Virgil Sollozzo

Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo (1898 – January 1946) is a fictional character and one of the main antagonists in Mario Puzo's The Godfather.

In the novel, it is said that he got his nickname because he has a nose like a Turkish scimitar. He also has a Turkish wife and children, and does much of his business (growing poppy) in Turkey. In the book, Sollozzo speaks Sicilian to Michael Corleone because he feels he can better express himself in that language. In the film, his English seems to be native and accent-free, though he still communicates with Michael in Sicilian. This may be to prevent corrupt Captain McCluskey, who is also in attendance, from understanding what they are saying.

In Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation, he is portrayed by Al Lettieri.

In the film

Sollozzo arrives in New York and enlists the Tattagila crime family's aid for his new narcotics business. He asks the Corleone family for financial backing and to provide legal protection and political influence in return for a large cut of the profits. Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) declines the offer, stating that the narcotics business is bad for neighborhoods and would damage his political alliances.