Lenny Montana (born Leonardo Passafaro; March 13, 1926 – May 12, 1992) was an Italian-American actor. Prior to becoming an actor, he had a career as a professional wrestler and enforcer for the Mafia.

He portrayed Luca Brasi in The Godfather.

Biography

Born in Brooklyn, Montana became known as professional wrestler, who started out in 1953 in New Jersey, notching up a string of accomplishments in the ring before retiring in the early 1960s. He then became involved with the Colombo crime family as an arsonist, bodyguard and enforcer, and spent time in prison towards the end of the 1960s. He was working as a bodyguard for a Colombo family member on the set of The Godfather when he was approached by Al Ruddy to play the part of Luca Brasi, his six foot six inch height and 320 pound frame deemend perfect for the part.[1][2]

His role as Luca Brasi in The Godfather, was his first acting role, and he was supposedly so nervous about appearing opposite Marlon Brando that he kept bungling his lines. Eventually, this was written into the script as an attack of nerves.

He appeared in several more films, including an Italian spoof version of The Godfather, The Funny Face of the Godfather. He died of a heart attack whilst residing in Lindenhurst in 1992.

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