Hollywood Godfather

My Life in the Movies and the Mob

By: Gianni Russo, Patrick Picciarelli

Narrated by: Gianni Russo

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

This program is read by the author and includes a bonus conversation.

The over-the-top memoir of a real-life mobster-turned-actor who helped make The Godfather a reality, and his story of life on the edge between danger and glamour. 

Gianni Russo was a handsome 25-year-old mobster with no acting experience when he walked onto the set of The Godfather and entered Hollywood history. He played Carlo Rizzi, the husband of Connie Corleone, who set her brother Sonny - played by James Caan - up for a hit. Russo didn't have to act - he knew the mob inside and out: from his childhood in Little Italy, where Mafia legend Frank Costello took him under his wing, to acting as a messenger for New Orleans mob boss Carlos Marcello during the Kennedy assassination, to having to go on the lam after shooting and killing a member of the Colombian drug cartel in his Vegas club. 

Along the way, Russo befriended Frank Sinatra, who became his son's godfather, and Marlon Brando, who mentored his career as an actor after trying to get Francis Ford Coppola to fire him from The Godfather. Russo had passionate affairs with Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minelli, and scores of other celebrities. He went on to star in The Godfather: Parts I and II, Seabiscuit, Any Given Sunday, and Rush Hour 2, among many other films, and also acted as producer on several. Hollywood Godfather is his no-holds-barred account of a life lived on the edge. It is a story filled with violence, glamour, sex - and fun.

©2019 Gianni Russo (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Gianni Russo walks the walk and talks the talk. What a life. Fascinating. A worthy read." (Robert De Niro)

If everything in this book is true; F-n-A!

Book was well written and easy to follow. I Listened all the way through in one sitting on a long car ride. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy all genres of books.

Can't listen to it any longer

At first I thought the book had entertainment value. I invested time in it but could not finish. It's clearly filled with made up stories. I don't know where the truth ends and fiction starts, but some of the stories probably had no truth at all.

He has a great speaking voice, but even that couldn't get me to the conclusion.

The guy is completely full of it.

No way half of this ever happened. Dude is the ultimate drama king. Don't buy.

Honestly???

This mans story is incredible....incredible to believe. Worked with the mob, slept with Marilyn, rubbed elbows with presidents, successful and made rich with every business adventure, donates his money charity, etc. Please....I’m getting cancer from all the smoke being blown up my you know what.

untoppable stories.

narrated in true brooklynese accent...very original. seems impossible to be true, but would make a better movie then the godfather.

Incredible

I’m still mulling over in my mind the information in this book. Once I started this book I listened to it any time I could. I finished in 3 days. If these are the types of books you enjoy, you will love this book.

Thank you for sharing your story

Being from Queens NY as a kid I remember hearing the stories of the families in this book and it took me back to a world that for good or bad doesn't exist anymore. There was always a certain respect on the streets that if broken could cost you dearly. But constantly seeing well dressed men have the respect from people on the streets left a lasting impression on me. I say that the days of real men are over and seems like everyone in this new world is soft. Being from NYC you grew up knowing the rules of the streets, there was a kind of order, you could see it everywhere from the local police, the men who hanged off the side of the garage trucks, the teachers in my school. It was a certain mix of fear and respect you could see in everyones eyes. The way people spoke always came off to me as respectful and when seeing a Cadillac or a Lincoln driving around your neighborhood it commanded a respect that you knew something was going on or someone broke the rules and was getting a visit. Thank you again for reminding me that the world I remember as a kid wasn't just in my head.

Some Mysteries Solved

I believe this to be a book worth you time. Frankly, I could not put it down, or in this case, stop listening. One of the things it helped to reinforce for me is that I have good reason not to look up to actors and singers as role models. Many, it seems, are sleaze bags and simply not nice people. Mr. Russo has painted a very no-holds-barred picture of what he has gone through in his life. He is a fighter and must have great internal strength to get through what he has gotten through. I wish him well as he tries to put the mob further behind him in an effort to bring his children closer to him.

Amazing story

Gianni did an amazing job telling his story. Definitely worth reading and hearing him read it was an added bonus.

Read this book.

This was the most interesting 10 hours you'll ever spend. Gross, hilarious, mind bending, Gianni Russo is the Forrest Gump of the wise guys, the Mafia, the Cosa Nostra.