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Lenny Montana, famed for his role as Luca Brasi in The Godfather, was steeped in the mob life long before he stepped foot on screen. At 6’6” and 300 pounds, Montana had been a wrestling champion who later served as an enforcer for the Colombo crime family. His Hollywood debut was serendipitous—spotted during his time as a bodyguard, he became a film icon due to his commanding on-screen presence. However, the stories he shared off-screen were rooted in authenticity, detailing acts of arson and intimidation that provided him with an edge in portrayals since they were drawn from his life as a legitimate enforcer.