Every Main Character's Age in The Godfather Trilogy (2025)

The Godfather is a saga that spans nearly a hundred years, starting with Vito Corleone’s struggle to survive in a hostile Sicily and culminating in Michael sitting alone on a bench in the late 1990s. With such a broad timeline, it can be daunting to keep track of how old many of the key characters in The Godfather are.

Fortunately, a wealth of information and context clues from the films, books, and supplementary media provides insight into the birth and death years of many characters.

10 Carlo Rizzi was the Biggest Snake in the Godfather Trilogy

A friend of Sonny, Carlo Rizzi is introduced to Connie Corleone during a flashback in The Godfather Part II. His marriage to Connie is the first scene the audience witnesses in the Godfather trilogy. Carlo, like his friend Sonny, is short-tempered and quick to resort to violence.

Carlo Rizzi is used as a pawn by Barzini and Sollozzo to lure Sonny into an ambush. Although Carlo abused Michael’s sister, the primary reason Michael has him killed is his betrayal of the family business. Carlo dies in 1955, and Connie struggles to forgive Michael, despite how vile Carlo was to her.

9 Kay Adams had no Idea What She was Getting into When she Married Michael

About four years younger than Michael Corleone, Kay Adams is his girlfriend at the start of The Godfather. Through Kay's perspective, we gain insight into the workings of the Corleone crime family. Kay initially believes that Michael is not involved in the family business, as Michael would famously put it: "That's my family, Kay. Not me". Michael not only joins the family business but constantly dangles a carrot in front of Kay with the promise that they'd eventually go "legitimate".

In The Godfather Part III, we see that Kay has lived a long life. Frustrated with Michael's continued involvement in the underworld, she separates from him. Although Kay and Michael attempt to repair their relationship, the tragic death of their daughter, Mary, likely puts an end to it. Kay's ultimate fate is not revealed, but it is presumed that she lived into old age during the 1990s and 2000s.

8 Emilio Barzini Nearly Ruled New York

A powerful mob boss, Emilio Barzini is the primary conspirator behind the attempted assassination of Vito Corleone and the destruction of the Corleone crime family. Barzini ignites the war when Vito declines an offer from "The Turk" (a pawn of Barzini) to sell drugs.

Barzini makes a bold power grab, attempting to displace Vito and unite the Five Families under his leadership. However, Barzini's ambitions, along with those of his allies, are cut short in one of the greatest scenes in The Godfather trilogy—a climactic montage showcasing the assassination of all of Michael Corleone's enemies. Emilio is among the oldest main characters in The Godfather, even older than Vito.

7 Peter Clemenza Introduced Vito to the Criminal Underworld

Vito Corleone lived a clean life before he met Peter Clemenza. In 1917, Peter Clemenza asked Vito to hide his gun for him while he was on the run. Not long after, Vito assisted Peter with stealing rugs and other lavish furniture. This bond with Vito is what led to Peter Clemenza becoming the Corleone family's most loyal soldier.

Clemenza was nearly killed by the very family he protected during The Godfather due to suspicion that he may have backstabbed them. A puzzling assumption to most fans given that Clemenza was a loyal brute, and not a schemer, unlike his peer, Tessio. Peter Clemenza was rewarded for his loyalty in 1956 by taking over the lucrative New York operation, while the rest of the Corleone family moved to Las Vegas in an attempt to legitimize themselves. It’s revealed that, in between The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Peter Clemenza died of a heart attack while cooking for his soldiers.

6 Tom Hagen was an Unofficial Member of the Family

The consigliere to both Vito and Michael Corleone, Tom Hagen played a pivotal role in the Corleone family despite not being of Italian heritage. Unofficially adopted by Vito, he became the family attorney. Tom was about 40 years old during the events of The Godfather and in his mid-40s during its sequel.

Although Tom found himself in dangerous situations, he was never killed. In The Godfather Part III, it is revealed that he died of cancer during the 1970s. He is survived by his son, Andrew Hagen, who takes a drastically different path from the mafia life by becoming a priest.

