In his new memoir titled “Hollywood Godfather,” actor Gianni Russo, known for his role in “The Godfather,” has unveiled some bombshell revelations.
The autobiography delves into a mob conspiracy to assassinate JFK, an intimate encounter with Marilyn Monroe when he was just 16, and a confrontation with Marlon Brando.
During an interview with Page Six, Russo, who portrayed Carlo Rizzi in “The Godfather,” shared the details of his clash with Brando.
He stated, “Brando tried to get me fired…
He approached me and asked, ‘Are you a big TV actor?'
I replied, ‘No.'
He then questioned, ‘Do you have a major movie coming up?'
Once again, I responded with ‘No.'
He continued, ‘Well, you're not on Broadway — I know everyone on Broadway!'
I retorted, ‘Is this a quiz show?'
Brando then called Francis [Ford Coppola] over and insisted that he reconsider casting me.”
Recalling the incident, Russo added, “I thought to myself, ‘This guy is trying to ruin my career.'
I put my arm around Brando, taking him aside.
I warned him, ‘If you mess this up for me, I'll destroy your reputation and make you suffer.'
He stepped back and acknowledged, ‘That was brilliant.
You can handle this.'
He believed I was merely acting, but I was dead serious!
I would have harmed him.”
Russo also revealed that Brando often hitched rides to the set in his luxurious Bentley limousine.
“My Chinese female chauffeur would pick him up every day,” Russo disclosed.
“Little did I know about his preference for Chinese women.
He would ride with me and rehearse our lines together.”
Furthermore, Russo expressed his gratitude to Brando for mentoring him in acting.
He stated, “Brando was my sole acting instructor.
Frank Sinatra taught me how to sing, and Marilyn Monroe transformed me into a man…
I was with her until the last two days of her life.
For a year, she stayed in New York, meeting me in disguises at the Subway bar on Lexington and 59th Street.
Nobody recognized her.
And the best part was walking across the Brooklyn Bridge together.
She loved admiring Manhattan from the other side.”
To promote his book, Russo personally delivered a copy to us while sporting a stylish Gucci sweatsuit.
Additionally, he will share more captivating stories from his time on “The Godfather” on the AftershockXL podcast hosted by Steve Grillo and Jesse Nash.
The podcast will be available on the Battle Chats YouTube channel and Periscope this Sunday.
Related Posts
- What Marlon Brando Thought About Marilyn Monroe’s Tragic Demise
- What Marlon Brando Thought About Marilyn Monroe’s Passing
- Troubled Marilyn Monroe Seeks Marlon Brando’s Aid
- Marlon Brando’s Shocking Revelation: The Alleged Murder of Marilyn Monroe
- Marlon Brando’s Revelations: The Affair with Marilyn Monroe