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Al Lettieri

 
Actor: Al Lettieri
  • Born: Feb 24, 1928 in New York City, New York
  • Died: Oct 18, 1975 in New York City
  • Occupation: Actor, Writer
  • Active: '70s
  • Major Genres: Crime, Drama
  • 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
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Al Lettieri

Al Lettieri as Virgil Sollozo in The Godfather
Born Alessandro Lettieri
February 24, 1928(1928-02-24)
Died October 18, 1975 (aged 47)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1964-1975

Alfred Lettieri (February 24, 1928 – October 18, 1975) was an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo in The Godfather.

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
  • Mr. Majestyk (1974) .... Frank Renda
  • McQ (1974) .... Manny Santiago
  • The Deadly Trackers (1973) .... Gutierrez, Mexican Policeman
  • The Don Is Dead (Beautiful But Deadly, The Deadly Kiss) (1973) .... Vince
  • The Getaway (1972) .... Rudy Butler
  • Footsteps (Foosteps: Nice Guys Finish Last, Nice Guys Finish Last) (1972) (TV) .... Zimmerman
  • Pulp (1972) .... Miller
  • The Godfather (1972) .... Virgil 'The Turk' Sollozzo
  • A Town Called Hell (A Town Called Bastard, Una Ciudad llamada Bastarda) (1971) .... La Bomba
  • The Night of the Following Day (1968) (as Al Lettier) .... Pilot aka Al
  • The Bobo (1967) .... Eugenio Gomez
  • Dark Intruder (Black Cloak) (1965) (as Anthony Lettier) .... 2nd Sergeant
  • Wild Seed (Fargo) (1965) (as Anthony Lettier) .... Bartender
  • The Hanged Man .... Al

External links


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Al Lettieri" Read more