Richard S. Castellano - Biography

Bronx born, stocky Italian-American actor who only appeared in a handful of films, yet earned some degree of immortality for his role as the loyal Corleone capo "Peter Clemenza" teaching Al Pacino how to shoot a crooked police captain in the iconic gangster film Le parrain (1972). He was originally a construction company manager, then he gained work with the New Yiddish Theatre, before breaking into film near his thirtieth birthday. However in 1970, in only his fourth film, Castellano received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance in Lune de miel aux orties (1970) and came to the attention of casting agents for Le parrain (1972). After his strong showing as a tough hoodlum in Le parrain (1972), he became somewhat typecast as a screen criminal and appeared in further crime films including A pleins chargeurs (1973) and Gangster Wars (1981).

He died in December 1988 from a heart attack at the age of 55.