Real life Inspirations For Characters In The Godfather

Based on Mario Puzo's 1969 crime novel, Francis Ford Coppola's cinematic masterpiece The Godfather (1972) chronicles the fictional Corleone family and its rise to becoming one of the most powerful mafia families in America.

Starring Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone and Al Pacino as his son Michael, The Godfather was lauded by both critics and audiences and spawned a pair of sequels: The Godfather II (1974) and The Godfather III (1990).

Many real-life mobsters and events heavily influence the Godfather franchise. Here are some of the true stories behind the films.