The cinema is full of stories about the mafia. It is the representatives of this mysterious criminal structure that are often the main villains. Films such as "The Godfather", "Casino" and "Bugsy" became hits.
But why are so many films made about bandits? And who is the most famous mafioso? Getting on the “honorable” list is not easy; to do this you need to leave a noticeable criminal mark in the history of the mafia. It should be noted that the majority of representatives this list left their mark on American history.
Although these people were not saints, one cannot help but admire their influence and talents, even if they were directed in the wrong direction. Let's talk about the most famous mafiosi and what films were created based on their criminal activities.
Vincent "The Chin" Gigante (1928-2005).
This criminal was born in 1928 in New York. Vincent's character was extremely complex - he never finished school, dropping out in the ninth grade. Study was replaced by a new hobby - boxing. Competing as a light heavyweight, Gigante won 21 out of 25 fights. His first arrest took place at the age of 25, but by that time Vincent had already been in a criminal gang for 8 years. The bandit's very first high-profile case as a member of the Genovese family was the attempted murder of Frank Costello. However, Gigante missed. Despite the failure, his rise up the criminal ladder continued, with Vincent eventually becoming a godfather, and later, in the early 80s, a consolere. After the conviction of the major mafia boss Tony Salerno, it was Giganto who became the new leader of the clan. But what caused such a rise? In the late 60s, Vincent avoided going to prison by pretending to be crazy. In the future, the bandit continued to maintain this image - it cost him nothing to walk along the streets hometown in pajamas. This fact gave Gigante nicknames such as "King of Pajamas" and "Weirdo". Only after being convicted in 2003 for extortion did the criminal admit that his mental health was poor. in perfect order. Thanks to lawyers and poor health, Gigante was supposed to be released from prison in 2010, but the mafioso’s heart could not stand it, and Vincent died on December 19, 2005. Vincent Giganto was used in an episode of Law & Order and in the 1999 film Bonanno: The Godfather Story.
Albert Anastasia (1903-1957).
This mafia representative was born, like many of his colleagues, in Italy, but moved to America as a child. Albert's career began with the murder of a longshoreman on the Brooklyn docks. The killer began serving his sentence in the famous Sing Sing prison, but soon the only witness mysteriously died and Anastasia was released without serving his sentence. Albert earned the nicknames "Lord Executioner" and "Mad Hatter" for his many murders. Over time, the criminal ended up in Joe Masseria's gang, who just needed a cold-blooded killer. However, Albert was very friendly with his competitor, Charlie "Lucky", so Masseria's betrayal became a matter of time. It was Anastasia who became one of the four sent to kill the boss in 1931. Already in 1944, Albert became the leader of a group of murderers, which even got its name “Murder, Inc.” The perpetrator himself was never prosecuted for the murders, but according to authorities, his group was directly related to at least 400 deaths. The 50s elevated Albert to the status of leader of the Luciano family, but at the direction of Carlo Gambino, Anastasia was killed in 1957. The prototype of this mafioso became the basis for the films "Murder, Inc" with Peter Falk and Howard Smith in 1960, as well as "The Valacci Papers" in 1972 and "Lepke" in 1975.
Joseph Bonanno (1905-2002).
And this bandit was born in Italy, his homeland in 1905 was the island of Sicily. Already at the age of 15, the boy was left an orphan, and when he was 19, he fled from the fascist regime of Mussolini, first to Cuba, and from there to the USA. The young man soon became known as "Joey Bananas", becoming a member of the Maranzano family. Maranzano managed to form the “Commission”, which managed to establish control over the mafia families in Italy itself. However, Luciano soon killed his competitor. Bonanno gradually amassed large amounts of capital by managing cheese factories, as well as clothing and clothing businesses. funeral business. Only Joseph's plans for gradual elimination For the rest of the families, this was not possible. Bonanno was kidnapped, it took him 19 days to come to the decision to retire. But this decision allowed Joseph to live long life. As a result, the bandit was never convicted of anything serious during his career. It was about Bonanno that two films were made: Love, Honor and Obedience: The Last Alliance Mafia, 1993 with Ben Gazarra in leading role and Bonanno: The Story of the Godfather, 1999 with Martin Landau.
Arthur Flegenheimer (1902-1935).
