At 55, Richard S. Castellano died from a heart attack on December 10, 1988. #TheGodfather #TheGodfatherMovie #TheGodfatherTrilogy #FrancisFordCoppola #caporegime #RichardCastellano #PeterClemenza #LeaveTheGunTakeTheCanoli

After his death, Castellano’s widow Ardell Sheridan, claimed that he was the nephew of the deceased Gambino crime family boss Paul Castellano. Richard’s own sister dismissed this claim as false: “We’re not related to Paul.” #TheGodfather #RichardCastellano #PeterClemenza #LeaveTheGunTakeTheCanoli

Ultimately in #TheGodfatherPartII, the character of #PeterClemenza was killed off. He was replaced by Michael V. Gazzo, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for portraying Frank Pentangeli. #TheGodfather #RichardCastellano
#TheGodfatherTrilogy
#LeaveTheGunTakeTheCanoli

According to Sheridan after his death, Castellano was dropped because he refused to regain the weight to play Clemenza due to health reasons. Both of these claims are corroborated & refuted by others involved in the production at the time. #TheGodfather #RichardCastellano #LeaveTheGunTakeTheCanoli

After his strong showing as a formidable character in The Godfather (1972), he became somewhat typecast as a criminal and appeared in other films including Honor Thy Father (1973) and Gangster Wars (1981). #TheGodfather #TheGodfatherTrilogy #RichardCastellano #PeterClemenza
#LeaveTheGunTakeTheCanoli

Castellano is famous for speaking one of the film’s most famous lines, “Leave the gun; take the cannoli,” which he partially ad-libbed, after the slaying of Paulie Gatto (portrayed by John Martino). #TheGodfather #FrancisFordCoppola #RichardCastellano #PeterClemenza #LeaveTheGunTakeTheCanoli

“Judge Tosses Terror Charges in CEO’s Killing, Leaving Murder Case — and Death Penalty — Hanging Over Luigi Mangione” #LeaveTheGunTakeTheCanoli #WalkAway

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