The Godfather Cast Then and Now
Al Pacino (Michael Corleone)
New York City–born actor Al Pacino, who starred in all three Godfather movies, has memorably portrayed intense characters on both sides of the law in films such as Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Scarface (1983), Heat (1995) and The Irishman (2019). Still in demand at age 81, he most recently co-starred as Italian fashion heir AldoGucci in The House of Gucci.
Marlon Brando (Don Vito Corleone)
Though mercurial star Marlon Brando—who made an explosive debut in the 1950s in A Streetcar Named Desire and On the Waterfront—refused to appear in The Godfather Part II, he agreed to pull off a tongue-in-cheek version of a mob boss in the 1990 comedy The Freshman. He also showed up in various films (including The Score in 2001 with Robert De Niro) and once memorably kissed talk-show host LarryKing on the lips in a TV interview before his death July 1, 2004 at age 80.
James Caan (Sonny Corleone)
James Caan auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone before Coppola chose him for the older, brash brother Sonny. (Robert De Niro had auditioned for Sonny but didn’t get the part; he would go on to play young Vito in the 1974 prequel.) Now 81, Caan has stayed busy over the later decades, with more than 90 film and TV credits since The Godfather—most notably in the 2003 holiday classic Elf. His most recent credit: the romantic comedy Queen Bees (2021).
Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen)
Since his film debut as Boo Radley in 1962’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Robert Duvall—who played the Corleone’s legal consul and “adopted” son, Tom Hagen—has yet to deliver a bad performance. He’s racked up seven Oscar nominations, including for his role in the drama The Judge in 2015. (He won in 1984 for Tender Mercies.) The actor, now 91, is also a skilled tango dancer.
Talia Shire (Connie)
First, Talia Shire’s Connie Corleone got the ring—when the character wed abusive husband Carlo—in The Godfather. Then, in 1976, the actress was ringside playing the ever-supportive, shy Adrian in Rocky. Shire, now 75, reprised the role in Rocky’s four sequels through 1990 and appeared in other films, including 2004’s I Heart Huckabees and 2018’s Palo Alto.
Diane Keaton (Kay Adams)
Well, la-dee-dah! Diane Keaton, now 76, played Kay, the wholesome American bride of MichaelCorleone, a role she reprised in the sequels. The Godfather aside, she’s established herself as one of Hollywood’s premier and most durable comedic actresses in films such as Annie Hall (1977), Baby Boom (1987), The First Wives Club (1996) and Something’s Gotta Give (2003). Her latest charmers? Poms (2019) and Love, Weddings & Other Disasters (2020).
John Cazale (Fredo)
Boston native John Cazale landed the role of traitorous brother Fredo Corleone after casting director FredRoos saw him in a play. In quick succession, he went on to other memorable performances in The Godfather Part II,The Conversation (1974) and Dog Day Afternoon (1975). He died of cancer at age 42, on March 13, 1978, just months after completing his role for The Deer Hunter (1978). He was in a relationship with his Deer Hunter co-star MerylStreep at the time. Next, See Inside the Godfather Mansion Where JFK and Jackie Kennedy Honeymooned