This mafioso became known by his nickname "Dutch Schultz". He was born in the Bronx in 1902. Even in his youth, Arthur became an organizer of crap games, thereby trying to impress the boss Marcelo Poffo. Already at the age of 17, the young man went to prison, having been convicted of theft. Arthur soon realized that the only way To earn money, he sold alcohol during the era of prohibition, or bootlegged. The bandit tried to enter the newly formed crime syndicate, but in doing so he made serious enemies for himself in Capone and Luciano. In 1933, Arthur flees justice to New Jersey. After his return in 1935, the mafiosi are killed by Albert Anastasia's henchmen. Dutch Schultz was made famous by Dustin Hoffman in the 1991 film Billy Bathgate, another reflection was in the 1997 Bully with Tim Roth. The image of a bandit is also found in the films “Gangster Wars” of 1981, “The Cotton Club” of 1984 and “Natural Gift” of the same year.
John Gotti (1940-2002).
This gangster stands out from all New York celebrities of this kind. John was born in 1940 and was always considered smart. Already at the age of 16, Gotti was a member of the Fulton Rockaway Boys street gang. John's talents allowed him to quickly become the leader of the group. In the 60s, the “Guys” lived in petty theft and car theft. However, this was clearly not enough for Gotti; in the early 70s he was already - Godfather Bergin group, part of the Gambino family. Gotti's ambitions pushed him to take dangerous steps even among the mafia - he began to distribute drugs, which was prohibited by family rules. It's no surprise that boss Paul Castellano decided to remove Gotti from his organization. However, in 1985, John and his henchmen managed to kill Castellano and personally lead the Gambino family. Although law enforcement agencies New York City tried numerous times to convict Gotti, but the charges invariably failed. The mafioso himself always looked presentable, which the media liked. It was they who gave the gangster the nicknames “Elegant Don” and “Teflon Don.” The police only reached Gotti in 1992, convicting him of murder. The gangster's life was cut short in 2002; he died of cancer. The life of a mafioso has been embodied in films many times - he was played by Antonio Denilson in the film "Getting Gotti" in 1994, Armand Assante in "Gotti" in 1996. And in the 1998 films "Mafia Witness" with Tom Sizemoor and "The Big Heist" in 2001 without the participation of a famous bandit.
Meyer Lansky (1902-1983).
In 1902, a boy, Mayer Sachovlyansky, was born in Russia, who was destined to become a famous American gangster. In 1911, he and his parents moved to New York. Also in childhood Meyer's friend was Charles Luciano. He demanded money from the stranger for patronage, but Lansky refused. There was a fight, the result of which was... friendship between the boys. After some time, Bugsy Seagal joined the guys, who was introduced into the company by Meyer. The friendly trio became the core of the Bug and Meyer group, which later grew into the famous Murder, Inc. At first, Lansky took up gambling and the money that comes with it. The arena of his actions was Florida, New Orleans and Cuba. Meyer became an investor in Seagal's casino, which he opened in Las Vegas; the mafioso even acquired an offshore Swiss bank in order to better launder money. When the National Crime Syndicate was formed in America, it was Lansky who was its co-founder. However, business is business, when Bugsy Seagal stopped giving money to the Syndicate, Lansky cold-bloodedly ordered the death of his old friend. Gambling houses all over the world were subject to racketeering by Lansky's boys, but he never spent any time in prison. one day. The role of Meyer Lansky was brilliantly portrayed by Richard Dreyfuss in the 1999 film Lansky, as well as Nyman Roth in the 1974 Godfather Part II. The gangster was played by Mark Rydel in 1990's Havana, Patrick Dempsey in Gangsters, and Ben Kingsley in 1991's Bugsy.
Frank Costello (1891-1973).
And this gangster was born in Italy, moving to the United States at the age of four. Already at the age of 13, Francesco Castilla became a member of a criminal gang, changing his name to a more sonorous one - Frank Costello. After prison term he becomes best friend Charlie Luciano. This couple began organizing gambling and bootlegging together. Costello's influence was based on the fact that he connected the mafia and politicians. Frank was friendly with the Tammany Hall Democrat, which allowed him to avoid persecution by the New York police. Luciano's arrest made Costello a man in law. Tensions within Vito Genovese led to him attempting to kill Costello in the mid-50s. This led to the retirement of Frank, who died quietly in retirement in 1973. Costello's image the best way portrayed by James Andronica in the 1981 film Gangster Chronicles. It is worth noting the work of Jack Nicholson in “The Departed” 2006, Carmine Caridi in “Bugsy” and Costas Mobsters in “Gangsters” 1991.
