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July 9, 2022 • 4 hours ago • 2 minutes reading • 9 comments Hello, Carlo. James Caan, left, as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, hits his brother-in-law Carlo. Photo of HANDOUT / PARAMOUNT PICTURES
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Iconic actor James Caan not only played a gangster on the big screen, but was hooked on Colombo’s real-life criminal family, says Gambino’s former deputy chief Salvatore ‘Sammy the Bull’, Gravano.
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Godfather Caan’s 82-year-old star died Thursday.
When the news of his death came out, Gravano, whose witness torpedoed Chief John Gotti, was being interviewed by Meghan Kelly.
Former Gambino sub-head Sammy ‘The Bull’ Gravano. Photo of HANDOUT / SALVATORE GRAVANO
Gravano claims that Caan had to ask permission from Chief Joe Colombo to appear in The Godfather as the fire Sonny Corleone. The gangster was present at the time.
“I was in the mob,” Gravano told Kelly. “James Caan was inside, he was stuck with the mob.”
Gravano continued, “I was there when he came down and asked permission to be in that movie. I was there with (future boss) Carmine Persico. Joe Colombo gave him the role. He was connected to the Colombo family.”
Too honest. Sammy (El Toro) Gravano. (Getty Images)
Kelly was skeptical, mostly because Caan was Jewish and not Italian.
Gravano replied that the actor was not a man made (only Italians) but an associate.
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Caan’s role in the 1972 blockbuster would earn him an Oscar nomination and mark his place in film history.
“He’s a partner in the mob,” Gravano said. “In other words, he is now registered with the mafia as an associate.”
“He’s not a done member,” Gravano explained. “He is not one of us, but he is a member of Colombo. Like (Frank) Sinatra.
Kelly quickly told viewers that Gravano’s claims could not be verified immediately and said he “would feel uncomfortable if none of this is true, despising him on the day of his death.”
James Caan attending the premiere of “Henry’s Crime” during the Toronto International Film Festival, September 14, 2010. Photo by Alex Urosevic / Toronto Sun
Gravano was a key player in the Gambino criminal family, orchestrating the legendary 1985 Christmas hit on Chief Paul Castellano outside New York’s Sparks Steakhouse.
He eventually became deputy chief under Gotti and had been known for his clever ability to win and keep a low profile. Gotti did not possess any of these mafia prerequisites.
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In 1991, Gravano turned around when he overheard Gotti’s FBI wiretaps discussing plans for the muscular mobster to face a plethora of crimes. The deputy chief knew his days were numbered and began to cooperate.
The result was that 39 gangsters, including the boss, were sent to prison.
Gravano now hosts a popular underworld podcast called Our Thing and is in demand as a film and television speaker and consultant.
On the anniversary of Castellano’s success, Gravano told The Toronto Sun that he was no longer afraid for his life and that many mobsters would eventually thank him for overthrowing John Gotti.
The striking Gotti was bad for business.
bhunter@postmedia.com
@HunterTOSun
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