Lenny Montana

Biography

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.

Most Known For

The Godfather

as Luca Brasi

Magnum, P.I.

as Marquis' Bodyguard

Kojak

as McCoy

Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television

as Luca Brasi (uncredited)

Fingers

as Luchino

Search

Patty

as The Racketeer

The Jerk

as Con Man

The Big Brawl

as John

The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959

as Luca Brasi (uncredited)

Evilspeak

as Jake

Change of Habit

as Grocer (uncredited)

...All the Marbles

as Jerome

Matilda

as Hood #1

Seven

as The Kahuna

Blood Song

as Skipper

Pandemonium

as Coach

Contract on Cherry Street

as Phil Lombardi

Defiance

as Whacko

Strike Force

as Italian Dockworker