Carmine Caridi

Carmine Caridi (January 23, 1934 – May 28, 2019) was an American film, television and stage actor. He is best known for his roles in the films The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III (1990).

Life and career Caridi's most notable film roles are Carmine Rosato in The Godfather Part II (1974) and Albert Volpe in The Godfather Part III (1990).

According to studio executive Robert Evans in his 1994 memoir The Kid Stays in the Picture, Caridi was director Francis Ford Coppola's first choice for the role of Sonny Corleone, but Evans insisted on James Caan because Caridi was too tall to play opposite Al Pacino. However, according to author Mark Seal in his 2022 book Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli, Caan had been Coppola's choice from the start, who had major battles with Evans over this and other major casting decisions for The Godfather. In Mark Seal's account, Coppola attended theatre arts school with Caan and directed him, along with actor Robert Duvall, in the film The Rain People.

Caridi appeared in the cult movie Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978), playing amusement park manager Calvin Richards, and appeared as Sam Giancana in the 1992 film Ruby.

On television, he portrayed Dan Valenti on Phyllis from 1976 to 1977. In 1978, he appeared as Di Carlo in the episode "The Intimate Friends of Janet Wilde" of the series The Eddie Capra Mysteries. Between 1982 and 1983, Caridi played Angelo Martelli, Bruno Martelli's father, in the TV series Fame. Caridi played Detective Vince Gotelli in the television series NYPD Blue from 1993 to 1999. Though he was never credited as part of the main cast, Caridi appeared in fifteen episodes of Blue and his character was the primary focus of several episodes.

Caridi's final appearance was a small role in the Season 10 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, "Insufficient Praise." Later on the season, Larry David's character is accused of allowing Caridi's Academy screener DVDs to be pirated.

Copyright infringement incident On January 13, 2004, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it had identified a copy of the film Something's Gotta Give, circulated illegally on the Internet, as carrying markings identifying it as coming from a VHS screener copy sent to Caridi because he was an Oscar voter. Similarly, unauthorized copies of The Last Samurai, Mystic River, Big Fish and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World were said to have been traced to Caridi.

The FBI began an investigation into the affair and later that month charged Russell Sprague of Homewood, Illinois, with criminal copyright infringement. Federal authorities alleged that for at least three years, Caridi had given Sprague his screener copies of approximately 60 movies seeking consideration for the Academy Awards. According to the FBI affidavit, Caridi said that he sent his screeners via FedEx to Sprague, who gave him FedEx boxes, pre-addressed labels, and an account number. Caridi denied receiving money from Sprague, telling the FBI he believed that Sprague was a film buff. Caridi was cleared of criminal wrongdoing.

However, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on February 3, 2004, that it was expelling Caridi for violating his agreement to safeguard their screeners, making him the first Academy member to be expelled.

Death Caridi was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering from complications due to a fall, where he slipped into a comatose state and died on May 28, 2019.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1971 The Anderson Tapes Detective A The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight Tony 'The Indian' 1972 Irish Whiskey Rebellion Marty 1973 I Could Never Have Sex with Any Man Who Has So Little Regard for My Husband Marvin 1974 Crazy Joe 'Jelly' The Gambler Jimmy The Godfather Part II Carmine Rosato 1976 Hollywood Man Anthony Car Wash Foolish Father 1978 The Cheap Detective Sergeant Crosseti Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park Calvin Richards Mr. Too Little Officer Murphy The Eddie Capra Mysteries Inspector Chuck Di Carlo Episode: "The Intimate Friends of Janet Wilde" 1979 The In-Laws Angie 1981 Prince of the City Detective Gino Mascone1981 Taxi (TV series) Lou Lou Episode “On the Job” 1985 Brewster's Millions Salvino Summer Rental Ed 1986 The Money Pit Brad Shirk 1987 Some Kind of Wonderful Museum Guard 1988 Split Decisions Lou Rubia 1990 The Godfather Part III Albert Volpe Havana Captain Potts 1991 Life Stinks Flophouse Owner Femme Fatale Dino Bugsy Frank Costello 1992 Ruby Sam Giancana 1995 Top Dog Lou Swanson 1997 The Good Bad Guy Tony Fusciacca 1998 Money Play$ Victor 1999 Splendor Falls Vito Carlo's Wake Uncle Nick 2000 18 D Frank 2002 Do It for Uncle Manny Liquor Store Owner 2003 Nobody Knows Anything! Frankie C. Runaways Officer Brady 2008 Wednesday Again Rudy 2015 Rivers 9 Romeo 2018 Frank and Ava Carmine I'll Be Next Door for Christmas Ancient Man 2020 Curb Your Enthusiasm Uncle Murray / Moke Posthumous release