<Ul> <Li> Marlon Brando , in the title role , is Vito Corleone ( born Vito Andolini ) , the Don of the Corleone crime family . A native Sicilian , he is married to Carmela Corleone and the father of Tom ( adoptive ) , Sonny , Fredo , Michael , and Connie . </Li> <Li> Al Pacino as Michael Corleone , the Don 's third son , recently returned from World War II . The only college - educated family member , he is initially steered from the family business . His progression from the family 's last - born son to its ruthless boss is the main subject matter of the film . </Li> <Li> James Caan as Santino `` Sonny '' Corleone , Don Corleone 's hot - headed eldest son . As underboss , he is the heir - apparent to succeed his father as head of the Corleone family . </Li> <Li> Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen , Don Corleone 's informally adopted son , he is the family lawyer and consigliere . Unlike the Corleones , he is of German - Irish descent , not Sicilian . </Li> <Li> Diane Keaton as Kay Adams - Corleone , Michael 's non-Italian girlfriend and his second wife and mother of his two children . </Li> <Li> John Cazale as Frederico `` Fredo '' Corleone , the middle son of the Corleone family . Deeply insecure and not very bright , he is considered the weakest Corleone brother . </Li> <Li> Talia Shire as Constanzia `` Connie '' Corleone , the youngest child and only daughter of the Corleone family . Her wedding reception begins the film . </Li> <Li> Gianni Russo as Carlo Rizzi , Connie 's abusive husband . Introduced to the Corleone family by Sonny , whom he ultimately betrays to the Barzini family . </Li> <Li> Richard S. Castellano as Peter Clemenza , a caporegime for the Corleone family . He is an old friend of Vito Corleone and Salvatore Tessio . </Li> <Li> Abe Vigoda as Salvatore Tessio , a caporegime for the Corleone family . He is an old friend of Vito Corleone and Peter Clemenza . </Li> <Li> Al Lettieri as Virgil `` The Turk '' Sollozzo , a heroin dealer associated with the Tattaglia family . He seeks both financial investment and the protection of the Tattaglia family 's narcotics business through Don Corleone 's political connections . </Li> <Li> Sterling Hayden as Captain Mark McCluskey , a corrupt NYPD police captain on Sollozzo 's payroll . </Li> <Li> Lenny Montana as Luca Brasi , Vito Corleone 's enforcer . </Li> <Li> Richard Conte as Emilio Barzini , Don of the Barzini family . </Li> <Li> Al Martino as Johnny Fontane , a world - famous singer and Vito 's godson . The character is loosely based on Frank Sinatra . </Li> <Li> John Marley as Jack Woltz , a powerful Hollywood producer . </Li> <Li> Alex Rocco as Moe Greene , a longtime associate of the Corleone family who owns a Las Vegas hotel . The character is based on Bugsy Siegel . </Li> <Li> Morgana King as Carmela Corleone , Vito 's wife and mother of Sonny , Fredo , Michael , and Connie , and adoptive mother to Tom Hagen . </Li> <Li> Salvatore Corsitto as Amerigo Bonasera , a mortician who , in the opening scene , asks Don Corleone for revenge against two boys who severely beat and attempted to rape his daughter . </Li> <Li> Corrado Gaipa as Don Tommasino , an old friend of Vito Corleone , who shelters Michael during his exile in Sicily . </Li> <Li> Franco Citti as Calò , Michael 's bodyguard in Sicily . </Li> <Li> Angelo Infanti as Fabrizio , Michael 's bodyguard in Sicily . He helped set up the assassination attempt on Michael that kills Apollonia . </Li> <Li> Johnny Martino as Paulie Gatto , a soldier under Peter Clemenza and Vito 's driver . He is executed for his part in the assassination attempt on Vito . </Li> <Li> Victor Rendina as Philip Tattaglia , Don of the Tattaglia family . </Li> <Li> Tony Giorgio as Bruno Tattaglia , Philip Tattaglia 's son and underboss of the Tattaglia family . Sonny Corleone has him assassinated in retaliation for the shooting of Vito Corleone . </Li> <Li> Simonetta Stefanelli as Apollonia Vitelli - Corleone , a young woman Michael meets and marries while in Sicily . She is killed a few months later in an assassination attempt on Michael . </Li> <Li> Rudy Bond as Don Cuneo , head of the New York - based Cuneo family . </Li> <Li> Louis Guss as Don Zaluchi , Don of the Zaluchi family of Detroit
