What Every Actor Did After The Movie

From Al Pacino to Marlon Brando, the cast of The Godfather is full of bona fide screen legends who went on to appear in some of the greatest movies ever made. The Godfather was a massive box office success, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time, and it had universal acclaim from critics to match. It didn’t just make its director Francis Ford Coppola a household name; it made household names of everyone in its sprawling ensemble.

Some of the actors in The Godfather were already big names. Robert Duvall had already appeared in To Kill a Mockingbird and James Caan had already starred in Brian’s Song. But most of the film’s cast members, like Talia Shire and Diane Keaton, got their big break from The Godfather itself. Today, The Godfather is remembered for having one of the most star-studded casts in film history — but at the time, a lot of them were unknowns.

Marlon Brando As Vito Corleone

Date Of Birth: April 3, 1924

Years Active: 1944–2004

Actor: Marlon Brando was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and first broke big when he brought his performance as Stanley Kowalski from the Broadway stage to the silver screen in 1951’s A Streetcar Named Desire. He went on to play Johnny Strabler in The Wild One and Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront, for which he earned an Oscar. After The Godfather, he played Jor-El in Superman: The Movie and Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now.

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Character: In The Godfather, Brando plays Vito Corleone, the patriarch of the Corleone crime family. As he approaches his twilight years and weathers assassination attempts, Vito is forced to choose a successor. Brando won his second Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Godfather, although Brando declined the award.

Al Pacino As Michael Corleone

Date Of Birth: April 25, 1940

Active Since: 1967

Actor: Al Pacino was born in New York City and first broke out with his role as heroin addict Bobby in The Panic in Needle Park. Pacino went on to earn the Triple Crown of Acting. He played such iconic roles as Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon, Detective Frank Serpico in Serpico, Tony Montana in Scarface, Richard Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross, and union leader Jimmy Hoffa in The Irishman. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for playing Lt. Col. Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman.

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Character: Pacino plays Vito’s youngest son, Michael, in The Godfather. The film charts Michael’s moral downfall. At the beginning of the movie, he’s a wayward war veteran destined to become the first Corleone to lead a legitimate life outside organized crime. However, by the end of The Godfather, he has succeeded his father and taken over the family business.

James Caan As Sonny Corleone

Date Of Birth: March 26, 1940

Years Active: 1961–2022

Actor: James Caan was born in New York City and first broke out with his Emmy-nominated turn as football player Brian Piccolo in the 1971 made-for-TV movie Brian’s Song. Caan received a Golden Globe nomination for playing Axel Freed in The Gambler. He went on to play Frank in Thief, Jonathan E. in Rollerball, Paul Sheldon in Misery, and Walter Hobbs in Elf.

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Character: Caan plays Vito’s eldest son, Sonny Corleone, in The Godfather. While Sonny is certainly tough and capable, he’s too hot-headed to run the business as effectively as Michael. His penchant for violence ultimately gets him killed long before the end credits.

Robert Duvall As Tom Hagen

Date Of Birth: January 5, 1931

Active Since: 1952

Actor: Robert Duvall was born in San Diego, California, and got his big break with the role of Boo Radley in the 1962 film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. Duvall won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his turn as alcoholic former country music star Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies. He also played Frank Hackett in Network, Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now, and Sergeant Martin Prendergast in Falling Down.

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Character: In The Godfather, Duvall plays the Corleone family’s consigliere and lawyer, Tom Hagen. Although Tom isn’t Vito’s biological offspring, he’s as much of a son to Vito as Michael or Sonny. Tom is an unofficial adopted member of the family, and unwaveringly loyal to the Don.

Diane Keaton As Kay Adams-Corleone

Date Of Birth: January 5, 1946

Active Since: 1966

Actor: Diane Keaton was born in Santa Ana, California, and first broke big with her role in The Godfather. Keaton won the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing the eccentric title character in Woody Allen’s romantic comedy Annie Hall. She also appeared in Allen’s films Sleeper, Love and Death, and Manhattan. Keaton later played Erica Barry in Something’s Gotta Give, Nina Banks in Father of the Bride and its sequel, and Jenny in Finding Dory.

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Character: Keaton plays Michael’s love interest Kay Adams in The Godfather. At the beginning of the movie, Kay is Michael’s girlfriend, horrified by the violence within his family, but by the end of it, she’s his second wife, fully embraced by the family. Much to Michael’s chagrin, Kay isn’t as subservient as the other mob wives.

John Cazale As Fredo Corleone

Date Of Birth: August 12, 1935

Years Active: 1959–1978

Actor: John Cazale was born in Revere, Massachusetts, and broke out with his film debut in The Godfather. Cazale sadly passed away from lung cancer at just 42 years old, just as his movie career was starting to take off. Cazale left behind a flawless filmography with an impressive run of five of the greatest films ever made: The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Deer Hunter.

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Character: In The Godfather, Cazale plays Vito’s middle son, Fredo. Fredo is essentially the laughingstock of the Corleone family. He’s too cowardly and incompetent to handle any of the most important jobs, so the family just gives him busywork to keep him occupied.

The Godfather Supporting Cast & Characters

Talia Shire as Connie Corleone: Vito’s only daughter, Connie Corleone, is played by Talia Shire. Shire is best known for her portrayal of Rocky Balboa’s love interest Adrian Pennino in the Rocky franchise. She also played Dianne Cruise in Old Boyfriends, Mrs. Silver in I Heart Huckabees, and Constance Crassus Catilina in Megalopolis.

Sterling Hayden as Captain McCluskey: The corrupt police captain that Michael kills, Captain McCluskey, is played by Sterling Hayden. Hayden played a wide range of roles throughout his career, from General Jack D. Ripper in Dr. Strangelove to alcoholic author Roger Wade in The Long Goodbye to aging peasant Leo Dalcò in 1900 to chairman of the board Russell Tinsworthy in 9 to 5.

John Marley as Jack Woltz: Jack Woltz, the Hollywood movie producer who has his prized horse decapitated by the Corleones, is played by John Marley. Marley won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for playing Richard Forst in John Cassavetes’ Faces and landed an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for playing Phil Cavalleri in Love Story.

Al Lettieri as Virgil Sollozzo: Al Lettieri plays Virgil Sollozzo, the heroin kingpin who pressures Vito to get into the drug business. Lettieri also played Rudy Butler in The Getaway and Frank Renda in Mr. Majestyk.

Richard Castellano as Peter Clemenza: Peter Clemenza, a trusted Corleone capo and Sonny’s godfather, is played by Richard Castellano. Castellano had previously played Frank Vecchio in the romantic comedy Lovers and Other Strangers and later played Lieutenant Tonelli in the neo-noir actioner Night of the Juggler.

Abe Vigoda as Salvatore Tessio: Corleone capo Salvatore Tessio, one of Vito’s oldest friends, is played by Abe Vigoda. Vigoda is best known for playing Phil Fish in the sitcom Barney Miller and its spin-off Fish.

Al Martino as Johnny Fontane: Vito’s godson, singer Johnny Fontane, was played by real-life crooner Al Martino. Johnny was Martino’s only ever acting role; he later reprised it in The Godfather Part III.

Morgana King as Carmela Corleone: After playing Vito’s wife Carmela Corleone in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Morgana King only ever played three more film roles, concluding with her final performance as Aunt Rose in 1997’s A Brooklyn State of Mind.

Release Date

March 24, 1972

Runtime

175 minutes

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