The Godfather: Cast, Roles, Net Worth, Height, Families, And Relationships

The Godfather (1972), directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel, is a landmark crime drama chronicling the Corleone family’s mafia empire from 1945 to 1955.

Filmed in New York City, Los Angeles, and Sicily, it cost $6.5 million to produce and grossed over $270 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1972.

It won three Oscars (Best Picture, Best Actor for Marlon Brando, Best Adapted Screenplay) and holds a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its iconic performances, Nino Rota’s score, and themes of power, loyalty, and family.

Often cited as one of the greatest films ever, it launched careers for Coppola, Al Pacino, and others, spawning sequels The Godfather Part II (1974) and Part III (1990).

Main Cast and Their Roles

Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone

• Role: Brando plays Vito Corleone, the aging patriarch of the Corleone crime family, a calculating yet honorable Don who navigates alliances and rivalries. His “transformative” performance, complete with improvised traits like orange peel fangs, won an Oscar (which he famously declined to protest Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans).
• Net Worth: $100 million
• Height: 5’9″ (1.75 m).
• Family: Born April 3, 1924, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Marlon Sr. (chemical salesman) and Dorothy Brando (actress). He had two older sisters, Jocelyn and Frances. Expelled from multiple schools; studied at Stella Adler’s Actors Studio.
• Relationships: Married three times: Anna Kashfi (1957–1959), Movita Castaneda (1960–1962), and Tarita Teriipaia (1962–1972). Had 11 children, including Christian (1958) and Cheyenne (1970). Linked to Sandy Campbell and others; openly discussed fluid sexuality.

Al Pacino as Michael Corleone

• Role: Pacino plays Michael, Vito’s youngest son, a war hero who transforms from an outsider to a ruthless mafia boss. His “magnetic” performance earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination and launched his career.
• Net Worth: $120 million
• Height: 5’7″ (1.70 m).
• Family: Born April 25, 1940, in New York City, to Salvatore (insurance agent) and Rose Pacino. Only child; parents divorced when he was two. Studied at HB Studio and Actors Studio.
• Relationships: Never married. Has four children: Julie (born 1989) with Jan Tarrant, twins Anton and Olivia (born 2001) with Beverly D’Angelo, and Roman (born 2023) with Noor Alfallah. Dated Diane Keaton during The Godfather.

James Caan as Sonny Corleone

• Role: Caan plays Sonny, Vito’s hot-headed eldest son, whose impulsiveness leads to his death. Originally cast as Michael, Caan and Coppola fought for Pacino to take that role, with Caan as Sonny, earning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.
• Net Worth: $20 million
• Height: 5’9″ (1.76 m).
• Family: Born March 26, 1940, in the Bronx, New York, to Sophie and Arthur Caan (kosher meat dealers). Had a sister, Barbara, and brother, Ronnie. Attended Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre.
• Relationships: Married four times: Dee Jay Mathis (1961–1966, daughter Tara), Sheila Ryan (1976–1977, son Scott, an actor), Ingrid Hajek (1990–1994, son Alexander), and Linda Stokes (1995–2017, sons James and Jacob).

Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen

• Role: Duvall plays Tom Hagen, the Corleone’s adopted son and consigliere, a loyal lawyer balancing family and business. His “understated” performance earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination and was his breakout role.
• Net Worth: $70 million
• Height: 5’10” (1.78 m).
• Family: Born January 5, 1931, in San Diego, California, to William (navy admiral) and Mildred Duvall. Has two brothers, William Jr. and John. Graduated from Principia College.
• Relationships: Married four times: Barbara Benjamin (1964–1975), Gail Youngs (1982–1986), Sharon Brophy (1991–1995), and Luciana Pedraza (2005–present). No children.

