Anecdotes

In director Francis Ford Coppola's commentary for The Godfather, he said that Al Lettieri's performance helped bring out the incredible performance by then-newcomer Al Pacino, quoting the adage that a great villain helps make a great hero. Coppola also said that Lettieri being able to speak fluent Sicilian added to the character during the game-changing Italian restaurant scene.

Only actor credited as starring in Le Parrain (1972) who is not on the poster.

In his two most remembered roles, "The Godfather" and "The Getaway", he plays a villain to characters who are also "bad guys" (the mafia in "The Godfather" and bank robbers in "The Getaway").

Played the villain to two of the most popular action-movie tough-guy-actors of the 1970's: Steve McQueen in The Getaway and Charles Bronson in Mr. Majestyk.

Francis Ford Coppola said that Al was the only actor besides John Wayne who was completely barrel-chested.

Name is recorded as "Alfredo Lettieri" on the Social Security Death Index.

He appeared in two movies starring Marlon Brando: The Godfather, and three years prior, The Night of the Following Day.

Died at St. Vincent Hospital in New York.