Sammy Gravano

Salvatore Gravano, known as "Sammy the Bull," was born on March 12, 1945, in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. His father, Giorlando, was a Sicilian who jumped ship in Canada and entered the U.S. illegally; his mother, Caterina, was also from Sicily but came as a child.

The youngest of three children, Gravano was nicknamed "Sammy" after a relative said he resembled his uncle. At 13, he joined the Rampers street gang after confronting thieves who stole his bicycle. Made men watching from a café saw him fight multiple people, retrieved his bike, and one remarked he fought "like a bull"—giving him his lifelong nickname.

Gravano had dyslexia, was bullied, and struggled in school. Teachers labeled him a "slow learner," he was held back twice, and he punched school officials on two occasions. He was sent to a school for "incorrigibles," which refused to keep him just before he turned 16. His father tried to discipline him, including forcing him to attend Mass, but failed.

In 1964, Gravano was drafted into the U.S. Army, served at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, worked as a mess hall cook, rose to corporal, but was discharged under other than honorable conditions after being court-martialed for assault. He married Debra Scibetta in 1971; they had two children, including daughter Karen, who later appeared on Mob Wives and wrote a book. Gravano was later ordered to help arrange the murder of his brother-in-law, Nicholas Scibetta. He was also brother-in-law to Gambino capos Eddie and Mario Garafola, and a childhood friend of Colombo associate Gerard Pappa.

Gravano first associated with the Mafia in 1968 through friend Tommy Spero, whose uncle "Shorty" Spero was a Colombo family associate under future boss Carmine Persico. He began with crimes like larceny and hijacking. He originally worked as an associate for the Colombo family and later for the Brooklyn faction of the Gambino family. In 1985, he joined the conspiracy to murder Gambino boss Paul Castellano, playing a key role in planning and executing the hit alongside John Gotti, Angelo Ruggiero, Frank DeCicco, and Joseph Armone.

After Castellano’s murder, Gotti made Gravano a captain when Salvatore "Toddo" Aurelio stepped down. He held that rank until 1987, when he became consigliere. In 1988, he was promoted to underboss, a position he held when he became a government witness.