Actor Who Played Luca Brasi Was Actually in the Mafia
17 Feb, 2023
Filming of Mario Puzo's classic novel The Godfather was met with resistance from the Italo-American League for Civil Rights, founded by real crime families. In result the word "mafia" was excluded from the script and also some mobsters were sent to observe the set. One of them was protected by bodyguard Lenny Montana, who was invited to the role of the hitman Luca Brasi, after the previously approved actor died of a stroke. Although Montana had no enough screen time, he attracted the attention of Hollywood producers and played gangster role in more than a dozen movies.