  |
This article's content is marked as Mature The page contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature pages are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older. If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page. |
| “ | Oh yeah, a buffer. The family had a lot of buffers! | „ |
| ~ Willie Cicci to Patrick Geary. |
Willie Cicci is a minor character from the Godfather novel and film and later a minor antagonist of it's 1974 sequel The Godfather Part II. He is a gangster working for the Corleone Family as an enforcer for Peter Clemenza and, after Clemenza's death, Frank Pentangeli.
He was portrayed by the late Joe Spinell, who also portrayed Frank Zito in Maniac.
Biography[]
The Godfather[]
Willie Cicci was a member of the Corleone crime family, first as a regular soldier under Peter Clemenza's regime. He also worked closely with Underboss and later Acting Don Santino Corleone acting as one of his bodyguards during the days of the five families war. Cicci was present when Santino beat his brother in law Carlo Rizzi for beating his sister Connie.
As years passed by, Cicci gained a reputation in the family as an efficient killer, and soon was tasked with more important missions. In 1955 , he was tasked by his boss Michael Corleone and his superior Clemenza with eliminating Carmine Cuneo, one of the Dons of the five families of New Tork and an enemy of the Corleones. Cicci trapped Cuneo in the revolving doors of a hotel and shoot him five times killing him. Shortly after he was also tasked with executing the Caporegime Salvatore Tessio, who had betrayed Michael Corleone. Cicci respected Tessio but had to follow orders. It's not clear if Cicci killed Tessio himself or simply oversaw the execution. Cicci continued to serve Clemenza who was then in charge of the Corleone operations in New York and his right-hand man Frank Pentangelli.
The Godfather Part II[]
In 1958, after Peter Clemenza died to a supposed heart attack and Frank took his place, Cicci was his right-hand man and bodyguard. Cicci never believed that Clemenza died from a heart attack and always suspected along with his boss Frank, that the Rosato Brothers had some involvement in this. When Frank asked Michael for his help to get rid of the Rosatos, Cicci accompanied him and often tried to hold him back every time he went overboard. Michael refused to aid him in killing them as he had business with their boss, Hyman Roth, so both of them returned to New York.
Soon, an failed assassination attempted against Michael happened, with Frank Pentangeli being the primary suspect initially. Michael went to see him but revealed that he believed that Hyman Roth was behind the hit so he asked Frank to make peace with the Rosatos for the time being. Frank and Cicci set up a meeting with the Rosatos on one of their bars. Cicci wanted to accompany him in the meeting as he didn't trust the Rosatos but Frank told him to stay in the car. Frank was soon betrayed and attacked causing Cicci to act. He tried to shoot the Rosatos, but they hit him with their car escaping. Cicci was then arrested by the police.
In 1959, Cicci was present as a witness in a senate hearing about organized crime. There he confessed that he was killing under the orders of Michael Corleone in order to gain a lighter sentence. He was also present during Frank Pentangeli's testimony in that same room.
Trivia[]
- Willie Cicci was supposed to return for the third film, where he would appear as a major antagonist. However, Joe Spinell's death in 1989 caused his role to be replaced by the character of Joey Zasa.
[]
 Villains
| ||
|
The Commission Corleone Family Tattaglia Family Barzini Family Stracci Family Cuneo Family Almedia Family Mangano Family Granados Family Rosato Family Others | ||