"The Godfather" star Carmine Caridi died Wednesday at 85 after slipping into a coma. TMZ first reported the news, noting the actor's death was due to complications that arose during hospitalization at Cedars Sinai hospital in L.A. after suffering a bad fall April 25. Cardi was best known for playing Carmine Rosato in The Godfather II. He then played Albert Volpe in Godfather III.
A rep confirmed Carmine had been receiving treatment for back injuries when he came down with pneumonia. His health had reportedly been deteriorating since Saturday.
Caridi was born in New York City on Jan. 23, 1934. He developed his talents through performances in local plays staged near his home in the lower east side of Manhattan, according to IMDB. When he was 18, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served for three years during the Korean War. It was upon his return he decided to pursue a career in acting, The Hollywood Reporter noted.
He went on to appear in three Oscar-nominated films; "The Godfather: Part II," "The Godfather Part III," and "Bugsy." While Caridi enjoyed a lustrous career in film and television, it was tainted with addiction and by his involvement in the distribution of various illegal copies of recently released films that were made available online. "The Godfather" star subsequently had his membership to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revoked.
Caridi also delved into the world of drugs and spent time in prison after he was arrested for selling cocaine, the Daily Mail reported. While his career was steeped in controversy, news of his death left thousands in mourning. Taking to social media, friends, fans, and family posted tributes to honor his memory.
"RIP my TV Dad, Carmine Caridi. You will be sorely missed," actor Lee Curreri tweeted.
"A Great man and Great Actor Carmine Caridi who played The Don in Unorganized Crime passed away He will be missed rip Carmine," added Freddie Ganno Sag-Aftra, an actor made famous for his appearance in "Unorganized Crime."
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