Carlo Rizzi

Carlo Rizzi is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather. In the 1972 film adaptation, he was portrayed by Gianni Russo. A native of Nevada, Rizzi migrates to New York City following trouble with the law and befriends Sonny Corleone, through whom he met Sonny's sister Connie in 1941 at a surprise birthday party for Sonny's father Vito (depicted in a flashback in The Godfather Part II). They get married in 1945; both the book and film open with their wedding. Vito doesn't like the idea of Connie marrying a small-time criminal, and is also displeased by the fact that Carlo isn't a full-blooded Sicilian; his mother was from northern Italy, hence Carlo's blue eyes and blond hair. He only grants Connie's hand in marriage on...