Gianni Russo(I)
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
With a singularly nebulous background, which, by his account, included
stints as a Las Vegas nightclub emcee, radio personality and jewelry
tycoon, and with comparatively little acting experience, Gianni Russo won
the role of Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather (1972) on the basis of his screen test.
Since then, Russo has remained busy as an actor, mostly playing
assorted "wiseguys" and Mafia types. He appeared again with Marlon Brando
in a small role in The Freshman (1990) where Brando parodied his Don Corleone
role to good effect.