Benjamin "Bugsy" Segal (1906-1947).
The future gangster was born in 1906 in Brooklyn, where he met Meyer Lansky. The nickname "Bugsy" appeared due to the unpredictable nature of the bandit. Seagal committed many murders for Charlie Luciano, which made him a lot of enemies. It is not surprising that in the late 30s Bugsy fled to Los Angeles, where he managed to make many acquaintances among Hollywood stars. After the passage of the Nevada gambling law, Segal borrowed millions of dollars from the Syndicate and founded the Flamingo Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, one of the first in the city. However, the business did not turn out to be profitable when criminal colleagues discovered that Seagal simply stole their money, Bugsy was killed. Benjamin Seagal was best portrayed by Warren Beatty in the 1991 film Bugsy and by Armand Assante in The Married Man (1991).
Carlo Gambino (1902-1976).
The Gambino family was part of mafia clan for several centuries. Who could Carlo become if not a gangster? He began killing on demand at the age of 19. In Italy at this time Mussolini began to gain power, so Gambino emigrated to America, where his cousin Paul Costellano was waiting for him. Carlo consisted of contrasts; many of the criminals considered him a total coward; there is a known case when Anastasia publicly hit him for a mistake. Gambino himself preferred to appear misunderstood. The 40s brought the extradition of Luciano, and Albert Anastasia took his place. However, Carlo could not come to terms with this state of affairs, and in 1957 he gave the order to kill his rival. Vito Genovese quickly climbed to the “warm” place, who planned that all dirty job That's exactly what Gambino will get. However, from the very beginning he planned to remove the new opponent. Soon he went to prison on a trumped-up drug case. Carlo Gambino became the new boss of the family, which he kept under a tight rein until his death in 1976. Many films have been made about Gambino - "Boss of Bosses" in 2001 with Al Ruccio. Between Love and Honor (1995), Gotti (1996) and Bonanno: The Godfather Story (1999).
Charlie "Lucky" Luciano (1897-1962).
Salvatore Luciania's birthplace was Sicily. 9 years after his birth, in 1906, the whole family moved to the USA, to New York. Time passed, and now Charlie became a member of the Five Points gang, controlling prostitution and racketeering in Manhattan. In 1929, there was an attempt on Luciano’s life, and he decided to create the National Crime Syndicate in order to protect himself from attacks from competitors. There were no major obstacles to the execution of his plans; by 1935, “Lucky” Luciano had also become known as the “Boss of Bosses” not only in his city, but throughout the United States. However, the police did not sleep; in 1936, the gangster was sentenced to prison for a term of 30 to 50 years. However, bribes and lawyers did their job - in 1946, Charlie was released from prison on the condition that he leave the country. The influence of the mafioso was so great that during the Second World War, even the US Navy turned to him for assistance in order to assist them in landing in Italy. Luciano died in 1962 due to heart attack. The gangster was portrayed by Christian Slater in 1991's Gangsters, Bill Graham in 1991's Bugsy, and Anthony LaPaglia in 1999's Lansky.
Al Capone (1899-1947).
This gangster deservedly goes under Number One, because his name is known to everyone. Alphonse Capone was born in Brooklyn to a family of Italian immigrants. After some time, the young man joined the Five Points gang, where he played the role of a bouncer. It was then that Capone was given the nickname "Scarface." In 1919, in search of new challenges, the bandit moved to Chicago to work for Johnny Torrio. This allowed Capone to begin to quickly move up the criminal hierarchy. During Prohibition, Capone did not disdain to engage not only in bootlegging and gambling, but also in prostitution. In 1925, the gangster is only 26 years old, but he is already the head of the Torrey family and is not afraid to start a family war. Capone became famous not only for his pomp and vanity, but also for his cruelty and intelligence. Suffice it to recall the famous massacre that occurred during the celebration of St. Valentine's Day in 1929, during which many leaders of criminal groups were killed. The police managed to arrest Al Capone for... tax evasion! This was done in 1931 by federal tax agent Eliot Ness. In 1934, a gangster got into famous prison Alcatraz, from where he left 7 years later, already fatally ill with syphilis. Capone lost his influence; his friends preferred to tell him fictitious stories about the true state of affairs. There have been many films about Capone, the most famous of which are 1967's "Valentine's Day Massacre" with Jason Robards, 1975's "Capone" with Ben Gazarra and 1987's "The Untouchables" with Robert De Niro.
