Joey Zasa

Joey Zasa is a fictional character appearing in The Godfather Part III. He was portrayed by Joe Mantegna.^[1][2] He is based on a mix of three real Mafia members: Joseph Colombo, Joe Gallo and John Gotti.

Character overview

Zasa is a longtime member of Corleone capo Peter Clemenza's regime. Following the retirement of Ritchie Nobilio, who succeeded Frank Pentangeli (Michael V. Gazzo) after the events of The Godfather Part II, Zasa assumes control over the Corleone family business in New York City with approval from the Commission and Michael Corleone (Al Pacino). Zasa is feared and, to a certain degree, respected among his peers in the New York underworld for his business acumen and utter ruthlessness. However, his flamboyance and hunger for publicity earns Michael's displeasure, especially during the 1970s when it attracts unwanted public attention to Michael's criminal past when he is attempting to reforge his public image. Michael especially disapproves of Zasa's eagerness to enter the drug trade, and distances himself from him.

In the film

In The Godfather Part III, Zasa first appears at a reception honoring Michael. He gets into an argument with one of his soldiers, Vincent Mancini (Andy García), the illegitimate son of Michael's long-dead brother Sonny. Zasa calls Vincent a bastard in Michael's presence, prompting the enraged young man to bite Zasa's ear. Zasa subsequently hires two assassins to kill Vincent, but Vincent quickly dispatches both.

Later in the film, Zasa participates in a plot to assassinate Michael during a meeting with the various Dons in Atlantic City, New Jersey. During the meeting, Michael insults Zasa, prompting him to storm out; moments later, a helicopter containing gunmen hovers above the room and guns down nearly everyone inside. Michael escapes, but nearly every other Don is killed. The survivors make deals with Zasa.

Several days later, Michael's sister Connie (Talia Shire) gives clearance for Vincent to kill Zasa before he can take another run at Michael. Vincent assassinates Zasa in Bensonhurst during a street festival. Vincent's men and Michael's personal assassin Al Neri (disguised as members of the church procession) kill Zasa's bodyguards, while Vincent (disguised as an NYPD Mounted Patrol officer) shoots Zasa as he attempts to escape. Michael angrily disapproves of this, even though Vincent used the same rationale Michael used to kill Virgil Sollozzo 35 years earlier.

References

The Godfather
Novels	The Godfather The Sicilian The Godfather Returns The Godfather's Revenge The Family Corleone
Films	The Godfather The Godfather Part II The Godfather Part III
Video games	The Godfather (1991) The Godfather (2006) The Godfather II (2009)
Corleone family	Vito Corleone Michael Corleone Tom Hagen Sonny Corleone Fredo Corleone Carmela Corleone Kay Adams-Corleone Connie Corleone Anthony Corleone Mary Corleone Vincent Corleone Sandra Corleone
Family allies	Genco Abbandando Luca Brasi Willi Cicci Peter Clemenza Johnny Fontane Paulie Gatto Carmine Marino Rocco Lampone Tony Molinari Sal Narducci Al Neri Tommy Neri Ritchie Nobilio Frank Pentangeli Salvatore Tessio Don Tommasino Carlo Tramonti
Family enemies	Don Altobello Momo Barone Emilio Barzini Don Fanucci Vincent Forlenza Nick Geraci Archbishop Gilday Moe Greene Johnny Ola Carlo Rizzi Carmine Rosato Hyman Roth Louie Russo Virgil Sollozzo Anthony Stracci Bruno Tattaglia Philip Tattaglia Jack Woltz Joey Zasa
Others	Amerigo Bonasera Pat Geary Cardinal Lamberto Lucy Mancini Danny Shea Mickey Shea Billy Van Arsdale Aldo Trapani Albert Volpe
Rival families	Barzini family Carmine Rosato family Cuneo family Tattaglia family
Music	The Godfather (soundtrack) The Godfather Part II (soundtrack) The Godfather Part III (soundtrack) "Speak Softly, Love" "Promise Me You'll Remember"
Miscellaneous	Mario Puzo Mark Winegardner Ed Falco American Mafia Sicilian Mafia Five Families Corleone The Godfather Effect The Godfather Papers and Other Confessions The Sicilian The Freshman The Godfather Saga The Last Don Omertà
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