Al Lettieri(1928-1975)
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Menacing looking Italian American actor who developed into the
quintessential on-screen hoodlum via several strong roles in key crime
films of the early 1970s. Lettieri played the villain against some of
Hollywood's biggest screen names including chasing
Steve McQueen in
The Getaway (1972), intimidating
Charles Bronson in
Mr. Majestyk (1974), threatening
'John Wayne' in McQ (1974) and, arguably in
his most well known role, as Virgil "The Turk" Sollozo trying to
eliminate Marlon Brando in
The Godfather (1972).
He was already 36 years old when he made his on screen debut in The Hanged Man (1964), and remarkably several years later was associate producer on the disturbing kidnapping drama The Night of the Following Day (1969) starring Marlon Brando. He really hit his strides in the early 1970s starring in many high profile films, before unfortunately succumbing to a heart attack at just 47 years of age. One of the most convincing "heavies" of modern cinema.
He was already 36 years old when he made his on screen debut in The Hanged Man (1964), and remarkably several years later was associate producer on the disturbing kidnapping drama The Night of the Following Day (1969) starring Marlon Brando. He really hit his strides in the early 1970s starring in many high profile films, before unfortunately succumbing to a heart attack at just 47 years of age. One of the most convincing "heavies" of modern cinema.