Diane Keaton as Kay Adams

• Role: Keaton plays Kay, Michael’s non-Italian girlfriend who becomes his wife, struggling with his descent into crime. Her “poignant” performance marked her breakout, reprised in the sequels.
• Net Worth: $50 million
• Height: 5’7″ (1.69 m).
• Family: Born January 5, 1946, in Los Angeles, California, to Dorothy (homemaker) and Jack Hall (engineer). Has a brother, Randy, and two sisters, Robin and Dorrie. Studied at Neighborhood Playhouse.
• Relationships: Never married. Dated Woody Allen, Al Pacino (during The Godfather), and Warren Beatty. Adopted two children: daughter Dexter (1996) and son Duke (2000).

Talia Shire as Connie Corleone

• Role: Shire plays Connie, Vito’s daughter, whose abusive marriage to Carlo Rizzi sparks family conflict. Her “emotional” performance grew in prominence in the sequels.
• Net Worth: $40 million
• Height: 5’4″ (1.63 m).
• Family: Born April 25, 1946, in Lake Success, New York, to Carmine (composer) and Italia Coppola. Sister to Francis Ford Coppola; aunt to Sofia Coppola and Nicolas Cage. Has two sons, Jason and Robert Schwartzman (actors/musicians).
• Relationships: Married to David Shire (1970–1980, son Matthew) and Jack Schwartzman (1980–1994, sons Jason and Robert). Widowed since 1994.

John Cazale as Fredo Corleone

• Role: Cazale plays Fredo, Vito’s weak middle son, whose insecurities lead to betrayal in Part II. His “tragic” performance was lauded across all five of his films, all Oscar-nominated for Best Picture.
• Net Worth: $1 million
• Height: 5’11” (1.80 m).
• Family: Born August 12, 1935, in Revere, Massachusetts, to John and Cecilia Cazale. Had an older sister, Catherine, and younger brother, Stephen. Studied at Boston University.
• Relationships: Dated Meryl Streep from 1976 until his death from lung cancer in 1978.

Richard S. Castellano as Peter Clemenza

• Role: Castellano plays Clemenza, a loyal Corleone capo and Sonny’s godfather, known for the iconic line, “Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” His “jolly” performance was memorable.
• Net Worth: $1 million to $2 million
• Height: 5’9″ (1.75 m).
• Family: Born September 4, 1933, in the Bronx, New York; family details scarce. No siblings or parents publicly reported.
• Relationships: Married to Ardell Sheridan; had one daughter, Margaret. Private about personal life.

Sterling Hayden as Captain McCluskey

• Role: Hayden plays McCluskey, a corrupt police captain killed by Michael. His “gruff” performance complemented his career in noir and war films.
• Net Worth: $1 million
• Height: 6’5″ (1.96 m).
• Family: Born March 26, 1916, in Montclair, New Jersey, to George and Frances Hayden. No siblings reported. Dropped out of high school; became a sailor before acting.
• Relationships: Married five times, including Madeleine Carroll (1942–1946) and Betty de Noon (1947–1958, three sons: Christian, Dana, and Matthew). Had one daughter, Gretchen, from a later marriage.

John Marley as Jack Woltz

• Role: Marley plays Woltz, a Hollywood producer coerced by the Corleones via the infamous horse head scene. His “intense” performance added to the film’s menace.
• Net Worth: $1 million
• Height: 5’10” (1.78 m).
• Family: Born October 17, 1907, in Harlem, New York; family details limited. No siblings reported. Studied at City College of New York.
• Relationships: Married to Stanja Lowe (1951–1984); had four children, including actor Ben Marley.

Al Lettieri as Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo

• Role: Lettieri plays Sollozzo, a heroin kingpin whose drug deal sparks conflict with the Corleones. His “menacing” performance heightened the film’s tension.
• Net Worth: $500,000
• Height: 5’8″ (1.73 m).
• Family: Born February 24, 1928, in New York City; family details scarce. No siblings reported.
• Relationships: Married; details private. Had two children.