Tony Accardo "Big Tuna" (1906-1992).
Tony was the boss of the Chicago mafia for more than ten years, from the very end of World War II. At this time, his competitors left the scene - Paul Ricca went to prison, and Frank Nitti committed suicide. And Accardo came to his first roles during the time of Capone, being at first his bodyguard. It was Tony who in 1931 became the main suspect in the murder of his boss's rival, Joe Aillo. Accardo is also credited with participating in the famous Valentine's Day massacre. After Capone's capture, Tony became... right hand new boss, Frank Nitti. They say that it was Accardo who eventually managed to introduce the Chicago family into the gambling business, and he also “set up” the entertainment and industrial rackets. Tony remained an influential member of the Family for a long time. When Giancana fled the country in 1966, Accardo returned to his usual leadership role. As a result, Accardo retired from business in the 80s, moving to California. There he died on May 27, 1992.
Bernardo Provenzano (born 1933).
Bernardo Provenzano was born in the small Sicilian village of Corleone, in poor family peasants Already in his youth he became a member of the Corleone clan. The boss of this clan’s unit, Luciano Liggio, is known to have said that Bernardo “shoots like an angel and thinks like a chicken.” The rise of Provenzano's career dates back to 1958, when his boss's main rival was killed. The next 10 years brought Provenzano connections to a dozen more crimes and murders. He was put on the wanted list, but the police didn’t even try to look for him for the first twenty years. Provenzano gained power and authority, eventually taking over the entire illegal business of Palermo - prostitution, arms and drug trafficking, gambling. As a result, by the end of the 80s, the entire local Cosa Nostra passed into the hands of Bernardo and his accomplice, Salvatore Riina. Provenzano received the nicknames The Beast, The Accountant and The Bulldozer. The last nickname testifies to his intractability and uncompromisingness. Although they also say that this is evidence of how he steps over people. Nevertheless, Provenzano was an excellent leader. In the early 90s, the Italian authorities declared war on the mafia, making a number of high-profile arrests. It was then that an active hunt for Provenzano began. By the time of his arrest in 2006, the police only had a photo from 1959. So Bernardo Provenzano has been caught. The Almighty Boss of Bosses Sicilian mafia appeared as a 73-year-old man in jeans and a sweater. The mafioso's sentence was passed in absentia a long time ago; he will spend the rest of his days in prison.
Giuseppe Antonaio Doto "Joe Adonis" (1906-1971).
Adonis was born in 1906, near Naples. A common story at that time - the boy’s family sent him to America. Giuseppe's criminal career began with famous gangsters Frank Yal and Anthony Pisano. After Yalo's death in 1928, Adonis and his friends joined the Pisano family as the most prominent Neapolitans working in crime in New York during the 1920s. Adonis attended a 1929 national bootlegging deal in Atlantic City, later joining Charlie Luciano's group. Giuseppe eliminated his competitors - Maceria and Salvatore Maranzano, which allowed the reorganized group led by him to take its place in the underworld. The exact place in the hierarchy of the Adonis Family remains unclear. One thing is clear - he played a prominent role in the Mangano family. As a result, Adonis was involved in everything - racketeering, drugs, alcohol, gambling. It was Giuseppe who was responsible for the Family's relations with other groups, including non-Italian ones. Adonis was trusted, he was Frank Costello's confidant and even the arbiter of all mafia affairs. Giuseppe was in the hands of the New Jersey gambling business; at one time the mafioso even supported Robert Kennedy himself. Adonis died of natural causes in Ancona, Italy in 1971. True, the body of the mafioso was transported to America for burial.
In 2013, the first season of the American series “Gangster City” was released on television screens. The director of this masterpiece is Frank Darabonta, known to many for his role in The Walking Dead. This film stars Jon Bernthal, Edward Burns and many others. The series tells in detail about the life of America in the 40s, showing the viewer who the gangsters were, how they appeared and what they did. The main storyline is the confrontation between the police and criminal structures.
