Albert Anastasia
Ruthless mob boss and co-founder of Murder, Inc.
Umberto "Albert" Anastasia, born in Calabria, Italy in 1902, was a foundational figure in the modern American Mafia. He entered the United States illegally in 1919 with three of his brothers after deserting a freighter, and began working as a longshoreman on the Brooklyn waterfront. In 1921, he was convicted of murdering a fellow longshoreman and sentenced to death, but won a retrial on a technicality; by then, key prosecution witnesses had vanished, and he was freed. He legally changed his surname from Anastasio to Anastasia during this period. By the late 1920s, he had risen to control six local chapters of the International Longshoremen's Association, giving him lasting influence over New York City's docks. During the Castellammarese War, Anastasia was among the gunmen who murdered boss Joe Masseria in a Coney Island restaurant in 1931, a hit orchestrated by Charles Luciano. As a reward, Luciano placed Anastasia and Louis Buchalter in charge of Murder, Inc., the National Crime Syndicate's enforcement arm. Operating from a Brooklyn candy store, this group of Jewish and Italian contract killers is believed to have committed thousands of murders over a decade. Anastasia’s ruthlessness earned him nicknames including "The Lord High Executioner" and "The Mad Hatter." In 1935, when Dutch Schultz defied the Commission’s order not to kill prosecutor Thomas Dewey, Anastasia informed Luciano that Schultz had asked him to stake out Dewey’s apartment; the Commission then ordered Schultz’s elimination. Anastasia eventually became boss of what became the Gambino crime family. He was murdered in 1957 on the orders of Vito Genovese and Carlo Gambino, who then took over the family.
- known_for
- Co-founder of Murder, Inc.; waterfront control
Lore & Background
Umberto "Albert" Anastasia was a powerfully built man with a notoriously volatile and ruthless demeanor, earning him a reputation as one of the most feared organized crime figures in American history. His appearance was that of a stocky, imposing individual, and his defining characteristics included a complete lack of hesitation toward violence, which led to nicknames such as "The Earthquake," "The One-Man Army," "The Mad Hatter," and "The Lord High Executioner." Born in Calabria, Italy, he entered the United States illegally as a young man after deserting a freighter, settling in Brooklyn and working as a longshoreman. This waterfront environment became his primary criminal habitat; for most of his career, he controlled New York City's docks through union influence, specifically the International Longshoremen's Association. His defining criminal role was as a co-founder and later boss of Murder, Inc., the enforcement arm of the National Crime Syndicate, a group of contract killers that operated from a Brooklyn candy store and was responsible for thousands of murders. Anastasia rose to become the boss of what is now known as the Gambino crime family, but his reign ended when he was murdered on October 25, 1957, on orders from Vito Genovese and Carlo Gambino.
Reader's Guide
As a co-founder of Murder, Inc., Anastasia led a group of Jewish and Italian contract killers who operated out of a Brooklyn candy store and are estimated to have committed thousands of unsolved murders over a decade. His reputation for ruthlessness earned him several nicknames, including "The Lord High Executioner" and "The Mad Hatter." He also controlled New York City's waterfront for most of his criminal career, primarily through his leadership of six local chapters of the International Longshoremen's Association in Brooklyn. This union control gave him significant economic leverage and political influence. Anastasia was a key figure in the Castellammarese War, participating in the murder of boss Joe Masseria alongside other future crime leaders. His loyalty was rewarded by Lucky Luciano, who placed him in charge of the Syndicate's enforcement arm. Later, when the Commission ordered the murder of Dutch Schultz for defying its orders, Anastasia provided intelligence on Schultz’s plans and the hit was carried out. His career exemplifies the violent consolidation of the modern American Mafia and the institutionalization of organized crime within labor unions.
Did You Know?
- He participated in the murder of crime boss Giuseppe Masseria on April 15, 1931.
- He was nicknamed the 'Mad Hatter' and 'Lord High Executioner.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Albert Anastasia?
Umberto "Albert" Anastasia was an Italian-American gangster, hitman, and crime boss active in mid-20th century New York. He is best remembered as a co-founder of Murder, Inc. and as the head of what later became the Gambino crime family.
What was Albert Anastasia's role in Murder, Inc.?
Anastasia helped establish Murder, Inc. as the organized hit squad for the American Mafia, serving as one of its principal architects. He personally carried out and oversaw numerous contract killings on behalf of the mob's leadership.
Which crime family did Albert Anastasia lead?
He served as boss of the family that would later be known as the Gambino crime family, one of New York's Five Families. His leadership placed him among the most powerful figures in the post-war Italian-American underworld.
What territory did Albert Anastasia control?
For most of his criminal career, Anastasia held a grip on New York City's waterfront, managing the labor unions and smuggling operations tied to the docks. This waterfront empire gave him enormous economic power and influence over the city's criminal landscape.
How did Albert Anastasia's story end?
In 1957, Anastasia was lured to a barbershop in Brooklyn and shot dead by two hitmen. His assassination was ordered by his own family members, who saw him as a liability and a threat to their own positions.
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