Gianni Russo: Luck, Legends, Life Well Lived
By Kelly Ross
One of my favorite lines ever in my life, which I first heard on the golf course years ago, is “I’d rather be lucky than good,” which certainly applied to my golf game, and to my writing life right now. I have always enjoyed writing, and although I think I’m decent at it, I was given an opportunity that I will put into the “lucky” category, as the powers that be at The Laker asked me if I would be interested in interviewing with Gianni Russo. I think it is safe to say that much of the older population has not only heard of but watched the movie The Godfather many times, just like me.
Mr. Russo played the role of Carlos Rizzi, the young groom at the wedding, to start the movie as he was marrying the Godfather’s only daughter, played by Talia Shire. His role was tough for many to watch as he abused his wife, was a traitor to the Corleone family, resulting in the death of Sonny, and eventually his own death at the end of the movie. Many of my favorite movies are well known for some classic lines, but when you hear lines such as, “Leave the gun, take the cannoli”, or “Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes”, and maybe most famously, “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse”, we all know the movie is The Godfather, arguably the best movie of all time. When this newspaper asked me if I would be interested in interviewing Mr. Gianni Russo, being the giant fan of The Godfather that I am, not only did I know exactly who he is, but the answer would be an immediate “YES!”. I was lucky enough to speak to Gianni for 45 minutes, and not only could I have spoken to him for an entire weekend, but he was also amazingly gracious, sharing anything and everything about his very full life, as he is one of the busiest men that I have ever met. We spoke the day after his 82nd birthday.
His life was hardly easy as a kid, but he forged through it all to become an enormously successful actor, mobster, restaurateur, businessman, motivational speaker, musician, have a clothing line, owner of Corleone Fine Italian Foods and Vodka, with great Godfather connotations, I might add, as well as an established author. His latest book, Mafia Secrets, Untold Tales from the Hollywood Godfather, is selling very well and he is doing a local book tour/signing, which includes dinner and an 80 minute show featuring his many stories and pictures/videos of his storied life with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, as well as many famous mob names including Frank Costello. He shows are on Thursday, January 28, at Purity Springs/King Pine in Madison from 6 to 8:30 pm and the following night at The Christmas Farm Inn in Jackson, also from 6 - 8:30 pm. After reading the rest of this article, you will understand why these shows are called “An Evening You Can’t Refuse”. There is no doubt in my mind that this will be an epic evening I will never forget.
As a young boy living in The Bronx and Little Italy, he was diagnosed with polio and was forced to stay in a mental hospital for 7 years, as that was what was sadly done with polio cases. When released, he was weak and grabbed a job in a bakery mixing and kneading over 50 lbs. of flour into bread dough every day, which strengthened his arms and legs as well, as he was on his feet a lot. He was nicknamed “The Kid” by mobster Frank Costello, for whom Gianni did miscellaneous jobs. When he reached the age of 15, he was working as a shampoo boy for young actresses, including Marilyn Monroe, which was the start of a friendship, at times romantic, that lasted until her death. Gianni, as well as famous writer James Patterson, are among many big names pushing for a national petition to have Ms. Monroe’s death certificate changed from suicide to homicide. Their case for this is very compelling, and if you go to Mr. Russo’s website, I think you will be intrigued enough to sign it. This will be a major topic of his dinner shows.
Although with no acting experience, he was given the role of Carlos Rizzi in The Godfather through some of his connections, and although most of the cast were relatively new to the movie business, they were all very talented and educated thespians. Marlon Brando, the biggest star in the movie, wasn’t overly impressed early on with Gianni but after a few back and forth “discussions”, Mr. Brando took Gianni under his wing and gave him a bunch of “on the job” training which not only made the part of Carlos very believable, it was the start of a wonderful friendship, to the point Gianni hired Marlon for a movie of his, The Freshman, a classic satire on mob movies, and a movie that gave Mr. Brando his biggest movie pay day ever. Gianni got to know Brando’s family well, including the tragedies that the family had to deal with.
Besides his books, especially the new one, Mafia Secrets, which is a #1 best seller, his line of Corleone Fine Italian Foods and Vodka continues to keep Gianni very busy, especially with his present book tour going on. As for the food line, he purchased the rights to the Corleone name and has Genko Olive Oil from the movie, and has a few great names for some of his sauces, such as Clemenza’s Meat Sauce and Fredo’s Alfredo, which makes me smile.
Gianni has acted in many movies and television shows over the years, as well as doing behind-the-scenes work. He’s also recorded a CD that is a tribute to his friends Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, named Reflections. Gianni’s friendship with Mr. Sinatra is legendary and lasted for many years, and Frank was huge as a singing coach to Gianni. In one of my favorite quotes from Mr. Russo, he mentioned, “I am likely the only person ever to have had Marlon Brando as a personal acting coach and Frank Sinatra as a personal singing coach.” That is a small part of a very cool and outstanding life, and his stories, combined with his famous friends, had me on the edge of my seat throughout the interview. He is gracious, brutally honest, and has an amazing sense of humor. I felt I had known him all my life. His schedule, with all he has going on, had me exhausted, and I’m 20 years younger than him. He still proudly lives in NYC.
Again, Gianni’s two upcoming shows in the Mt Washington Valley are on January 28 and 29 with an amazing show from a living legend, whom I am honored to say I’ve interviewed. Dinner is part of the package, accompanied by Gianni’s incredible life and his very fun way with words; it is guaranteed to have you feeling almost all emotions possible. If you’re there and meet him, please tell him I sent you his way.
To check out his amazing life and find a little more info on what to expect if you go see him live, as well as info on getting tickets, visit http://www.giannirusso.com.
I hope to see many of you there because there is no way I’m going to miss it!