5 Sonny Corleone hot Headed Demeanor Cut His Life Short

Vito Corleone’s first child was Sonny Corleone. Sonny was deeply involved in the family business and was groomed to become the next Don. This was especially evident given Fredo's incompetence and Michael's lack of interest. While Sonny was a strong and fearless fighter, he lacked both intellect and self-control.

The Sollozzo family devised a plan to exploit Sonny’s short temper by paying his sister’s husband to abuse her. This made Sonny’s hostile reaction predictable, allowing the Sollozzo family to ambush him when he was alone. Sonny was only 32 years old when he died in 1948. His death, alongside Vito's incapacitation, created the impression that the Corleone family's downfall was inevitable.

4 Connie Corleone was the Baby of the Corleone Family

The only daughter and youngest child of Vito, Connie never had much say in the family business since she was a woman. Connie Corleone is more concerned about shopping and the good life than any type of crime. Given her relatively low expectations and being the youngest, Connie is often spoiled by Vito.

In 1941, Sonny introduced Connie to her eventual husband, Carlo Rizzi, when she was 19. Connie Corleone goes through a lot of abuse from her spouse and siblings throughout The Godfather series. Connie is the only Corleone who debuts in The Godfather and doesn’t die throughout the Godfather trilogy.

3 Fredo Corleone was the Second-Oldest Child but Still Acted Like a Teenager

Absolved of any real responsibility, Fredo Corleone is one year older than Michael, though you would never guess it from the way they interact. After Sonny’s death, Fredo is passed over as the new Godfather, with Michael becoming Vito’s successor instead. Fredo spends most of his time partying like a rich playboy. During the events of The Godfather, Fredo is sent off to Las Vegas to stay out of the main drama unfolding in New York.

In The Godfather Part II, Fredo vents his frustrations about being Michael’s underling despite being older and ultimately betrays the family, nearly leading to the murder of Michael and Kay. Fredo’s poor judgment catches up to him, culminating in his death at the age of 40 via gunshot to the head.

2 Vito Corleone Lived a Long Life for a Mobster

The original Godfather of the Corleone family, Vito was born in the late 1800s in rural Sicily. The Godfather Part II expands on his life in this village, which was ruled by a don who had little respect for the people of his town. This directly influenced Vito to become the kind of don that people wanted to befriend.

Vito was nearly killed when he was shot multiple times by "The Turk" Sollozo. He lived until 1952, before succumbing to a heart attack in 1955. His tombstone reads that he was born in 1887, but in The Godfather Part II, this was retconned to 1891.

1 Michael Corleone Lived a Long but Lonely Life

Despite being the youngest brother, Michael Corleone is the one who inherits The Godfather’s throne. Michael was born in the 1920s and, to the dismay of his father, enlisted in World War II at the age of 21. Michael became a war hero and, at that point in his life, clearly wanted a different path from the Corleone crime family.

Vito Corleone relinquishes his title to Michael due to his poor health, as Michael was a more fit leader than his older brother, Fredo. Michael is 34 years old when he defeats the Five Families and becomes the undisputed king of New York. According to the end of The Godfather Part III, Michael lives a long life, dying of a stroke at the age of 77.

The Godfather

R

Drama

Crime

Don Vito Corleone, head of a mafia family, decides to hand over his empire to his youngest son Michael. However, his decision unintentionally puts the lives of his loved ones in grave danger.

Director

Francis Ford Coppola

Release Date

March 24, 1972

Cast

Marlon Brando , Diane Keaton , James Caan , Al Pacino , Robert Duvall

Writers

Mario Puzo , Francis Ford Coppola

Runtime

175 minutes

Production Company

Budget

$6 million

Studio(s)

Paramount Pictures

Distributor(s)

Paramount+

Sequel(s)

The Godfather Part II , The Godfather Part III

Franchise(s)

The Godfather