He has been part of the Family Business his whole life and steps in as Don after Don Vito is shot. Sonny is known for his explosive temper and is not as bright as Michael or Tom Hagen. Santino "Sonny" Corleone is one of Don Corleone's sons, played by James Caan. He is married to Theresa (who is Italian) and has two sons, Frank and Andrew. Hagen is loyal through and through, and is often a voice of reason between Sonny's wild temper and Michael's cold-blooded ruthlessness. Hagen is of German-Irish descent, which Sonny and Michael often use as a way to discredit him as a "wartime consigliere". Tom Hagenĭon Corleone's adopted son and the family's even-keeled consigliere, played by Robert Duvall. He proves himself to be much more ruthless and power-hungry than his father. Back in New York, Michael becomes the head of the Corleone family and marries Kay Adams, his college sweetheart and has a son, Anthony. Then, he receives news that his older brother, Sonny has been murdered and soon thereafter, Apollonia is killed in a car bomb meant for her husband. After carrying out the murders, Michael hides out in Sicily and marries a young woman named Apollonia. However, when Michael's father is attacked and nearly killed by a rival gangster, Michael steps up and volunteers to kill his father's attackers in order to keep the old man safe. After the war ends, Michael comes back to New York but makes it clear that he does not want to join his family's business. He went to Dartmouth College but dropped out to join the Marine Corps in World War II. Michael Corleoneĭon Vito Corleone's youngest son, played by Al Pacino in his star-making role. During the twilight of his life, Don Corleone relaxes and enjoys being a grandfather as well as a consigliere to Michael. After Sonny is murdered, Don Corleone, recognizing his skill, puts Michael in power. He once had hopes that Michael would go into politics or another "legitimate" avenue of power, but after Don Corleone is shot, Michael quickly steps up to protect his father. He loves all of his children and includes Sonny, Fredo, and Tom in the family business. I saw him as a man of substance, tradition, dignity, refinement, a man of unerring instinct who just happened to live in a violent world and who had to protect himself and his family in this environment" (Jones 139).ĭon Corleone has three sons - Santino "Sonny", Fredo, and Michael, one daughter, Connie, and an adopted son, Tom Hagen. In his autobiography, Marlon Brando described Don Corleone as "a gentle man, unlike Al Capone, who beat up people with baseball bats. He is an Italian immigrant of Sicilian origin who has built an organized crime empire in New York. Don Vito Corelone, "The Godfather" is one of the most iconic film characters of all time, played by Marlon Brando.