Al Lettieri

Birth Name:

Alfredo Anthony Lettieri

Birth Date:

February 24, 1928

Birth Place:

New York City, New York

Death Date:

October 18, 1975

Place of Death:

Saint Vincent's Hospital, New York City, New York

Age:

Cause of Death:

Heart attack

Cemetery Name:

St. John Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

Show Business

Al Lettieri (1928–1975) was an American character actor best known for portraying tough, menacing criminals and gangsters in films of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Born in New York City, he began his career with television appearances before moving into feature films. His breakthrough came in 1972 when he played Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo, the drug trafficker who clashes with the Corleone family in The Godfather. That same year, he appeared as the dangerous criminal Rudy Butler opposite Steve McQueen in The Getaway. He subsequently appeared in The Don Is Dead (1973), McQ (1974), starring John Wayne, and Mr. Majestyk (1974), opposite Charles Bronson, in which he played the ruthless hitman Frank Renda. In addition to acting, Lettieri worked as a screenwriter and associate producer, including writing the screenplay adaptation for the British crime film Villain (1971). Known for his imposing presence, intense performances, and convincing portrayals of underworld figures, he became a memorable supporting actor in crime and action cinema. His career was cut short when he died of a heart attack in New York City on October 18, 1975, at the young age of 47.

Fun Fact

An Italian-American from New York City, Al Lettieri was fluent in Sicilian and Italian. His brother-in-law was Pasquale Eboli, brother of Genovese crime family boss Thomas Eboli (aka Tommy Ryan).

Lettieri is best known for his role as Sicilian heroin trafficker Virgil Sollozzo in the 1972 American crime film The Godfather. In his 2024 autobiography, Al Pacino describes how Lettieri took him to visit a suburban New York family that resembled the Corleones after telling him, “You should meet this guy. It’s good for what you’re doing”. Pacino concluded, “Little Al knew some guys. Some real guys. And now he was introducing me to one of them.” This was the second film in which Lettieri and Marlon Brando worked together, the first being The Night of the Following Day (1969).

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

St. John Cemetery

80-01 Metropolitan Avenue

Middle Village, New York, 11379

USA

North America

Map:

Map of St. John Cemetery in Queens, New York

St. John Cemetery in Middle Village, New York

Grave Location:

Section 40, Range P, Number 84

Grave Location Description

St. John Cemetery is divided into two sections. Enter the smaller of the two properties (opposite the cemetery office) via Metropolitan Avenue. Drive straight ahead keeping to the right. At the end of the road veer left and park when the road stops curving (75 feet before the intersection). Walk into Section 40 on the left. Walk approximately 75 feet and look for the Lettieri monument.

Grave Location GPS

40.71073599072, -73.8685393732

Photos:

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FAQ's

Al Lettieri was born on February 24, 1928.

Al Lettieri was born in New York City, New York.

Al Lettieri died on October 18, 1975.

Al Lettieri died in Saint Vincent's Hospital, New York City, New York.

Al Lettieri was 47.

The cause of death was Heart attack.

Al Lettieri's grave is in St. John Cemetery

Videos Featuring Al Lettieri:

The Godfather I Meeting with Sollozzo

Who Was Al Lettieri? The Actor with Gangster Swagger

Remembering THE GODFATHER | Restaurant scene | M. Corleone, McCluskey and Sollozzo

Mr. Majestyk (1974) Final Shootout

The Getaway (1972) - Doc Meets Beynon, Butler, The Accountant, and Jackson

Watch YouTube video titled John Wayne's Coolest Scenes: Taking A Shower,

Al Lettieri