Richard S. Castellano facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard S. Castellano
Richard S. Castellano in The Super in 1972
Born	Richard Salvatore Castellano (1933-09-04)September 4, 1933 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	December 10, 1988(1988-12-10) (aged 55) North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1962–1982
Notable work	The Godfather

Richard Salvatore Castellano (born September 4, 1933 – died December 10, 1988) was an American actor. He is famous for his roles in the movies Lovers and Other Strangers and The Godfather. In The Godfather, he played the character Peter Clemenza.

Early Life and Family

Richard Castellano was born in Queens, a part of New York City, on September 4, 1933. His parents, Mariantonia Angello and Filippo Castellano, came from Castrofilippo, Sicily, in Italy.

He was given the middle name Salvatore to honor his older brother. Sadly, his brother had passed away two years before Richard was born.

After Richard's death, there was a claim that he was related to a famous crime boss. However, Richard's own sister said this was not true. They were not related to that person.

Richard Castellano's Acting Career

Richard Castellano became well-known for his acting. In 1970, he starred in the movie Lovers and Other Strangers. His performance in this film was so good that he was nominated for an Academy Award.

Starring in The Godfather

In 1972, Castellano became even more famous. He played the role of Peter Clemenza in the movie The Godfather. This film was a huge success. At the time, it earned more money than any other movie.

Many actors from The Godfather, including Castellano, became very popular. He even said one of the movie's most famous lines: "Leave the gun; take the cannoli." He actually made up part of that line himself while filming. This is called ad-libbing.

Television Roles

Castellano also acted on television. He played the main character, Joe Girelli, in the TV show The Super. This show ran for 10 episodes in 1972.

His real-life daughter, Margaret Castellano, played his character's daughter, Joanne, in the show. Later, he also played the lead role of Joe Vitale in another TV series called Joe and Sons from 1975 to 1976.

Richard Castellano did not appear in The Godfather Part II (1974). In that movie, a younger version of his character, Clemenza, was played by actor Bruno Kirby. Interestingly, Bruno Kirby had previously played the son of Castellano's character in The Super.

Later Life and Passing

Richard Castellano passed away at his home in North Bergen, New Jersey, in 1988. He was 55 years old. He died from a heart attack.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Richard S. Castellano para niños