Tom Hagen

Tom Hagen was a secondary antagonist in The Godfather novel and the first and second films.

Tom was the son of Martin and Bridget Hagen, and was of Irish-German ancestry. Martin was an alcoholic who abandoned Tom after Bridget died. Tom was homeless when he was discovered by Sonny Corleone, who brought him home and convinced his father Vito Corleone to take him in.

Vito did not adopt Hagen because he thought it would be disrespectful to Tom's parents, but he became every bit the father Tom never had. Tom went to law school and became a lawyer. After graduating from law school Tom entered into the family business.

When Vito's orginal consigliere Genco Abbandando became seriously ill Vito made Tom acting consigliere. Upon Abbandando's death Vito named consigliere on a permanent basis, which was controversial due to Tom's non-Italian heritage.

After Vito's retirement Tom was removed as consigliere by Michael Corleone as Tom was not a wartime consigliere. Following Vito's death Michael reappointed him as consigliere, a role Tom held as Michael made the Corleone family into one of the most powerful crime families in the nation.

Tom died sometime prior to 1979. His son Andrew was ordained to the priesthood, and due to the recommendation of Michael he was assigned to the Vatican.