CineScope
Lenny Montana picture

Lenny Montana

Acting
Known For

66 Years Old

Tall and solidly built, this Italian-American professional wrestler turned actor was born Lenny Passaforo in Brooklyn, New York, and is best remembered for his first on-screen role as the not too bright but ever loyal bodyguard Luca Brasi in The Godfather (1972). Montana didn't get a lot of screen time before being eliminated by the henchmen of opposing gangster Al Lettieri with a garrote and a knife; however, he caught the eye of casting agents and over the next ten years racked up roles in 16 movies. Usually cast as "muscle for hire", he was equally good at playing the intimidating thug or a buffoonish hoodlum, such as in Battle Creek Brawl (1980) and The Jerk (1979). His last film appearance was in the B-thriller Blood Song (1982), which he also co-wrote. He died in May 1992 of a heart attack while in Italy.

Born

Brooklyn, New York, USA on 13th March 1926

Died

12th May 1992

All Credits

Magnum, P.I. Image
Magnum, P.I.
Marquis' Bodyguard
The Godfather Image
The Godfather
Luca Brasi
Kojak Image
Kojak
McCoy
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television Image
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
Luca Brasi (uncredited)
Search Image
Search
The Jerk Image
The Jerk
Con Man
The Big Brawl Image
The Big Brawl
John
The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic Image
The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic
Luca Brasi (uncredited)
Evilspeak Image
Evilspeak
Jake
...All the Marbles Image
...All the Marbles
Jerome
Seven Image
Seven
The Kahuna
Change of Habit Image
Change of Habit
Grocer (uncredited)
Matilda Image
Matilda
Hood #1
Pandemonium Image
Pandemonium
Coach
Defiance Image
Defiance
Whacko
Strike Force Image
Strike Force
Italian Dockworker
Fingers Image
Fingers
Luchino
They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way Image
They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way
Brick
Below the Belt Image
Below the Belt
The Geek
Blood Song Image
Blood Song
Skipper
Contract on Cherry Street Image
Contract on Cherry Street
Phil Lombardi
The Funny Face of the Godfather Image
The Funny Face of the Godfather
Saro
No Image
Patty
The Racketeer
Patty Image
Patty
The Racketeer