Anthony Corleone

Anthony Corleone
Franc D'Ambrosio as Anthony Corleone in The Godfather, Part III
First appearance	The Godfather
Last appearance	The Godfather, Part III
Created by	Mario Puzo
Portrayed by	Franc D'Ambrosio
In-universe information
Gender	Male
Family	Corleone family

Anthony Vito Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather trilogy of films directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He is portrayed by Anthony Gounaris in the first film, James Gounaris in the second, and singer Franc D'Ambrosio in the third. The character was given the name Anthony because it was thought that the three-year-old Gounaris of the first film would respond best if his own name was used. Anthony Corleone is also the older brother of Mary Corleone. While Anthony was never a major character in the first two films, major events in his life were the backdrop of key parts of the second film, and his relationship with his father is a plot point in the third films. He was not mentioned by name in the novel. His middle name, Vito, was probably named after the don and his grandfather.

Fictional character biography

The Godfather, Part II

The second film's plotline opens in 1958, with Anthony's first communion, a very important moment for many Catholics in their childhood. It continues with an extravagant banquet held in his honor near Lake Tahoe. During this banquet, his father is largely tied up with family business, a theme which would repeat itself throughout the film. Tony receives many gifts, mostly from people he does not know.

Later in the film, he and his sister, Mary, overhear their parents fighting, during the fight Kay mentions something has happened to Anthony but Michael refuses to believe he has influenced his son in any terrible way. Michael and Kay eventually become separated by the end of the film. Anthony seems to resent his mother's role in the divorce, and as a result is sullen and reluctant to kiss her during a visit. At the end of the film, he develops a friendship with his uncle Fredo (John Cazale) and as a child is due to go fishing with him, until Michael intervenes and requests Anthony accompany him to Reno. Fredo is then assassinated by Al Neri at Michael's order.

The Godfather, Part III

A fully-grown Anthony attends Michael's celebration on his receipt of a citation from the Pope, along with his mother and sister. At the banquet that follows, he confronts his father, along with Kay, and tells him that he is quitting law school for a career in opera, and will not join the family business, claiming it has brought him nothing but "bad memories" (similar to Michael's initial opinion about Vito's criminal activities). This infuriates Michael, who wants him to be a lawyer even if he is not in the "family business". Nevertheless, Michael relents and gives his blessing at Kay's insistence. Kay also tells Michael (in secret) that Anthony knows that he had Fredo killed, and has resented him for it ever since.

Anthony's operatic career is a success, and he is given the lead in the opera Cavalleria Rusticana in Palermo, Sicily. Overjoyed, his family join him for the premiere. As a gift at a gathering, he performs the traditional Sicilian ballad "Brucia La Terra" (the official theme of the trilogy). During this visit, he joins his parents in criticizing his sister's relationship with their cousin, Vincent (Andy Garcia).

The film concludes with Anthony performing his debut. Although the production is a success, it is overshadowed by numerous murders and assassinations during the evening, several of which occur right at the opera house. After the concert, Mary is shot and killed in a failed attempt to assassinate Michael. Mary's death devastates Anthony, but what happens to him afterwards is unknown, as the proposed fourth film was to follow Vincent instead of Anthony.

Sequel novels

Anthony appears in Mark Winegardner's sequel novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge. He begins his interest in music.