Michael Corleone

The war hero who wanted out, and became the most ruthless don of all.

Michael Corleone is the protagonist of Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and the villain-protagonist of the film trilogy it launched, played in all three Francis Ford Coppola films by Al Pacino, who was twice nominated for an Academy Award for the role.

Quick Facts

Series: The Godfather
Last: The Godfather's Revenge
Creator: Mario Puzo
Portrayed by: Al Pacino; Louis Marino (as a child)
Nickname: Mike; Mikey; The Don; College Boy (Sonny occasionally refers to Michael as College Boy)
Occupation: U.S. Marine Captain; Crime boss
Spouse: Apollonia Vitelli (1947–1948; deceased); Kay Adams (1951–1959; divorced)
Gender: Male

Facts from the source article.

Background

Born on March 23, 1920, the youngest son of Vito Corleone and his wife Carmela, he has two older brothers, Sonny and Fredo, a younger sister, Connie, and an informally adopted brother in the consigliere Tom Hagen. Puzo describes him as neither tall nor heavily built, with straight jet-black hair and clear olive skin, yet with a presence that radiates danger.

He wants nothing to do with the family business and enrols at Dartmouth to escape it; his father, who hoped he would go into politics, never wanted him involved either. After the United States enters the war he joins the Marines despite the deferment Vito had arranged, wins the Navy Cross in the Pacific, is featured in Life magazine in 1944 and is discharged as a captain in 1945, a doctor bribed by Vito having exaggerated his wounds. He comes home for Connie's wedding with his college sweetheart Kay Adams.

Just before Christmas 1945 Virgil Sollozzo's attempt on Vito's life drags him into the world he had avoided: he foils a second attempt at the hospital and pledges himself to his father. On Vito's death he succeeds him as don of the Corleone crime family. The American Film Institute named him the 11th most iconic film villain in 2003, though some critics call him a tragic hero, and Empire ranked him the 11th greatest movie character.