20 Facts About Peter Clemenza

Peter Clemenza is a fictional character who first appeared in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather.

Peter Clemenza is played by Academy Award-nominee Richard Castellano in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 film adaptation of the novel, and by Bruno Kirby in The Godfather Part II.

Peter Clemenza is a supporting character in the main story, but several of his actions are key to the plot.

Peter Clemenza assigns the job to his best soldier, Paulie Gatto; Gatto enlists two former boxers who work as enforcers for the family to help him give the boys a severe beating.

Peter Clemenza considers Gatto's actions a personal insult, as Gatto had been his protege.

Peter Clemenza has Gatto drive him and Lampone around for several hours on the pretext of locating housing for Corleone soldiers in the event war breaks out with the other Mafia families.

When it is decided that Vito's youngest son, Michael, will murder Sollozzo and Captain Mark McCluskey, a corrupt NYPD captain on Sollozzo's payroll, Peter Clemenza is assigned to prepare a gun for Michael to use, instruct him how and when to use it, and what to do after the shooting.

Michael retrieves the gun, which Peter Clemenza had planted in the bathroom of a restaurant, and kills Sollozzo and McCluskey.

Peter Clemenza is last seen greeting Michael as "Don Corleone" and kissing Michael's hand as a sign of respect.

Peter Clemenza appears in several flashbacks to Vito Corleone's early days, played by Bruno Kirby.

Peter Clemenza first meets Vito when asking his neighbor to hide some guns so the police won't find them.

Vito does so, and Peter Clemenza repays the favor by stealing an expensive carpet and giving it to the Corleones for their apartment.

Around the same time, Vito and Peter Clemenza befriend a young Salvatore Tessio, who joins their gang.

Peter Clemenza initially suggests that they pay Fanucci to avoid any problems with him, but Vito talks him and Tessio into letting him "persuade" Fanucci to accept less money.

Peter Clemenza is last seen at Vito's side as they open Genco Pura Olive Oil, the front for their criminal empire.

Peter Clemenza appears briefly in Puzo's second Godfather installment, The Sicilian.

Peter Clemenza meets with Michael during his exile in Sicily at his brother Domenico's home in Trapani.

Peter Clemenza tells Michael that he should report to him after a week, with or without Giuliano, and that Michael might soon be able to return to America afterward.

However, due to Castellano's death in 1988, all of Peter Clemenza's dialogue had to be recorded by actor Jason Schombing.

Peter Clemenza gives him several missions, most of which are focused on weakening the power of other Mafia families, particularly the Cuneo family.