| Don Emilio Barzini | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | The Godfather |
| Last appearance | The Godfather: The Game |
| Cause/reason | Murdered by Al Neri on orders from Michael Corleone |
| Created by | Mario Puzo |
| Portrayed by | Richard Conte |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | The Wolf |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 62 |
| Date of birth | 1893 |
| Date of death | 1955 - Two gunshot wounds to the back |
| Occupation | Gangster |
| Family | Barzini Family |
| Children | Emilio Barzini, Jr. |
| Relatives | Emilio Barzin, Jr. (son) "Big" Bobby Toro (cousin) Domenico Mazza (cousin) |
Don Emilio Barzini is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather.
In the novel
Barzini presides as head of one of New York's Five Families, and wields power matched only by Vito Corleone. He has interests in markets such as narcotics, gambling and prostitution, and is also interested in Las Vegas and Nevada. Unlike Corleone, he is not considered a "Mustache Pete" and is greatly respected by younger Mafia leaders.
Corleone respects him enough to invite him to the wedding of his daughter Connie. However, when his counterpart refuses to participate in the heroin trade, Barzini secretly conspires with the other families to make war with the Corleones, forcing them to make peace and open up their territory to drug trafficking. To this end, he approaches Corleone's son-in-law, Carlo Rizzi, with a ploy to draw Sonny Corleone into an assassination. After Sonny's death, Don Corleone agrees to lend his political protection to the enterprise and to never break the peace.
Not satisfied with the Corleones' submission, Barzini begins chipping away at their territory in New York City, and approaches Corleone caporegime Salvatore Tessio to organize another peace summit where Vito's heir Michael Corleone would be ambushed. However, by this time the Don and his son have long anticipated Barzini's move and, on the day of the summit, he is assassinated along with the other conspirators. Corleone enforcer Al Neri, disguised as a police officer, shoots Barzini, his bodyguard, and his driver on the steps of the New York Supreme Court courthouse at Foley Square.
Notable quotes, “A refusal is not the act of a friend.” And, "He may bill us for his services. After all, we (organized crime) are not Communists.
In other media
In Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation of The Godfather, Barzini is portrayed by Richard Conte.
In The Godfather: The Game, Barzini has protagonist Aldo Trapani's father killed, motivating him to take revenge. In the game, Trapani kills Don Barzini on the court steps.
UK hip-hop artist Barzini named himself after the character.[1]
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Notes and References
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