Abe Vigoda as Salvatore Tessio

• Role: Vigoda plays Tessio, a Corleone capo who betrays Michael. His “subtle” performance led to roles in Barney Miller.
• Net Worth: $10 million
• Height: 5’9″ (1.75 m).
• Family: Born February 24, 1921, in Brooklyn, New York, to Samuel (tailor) and Lena Vigoda. Had two brothers, Hy and Bill.
• Relationships: Married twice: Beatrice Schy (1966–1992, daughter Carol) and Sonja Gohlke (divorced, no children).

Gianni Russo as Carlo Rizzi

• Role: Russo plays Carlo, Connie’s abusive husband who betrays the family, leading to his death. His debut role leveraged alleged mob ties.
• Net Worth: $4 million
• Height: 5’11” (1.80 m).
• Family: Born December 12, 1943, in Manhattan, New York; raised in Staten Island. Family details private; no siblings reported.
• Relationships: Single

Al Martino as Johnny Fontane

• Role: Martino plays Johnny, Vito’s godson and a singer seeking a movie role. Based loosely on Frank Sinatra, his “authentic” performance drew on his crooner career.
• Net Worth: $1 million to $2 million
• Height: 5’8″ (1.73 m).
• Family: Born October 7, 1927, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Alfred (construction) and Angela Coticchio. Had a sister, Jean, and brother, Frank.
• Relationships: Married three times, including Judi Martino (1969–2009); had three children: Alfred, Alison, and Alana.

Additional Notes

• Salaries: Brando earned $1.6 million via profit participation, initially accepting a low $50,000 due to studio skepticism. Pacino earned $35,000, Caan $35,000, and Duvall ~$25,000. Supporting actors like Castellano, Hayden, and Marley earned ~$10,000–$20,000. The film’s $6.5 million budget ballooned due to location shooting and Brando’s deal.
• Impact and Legacy: The Godfather won three Oscars and was nominated for eight, including Best Supporting Actor for Pacino, Caan, and Duvall. Its cultural impact is immense, with lines like “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” and the horse head scene becoming iconic. It redefined the gangster genre, presenting the mafia from an insider’s perspective, unlike earlier films like The Brotherhood. Selected for the National Film Registry in 1990, it’s ranked second by the American Film Institute, behind Citizen Kane.
• Post-Film Careers: Brando starred in Last Tango in Paris (1972) and Apocalypse Now (1979); died in 2004. Pacino starred in Scarface, The Irishman, and House of Gucci. Caan appeared in Misery and Elf; died in 2022. Duvall starred in The Pale Blue Eye (2022) at 94. Keaton starred in Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023). Shire appeared in Megalopolis (2024). Cazale died in 1978 after The Deer Hunter. Castellano died in 1988 after The Super. Hayden died in 1986 after 9 to 5. Marley died in 1984 after On the Edge. Lettieri died in 1975 after The Getaway. Vigoda starred in Fish and died in 2016. Russo wrote a memoir (2019). Martino continued singing until his death in 2009.
• Cultural Influence: The film’s themes of family, power, and betrayal resonated globally, with its Italian-American perspective sparking both praise and debate. The Italian-American Civil Rights League, led by mobster Joe Colombo, pressured producers to remove “mafia” and “Cosa Nostra” from the script. The wedding scene, featuring Coppola family members like Talia Shire’s parents, added authenticity. Controversies included Brando’s casting (deemed risky) and Pacino’s initial studio rejection.

Conclusion

The Godfather’s ensemble, led by Brando’s towering Vito and Pacino’s chilling Michael, crafted a cinematic masterpiece.

Net worths range from $500,000 (Lettieri) to $120 million (Pacino), reflecting diverse careers.

Their personal lives, from Brando’s complex relationships to Keaton’s independence, mirror the film’s themes of loyalty and sacrifice.

Despite casting battles and mob-related tensions, the cast’s performances and Coppola’s vision made The Godfather an enduring classic, still celebrated over 50 years later.