Michael Corleone

Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone, as portrayed by Al Pacino in The Godfather.
First appearance	The Godfather
Last appearance	The Godfather's Revenge
Portrayed by	Al Pacino
Information
Nickname(s)	Mike, Mikey, Mickey, Godfather
Aliases	The Godfather, The Don, Don Corleone, Don Michael
Gender	Male
Occupation	Retired Mafia boss United States Marine
Title	Don Corleone
Family	Corleone family
Spouse(s)	Apollonia Vitelli-Corleone (deceased; 1947-48) Kay Adams (divorced; 1951-60)
Children	Anthony Corleone Mary Corleone
Relatives	Vincent Corleone (nephew) Deanna Dunn (sister-in-law) Sandra Corleone (sister-in-law) Carlo Rizzi (brother-in-law)
Religion	Roman Catholic
Father	Vito Corleone
Mother	Carmela Corleone
Brother	Sonny Corleone Fredo Corleone Tom Hagen (adopted brother)
Sister	Connie Corleone

Michael Corleone is the main protagonist of Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather and the three Godfather films directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He was portrayed in the three films by Al Pacino, who was twice nominated for Academy Awards for the part.

Michael Corleone was recognized as the 11th most iconic villain in film history by the American Film Institute, although some critics consider him to be a tragic hero.

Born in 1920, Michael is the youngest son of the mafia don Vito Corleone and his wife, Carmela. He has two older brothers, Santino "Sonny" Corleone and Frederico "Fredo" Corleone and a younger sister, Constanzia "Connie" Corleone. The family consigliere, Tom Hagen, is their informal adoptive brother.

Unlike his two older brothers, Michael shuns the Corleone "family business", wanting an ordinary, more Americanized life. (Vito does not want Michael to join the Corleone criminal empire either, preferring that his favorite son go into politics.) When the United States enters World War II in 1941, Michael drops out of Dartmouth College and enlists in the Marine Corps. During the war, he fights in the Pacific. He receives a battlefield commission to the rank of captain and is awarded the Navy Cross for bravery. In 1944, his war heroism is featured in Life magazine. He is discharged early in 1945 due to a disabling wound; unbeknownst to him, his father had arranged his release. He returns home to attend his sister Connie's wedding, accompanied by Kay Adams, his college sweetheart. Michael stays for a few weeks before re-entering college without consulting his family.