Carlo Rizzi

Carlo Rizzi is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather. In the 1972 film adaptation, he was portrayed by Gianni Russo. A native of Nevada, Rizzi migrates to New York City following trouble with the law and befriends Sonny Corleone, through whom he met Sonny's sister Connie in 1941 at a surprise birthday party for Sonny's father Vito (depicted in a flashback in The Godfather Part II). They get married in 1945; both the book and f... more

Carlo Rizzi is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather. In the 1972 film adaptation, he was portrayed by Gianni Russo. A native of Nevada, Rizzi migrates to New York City following trouble with the law and befriends Sonny Corleone, through whom he met Sonny's sister Connie in 1941 at a surprise birthday party for Sonny's father Vito (depicted in a flashback in The Godfather Part II). They get married in 1945; both the book and film open with their wedding. Vito doesn't like the idea of Connie marrying a small-time criminal. He is also displeased by the fact that Rizzi isn't a full-blooded Sicilian; his mother was from northern Italy, hence Carlo's blue eyes and blonde hair (although his appearance is changed drastically in the film). He only grants Connie's hand in marriage on condition that they hold an old-style Sicilian wedding. Rizzi is thrilled at the prestige of being a member of the Corleone crime family, but Vito instructs consigliere Tom Hagen not to allow... less