Career Highlights: The Getaway, Mr. Majestyk, The Don Is Dead
First Major Screen Credit: Villain (1971)
Biography
Italian-American actor Al Lettieri also dabbled in playwrighting and directing during his years on stage. In films, Lettieri was generally typecast in blunt, gangsterish roles. One of his more prestigious assignments was the part of Sollolo in The Godfather (1972). Al Lettieri also served as producer of the 1971 Richard Burton melodrama Villain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Lettieri projected an aura of menace and ruthlessness in his film roles, which he attributed to his acquaintance with real-life gangsters, including Joey Gallo. At the age of 36, he made his screen debut in the TV film The Hanged Man. Lettieri played the villain against some of Hollywood's biggest screen names including chasing Steve McQueen in The Getaway, Charles Bronson in Mr. Majestyk, and John Wayne in McQ.
Lettieri is the only actor credited as "starring" in The Godfather who is not on the movie poster.
Lettieri died of a heart attack in 1975, at the age of 47, coincidentally the age at which his character in The Godfather, Sollozzo, died. Lettieri left two children. His daughter, Hala Lettieri, is a theologian in New York City and his son, Antony is a Homicide detective in Las Vegas.
Filmography
The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (1992) (V) .... Virgil 'The Turk' Sollozzo
Dublin Murders (1985)
Bordella (House of Pleasure for Women) (1976) .... Eddie Mordace
Vai Gorilla (Go Gorilla Go) (1976) .... Ciro Musante
Winner Take All (Time Lock) (1975/I) (TV) .... Man at Track
Piedone a Hong Kong (aka Flatfoot Goes East, Flatfoot in Hong Kong) (1975) .... Frank Barella