
Lenny Montana
- Date of Birth: 1926-03-13
- Date of Death: 1992-05-12
- Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, USA
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 brig... 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.

The Godfather 1901–1959: The Complete Epic
Crime, Drama • 1981 March

The Godfather
Drama, Crime • 1972 March

Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
Crime, Drama • 1977 November

Magnum, P.I.
Action & Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery • 1980 December

Kojak
Crime, Action & Adventure, Drama, Mystery • 1973 October

Search
Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy • 1972 September

The Jerk
Comedy • 1979 December

Fingers
Drama, Action, Thriller, Crime • 1978 March

Defiance
Thriller, Action, Crime • 1980 March

Contract on Cherry Street
Drama, Thriller, TV Movie • 1977 November