestingly, the character was brought to life by not one, but two brothers: Anthony Gounaris portrayed him in The Godfather, while his older brother James Gounaris took on the role in The Godfather Part II.

3. Don Tommasino

Corrado Gaipa, Mario Cotone & Vittorio Duse

In “The Godfather” trilogy, Don Tommasino might not be a leading character, but he stands out as the only mobster apart from Michael Corleone and Al Neri who appears in all three films at different stages of his life. Tommasino has a deep-rooted connection with the Corleone family, dating back to when he assisted in Vito’s assassination of Don Ciccio in Sicily. He later assumes the role of the local mafia boss in Corleone, and subsequently provides shelter for Michael Corleone during his exile in “The Godfather.” In essence, Tommasino is an old friend and confidant of the Corleone family.

Throughout the Godfather trilogy, the character Don Tommasino is portrayed by three distinct actors. In the original Godfather film where he greets Michael Corleone and informs him of his first wife’s death via a car bomb, Don Tommasino is played by Corrado Gaipa. In The Godfather Part II, the younger Tommasino who assists Vito Corleone in killing Ciccio, is portrayed by Mario Cotone. Lastly, the elderly Tommasino who meets his end in The Godfather Part III is brought to life on screen by Vittorio Duse.

2. Hyman Roth

Lee Strasberg & John Megna (In A Deleted Scene)

In the final versions of the movies, it’s just a single actor who portrays the infamous villain Hyman Roth from the Godfather series, specifically in The Godfather Part II. Lee Strasberg’s portrayal of Michael Corleone’s adversary in the drug trade is both elusive and delicately nuanced.

For individuals who believe that additional scenes outside the original trilogy are part of the “Godfather” series, it’s worth noting that a different actor portrayed a young Hyman Roth in one scene. This particular scene, which was removed from “The Godfather Part II,” shows Peter Clemenza discovering Roth on the street and bringing him to Vito Corleone. If included, this scene would have shed light on how the Corleone family initiated Roth into organized crime and bestowed his name upon him.

1. Genco Abbandando

Franco Corsaro (In A Deleted Scene) & Frank Sivero

Genco Abbandando is a significant character who didn’t actually appear on screen in “The Godfather” series. Although he was initially intended to be one of Vito Corleone’s advisors, his first film appearance in the original “Godfather” movie was cut, leaving only brief glimpses of the younger Genco played by Frank Sivero in “The Godfather Part II”.

Franco Corsaro’s excised scene carries significant impact, depicting Vito Corleone tenderly consoling his longtime friend on his deathbed, moments before he takes his final breath. This moment underscores the extent of Vito’s power within The Godfather, as Genco implores him to “manipulate a few connections” with the divine, on his behalf. Although it’s clear why this scene was omitted from the film due to its non-essential nature in moving the plot forward, it nonetheless provides a captivating glimpse into Vito’s deepest friendships.

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2025-04-21 04:31

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