Al Neri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Albert "Al" Neri(1916-1990) is a character appearing in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather and the three films based on it. He is portrayed by actor Richard Bright.
Neri becomes one of Michael Corleone's most trusted aides in the second and third installments of the Godfather trilogy. He functions as one of Michael's caporegimes, after the betrayal of Sal Tessio, the death of Pete Clemenza, and the suicide of Frank Pentangeli, and Neri begins his career as a member of the New York Police Department. He develops a reputation for his brutal enforcement of the law. After he kills a local drug dealer and pimp, he is removed from the police force and sentenced to prison. The Corleone family, upon recommendation of Clemenza, manages to have his sentence suspended, and he is recruited into Clemenza's regime.
When Michael ordered the assassination of the heads of the five New York Families, at the end of The Godfather Part I, Neri was responsible for the murder of Emilio Barzini, donning his old police uniform in order to arrange an ambush on the steps of a building as Barzini was leaving.
In The Godfather Part II, Neri was responsible for the brutal murder of a prostitute in order to blackmail U.S. Senator Pat Geary into the Corleone family's service, as well as the assassination of Michael's brother Fredo Corleone.
It is also during this time that Al Neri is certainly seen to be an unofficial second-in-command to Michael. This is demonstrated in "The Godfather's Revenge". He also takes part in an attempt to kidnap Nick Geraci's father which leads to the death of Geraci's father. He is also seriously wounded in the final shootout at the end of the novel.
By the time of The Godfather Part III, the aging assassin was still working for the Corleones, his loyalty to Michael extending to the new Don, Michael's nephew Vincent. His talents were called upon once again at the conclusion of the film when Vincent ordered him to kill Archbishop Gilday in revenge for the priest's intrigue against the family.
