Don Altobello

Osvaldo "Ozzie" Altobello is a fictional character and the primary antagonist of the film The Godfather Part III. He also appears in the novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge. In the film, he is portrayed by Eli Wallach.

He is an aging gangster and longstanding ally of the Corleone crime family. He was the consigliere of Rico Tattaglia from 1955 to 1961, and becomes the don of the Tattaglia crime family in 1962. By the time of Godfather III, he has become a close friend and ally of Michael Corleone. Altobello even donates one million dollars so he could be a part of the Vito Corleone Foundation. Aside from being an associate of Michael's, Altobello is also Connie Corleone's godfather.

The film plot implies that Altobello wants in on Michael Corleone's investments as Corleone tries to complete his family's move from crime-based profits to legitimate business. Altobellow skillfully hides his nefarious intentions for the most part. However, Michael becomes suspicious of his motives after Joey Zasa, a Corleone Family rival, orchestrates an assassination attempt on Michael and other family heads assembled for a Commission meeting. Altobello leaves the conference room before the attack. Michael escapes without injury, but many of the others in the room are killed. Michael then instructs his nephew Vincent Mancini-Corleone to go to Altobello and pledge his allegiance to him, without promising to betray Michael.

While in Sicily, Altobello enlists the services of an assassin, Mosca, who conspires to kill Michael at the Teatro Massimo opera house when Anthony Corleone is set to debut in Cavalleria Rusticana. Before the performance, Connie Corleone presents him with a box of cannoli as a birthday gift. It is implied that he suspects the cannoli is poisoned and asks Connie to have some, so Connie barely nibbles a piece, reassuring Altobello. The cannoli does turn out to be poisoned, however, and Altobello dies in his seat as Connie watches sadly through her opera glasses.


The Godfather
Novels
  • The Godfather
  • The Sicilian
  • The Godfather Returns
  • The Godfather's Revenge
  • The Family Corleone
Films
  • The Godfather
  • The Godfather Part II
  • The Godfather Part III
Video games
  • The Godfather
  • The Godfather: The Game
  • The Godfather II
Corleone family
  • Vito Corleone
  • Michael Corleone
  • Tom Hagen
  • Sonny Corleone
  • Fredo Corleone
  • Carmela Corleone
  • Connie Corleone
  • Apollonia Vitelli-Corleone
  • Kay Adams-Corleone
  • Anthony Corleone
  • Mary Corleone
  • Vincent Corleone
  • Sandra Corleone
Corleone family allies
  • Genco Abbandando
  • Luca Brasi
  • Willi Cicci
  • Peter Clemenza
  • Sam Drago
  • B. J. Harrison
  • Carmine Marino
  • Rocco Lampone
  • Tony Molinari
  • Sal Narducci
  • Al Neri
  • Tommy Neri
  • Ritchie Nobilio
  • Eddie Paradise
  • Frank Pentangeli
  • Salvatore Tessio
  • Don Tommasino
  • Carlo Tramonti
  • Joe Zaluchi
Corleone family enemies
  • Don Altobello
  • Momo Barone
  • Emilio Barzini
  • Ottilio Cuneo
  • Don Fanucci
  • Vincent Forlenza
  • Paulie Fortunato
  • Nick Geraci
  • Archbishop Gilday
  • Moe Greene
  • Frederick Keinszig
  • Joe Lucadello
  • Licio Lucchesi
  • Captain McCluskey
  • Mosca
  • Johnny Ola
  • Carlo Rizzi
  • Antonio "Tony" Rosato
  • Carmine Rosato
  • Hyman Roth
  • Louie Russo
  • Virgil Sollozzo
  • Anthony Stracci
  • Bruno Tattaglia
  • Philip Tattaglia
  • Rico Tattaglia
  • Joey Zasa
Others
  • Amerigo Bonasera
  • Johnny Fontane
  • Pat Geary
  • Cardinal Lamberto
  • Lucy Mancini
  • Danny Shea
  • Mickey Shea
  • Billy Van Arsdale
  • Jack Woltz
  • Aldo Trapani
Other families
  • Barzini Family
  • Carmine Rosato Family
  • Stracci family
  • Tattaglia crime family
Music
  • The Godfather (soundtrack)
  • The Godfather Part II (soundtrack)
  • The Godfather Part III (soundtrack)
  • "Speak Softly Love"
  • "Promise Me You'll Remember"
  • The Godfather: The Game Soundtrack
Miscellaneous
  • Francis Ford Coppola
  • Mario Puzo
  • Albert S. Ruddy
  • Nino Rota
  • Dean Tavoularis
  • Gordon Willis
  • Mark Winegardner
  • Edward Falco
  • Crime film
  • Organized crime
  • American Mafia
  • Sicilian Mafia
  • Five Families
  • Corleone
  • The Godfather Papers and Other Confessions
  • The Sicilian
  • The Freshman
  • The Godfather Saga
  • Omertà
  • Book
  • Category

Famous quotes containing the word don:

    When you think of the huge uninterrupted success of a book like Don Quixote, you’re bound to realize that if humankind have not yet finished being revenged, by sheer laughter, for being let down in their greatest hope, it is because that hope was cherished so long and lay so deep!
    Georges Bernanos (1888–1948)