<Ul> <Li> Marlon Brando , in the title role , is Vito Corleone ( born Vito Andolini ) , the Don of the Corleone crime family . A native Sicilian , he is married to Carmela Corleone and the father of Tom ( adoptive ) , Sonny , Fredo , Michael , and Connie . </Li> <Li> Al Pacino as Michael Corleone , the Don 's third son , recently returned from World War II . The only college - educated family member , he is initially steered from the family business . His progression from the family 's last - born son to its ruthless boss is the main subject matter of the film . </Li> <Li> James Caan as Santino `` Sonny '' Corleone , Don Corleone 's hot - headed eldest son . As underboss , he is the heir - apparent to succeed his father as head of the Corleone family . </Li> <Li> Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen , Don Corleone 's informally adopted son , he is the family lawyer and consigliere . Unlike the Corleones , he is of German - Irish descent , not Sicilian . </Li> <Li> Diane Keaton as Kay Adams - Corleone , Michael 's non-Italian girlfriend and his second wife and mother of his two children . </Li> <Li> John Cazale as Frederico `` Fredo '' Corleone , the middle son of the Corleone family . Deeply insecure and not very bright , he is considered the weakest Corleone brother . </Li> <Li> Talia Shire as Constanzia `` Connie '' Corleone , the youngest child and only daughter of the Corleone family . Her wedding reception begins the film . </Li> <Li> Gianni Russo as Carlo Rizzi , Connie 's abusive husband . Introduced to the Corleone family by Sonny , whom he ultimately betrays to the Barzini family . </Li> <Li> Richard S. Castellano as Peter Clemenza , a caporegime for the Corleone family . He is an old friend of Vito Corleone and Salvatore Tessio . </Li> <Li> Abe Vigoda as Salvatore Tessio , a caporegime for the Corleone family . He is an old friend of Vito Corleone and Peter Clemenza . </Li> <Li> Al Lettieri as Virgil `` The Turk '' Sollozzo , a heroin dealer associated with the Tattaglia family . He seeks both financial investment and the protection of the Tattaglia family 's narcotics business through Don Corleone 's political connections . </Li> <Li> Sterling Hayden as Captain Mark McCluskey , a corrupt NYPD police captain on Sollozzo 's payroll . </Li> <Li> Lenny Montana as Luca Brasi , Vito Corleone 's enforcer . </Li> <Li> Richard Conte as Emilio Barzini , Don of the Barzini family . </Li> <Li> Al Martino as Johnny Fontane , a world - famous singer and Vito 's godson . The character is loosely based on Frank Sinatra . </Li> <Li> John Marley as Jack Woltz , a powerful Hollywood producer . </Li> <Li> Alex Rocco as Moe Greene , a longtime associate of the Corleone family who owns a Las Vegas hotel . The character is based on Bugsy Siegel . </Li> <Li> Morgana King as Carmela Corleone , Vito 's wife and mother of Sonny , Fredo , Michael , and Connie , and adoptive mother to Tom Hagen . </Li> <Li> Salvatore Corsitto as Amerigo Bonasera , a mortician who , in the opening scene , asks Don Corleone for revenge against two boys who severely beat and attempted to rape his daughter . </Li> <Li> Corrado Gaipa as Don Tommasino , an old friend of Vito Corleone , who shelters Michael during his exile in Sicily . </Li> <Li> Franco Citti as Calò , Michael 's bodyguard in Sicily . </Li> <Li> Angelo Infanti as Fabrizio , Michael 's bodyguard in Sicily . He helped set up the assassination attempt on Michael that kills Apollonia . </Li> <Li> Johnny Martino as Paulie Gatto , a soldier under Peter Clemenza and Vito 's driver . He is executed for his part in the assassination attempt on Vito . </Li> <Li> Victor Rendina as Philip Tattaglia , Don of the Tattaglia family . </Li> <Li> Tony Giorgio as Bruno Tattaglia , Philip Tattaglia 's son and underboss of the Tattaglia family . Sonny Corleone has him assassinated in retaliation for the shooting of Vito Corleone . </Li> <Li> Simonetta Stefanelli as Apollonia Vitelli - Corleone , a young woman Michael meets and marries while in Sicily . She is killed a few months later in an assassination attempt on Michael . </Li> <Li> Rudy Bond as Don Cuneo , head of the New York - based Cuneo family . </Li> <Li> Louis Guss as Don Zaluchi , Don of the Zaluchi family of Detroit
who played the godfather in the movie the godfather
who played the godfather in the movie the godfather
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando