Character List
Don Corleone
Don Vito Corelone, "The Godfather" is one of the most iconic film characters of all time, played by Marlon Brando. He is an Italian immigrant of Sicilian origin who has built an organized crime empire in New York. In his autobiography, Marlon Brando described Don Corleone as "a gentle man, unlike Al Capone, who beat up people with baseball bats... I saw him as a man of substance, tradition, dignity, refinement, a man of unerring instinct who just happened to live in a violent world and who had to protect himself and his family in this environment" (Jones 139).
Don Corleone has three sons - Santino "Sonny", Fredo, and Michael, one daughter, Connie, and an adopted son, Tom Hagen. He loves all of his children and includes Sonny, Fredo, and Tom in the family business. He once had hopes that Michael would go into politics or another "legitimate" avenue of power, but after Don Corleone is shot, Michael quickly steps up to protect his father. After Sonny is murdered, Don Corleone, recognizing his skill, puts Michael in power. During the twilight of his life, Don Corleone relaxes and enjoys being a grandfather as well as a consigliere to Michael.
Michael Corleone
Don Vito Corleone's youngest son, played by Al Pacino in his star-making role. He went to Dartmouth College but dropped out to join the Marine Corps in World War II. After the war ends, Michael comes back to New York but makes it clear that he does not want to join his family's business. However, when Michael's father is attacked and nearly killed by a rival gangster, Michael steps up and volunteers to kill his father's attackers in order to keep the old man safe. After carrying out the murders, Michael hides out in Sicily and marries a young woman named Apollonia. Then, he receives news that his older brother, Sonny has been murdered and soon thereafter, Apollonia is killed in a car bomb meant for her husband. Back in New York, Michael becomes the head of the Corleone family and...