| Richard S. Castellano | |
| Birth Name: | Richard Salvatore Castellano |
| Birth Date: | 4 September 1933 |
| Birth Place: | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Death Place: | North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Notable Works: | The Godfather |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Years Active: | 1962–1982 |
Richard Salvatore Castellano (September 4, 1933 – December 10, 1988) was an American actor who is best remembered for his role in Lovers and Other Strangers and his subsequent role as Peter Clemenza in The Godfather.[1]
Castellano was born in the Queens borough of New York City on September 4, 1933. His parents, Mariantonia Angello and Filippo Castellano, were Italian immigrants from Castrofilippo, Sicily.[2] His middle name, Salvatore, was in honor of his oldest brother who had died two years before he was born.[3]
After his death, Castellano's widow Ardell Sheridan, who also played his character Peter Clemenza's wife in The Godfather,[4] [5] claimed that he was the nephew of Gambino crime family boss Paul Castellano;[6] however Richard's own sister dismissed this claim as false: "we're not related to Paul".[7]
Castellano gained worldwide fame for his role in Lovers and Other Strangers (1970), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. He achieved further stardom in 1972 for playing the part of Peter Clemenza, in The Godfather. The Godfather became the highest-grossing film up to that time. Castellano, along with several other cast members, became widely known from the popular film. He spoke one of the film's most famous lines, "Leave the gun; take the cannoli," which he partially ad-libbed.[8]
Castellano also appeared on television, playing the lead role of Joe Girelli in the television situation comedy The Super (10 episodes in 1972). His real-life daughter Margaret Castellano portrayed his character's daughter Joanne. He also portrayed the lead Joe Vitale in Joe and Sons (1975–1976).
Castellano did not reprise his role as Clemenza in The Godfather Part II (1974). Bruno Kirby portrayed Clemenza as a young man in The Godfather Part II. He had played the son of Castellano's character in The Super.
Castellano died from a heart attack at his home in North Bergen, New Jersey, in 1988 at age 55.[9]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Love with the Proper Stranger | Extra | Uncredited | |
| 1965 | Three Rooms in Manhattan | Angry American | Uncredited | |
| 1966 | A Fine Madness | Arnold | ||
| 1968 | A Lovely Way to Die | The Bartender | Uncredited | |
| 1970 | Lovers and Other Strangers | Frank Vecchio | ||
| 1972 | The Godfather | Peter Clemenza | ||
| 1973 | Honor Thy Father | Frank Labruzzo | ||
| 1973 | Incident on a Dark Street | Frank Romeo | ||
| 1980 | Night of the Juggler | Lieutenant Tonelli | ||
| 1981 | The Gangster Chronicles | |||
| 1982 | Dear Mr. Wonderful | FBI Agent | (final film role) |