Decoding the concept
For those who are not keen on watching such television products, but want to find out who the gangsters are, this article is intended. As you know, our speech is filled a huge amount borrowed words. The term "gangster" is one of them. This word came to us from the New World. Initially, street gangs (gangsters) appeared in America. They were called gangs. The word gangster helped clarify membership in a gang. Translated, it means “a person who is a member of a criminal group in the United States in the 20-40s of the 20th century.”
Alphonse Gabriel Capone
Chicagoans know firsthand who gangsters are. At one time (in the early twenties of the twentieth century), one of the notorious “fathers” of the criminal business of the entire country lived on the territory of the city. This man's name is Al Capone. Having moved with his family to Brooklyn from Naples, he brought his own “zest” to the criminal structure of the United States, which was nurtured in him by the Italian mafia. The gangsters of his organized crime group were known for their brutality, quick execution and relentlessness.
It is noteworthy that Al Capone’s main “white” business was the creation and restoration of furniture. However, under such an ordinary business there was bootlegging, pimping, sale of drugs, weapons and gambling.
It is noteworthy that it was thanks to this crime boss that laundries appeared everywhere in America. In order to hide his income from a prohibited business, Al Capone ordered the construction of laundries with Laundromat machines throughout the city. The price for services was set so minimal that these establishments became popular among all segments of the population. It was impossible to track the number of visitors. Thus, the profit also remained unaccounted for. Thanks to this, Al Capone was able to hide his “dirty” amounts in the “clean” income of the laundries. Since that time, a stable expression has appeared - “money laundering”.
"Fathers" of the criminal world in life imprisonment
The history of Alcatraz prison, where, in turn, Al Capone and many other gangsters spent several years of his life, can tell who the gangsters are. Located on an island off the coast of San Francisco, this institution during its operation was one of the most secure and reliable of all existing similar maximum security institutions. Escape from here was practically impossible. That is why the most brutal and merciless criminal elements from all over the country were exiled here.
These, in addition to Al Capone, already known to us, include:
- George Kelly, nicknamed "Machine Gun" Kelly. He was sentenced to life in prison for murder, kidnapping and other mafia matters. At that time, this gangster was considered the first enemy of the American state.
- Roy Gardner is a famous gangster and thief. He gained his “fame” by robbing trains. While serving his sentence, the mafioso wrote the book “Hellish Alcatraz,” in which he told his biography and also described the prison life of other crime bosses.
Chicago Gangsters
In addition to the gangsters who served their sentences in one of the harshest federal prisons in America, other criminal personalities also made their way into history. Among them is Chicago mafia element Stanley Moore, nicknamed "The Inquisitor". His fame, like many other gangsters, was of dubious quality. He “earned his name” by unprincipledly and harshly “extorting” debts from debtors. At the same time, he was also responsible for the execution of those people who in any way interfered with the “just cause” of the gang.
Besides the Americans, among famous gangsters There were also people from Asia in America. One of them was Mr. Singh. He had special skill. He was brought into the case if it was necessary to present a murder as an accident due to poisoning. The Asian killer used rare oriental poisons in his profession.
Another feared figure of the time was the Chicago gangster nicknamed “Bone Hand.” Together with his assistants, he was involved in drug sales, gambling, “protection” of brothels and brothels, murders and robberies.
It is noteworthy that even though these representatives criminal world and lived almost a century ago (in the 20-40s of the 20th century), photos of Chicago gangsters are perfectly preserved in police databases and historical archives.
In 2013, the first season of the American series “Gangster City” was released on television screens. The director of this masterpiece is Frank Darabonta, known to many for his role in The Walking Dead. This film stars Edward Burns and many others. The series tells in detail about the life of America in the 40s, showing the viewer who the gangsters were, how they appeared and what they did. The main storyline is the confrontation between the police and criminal structures.
Decoding the concept
For those who are not keen on watching such television products, but want to find out who the gangsters are, this article is intended. As you know, our speech is filled with a huge number of borrowed words. The term "gangster" is one of them. This word came to us from the New World. Initially, street gangs (gangsters) appeared in America. They were called gangs. The word gangster helped clarify membership in a gang. Translated, it means “a person who is a member of a criminal group in the United States in the 20-40s of the 20th century.”
Alphonse Gabriel Capone
They know firsthand who gangsters are. At one time (in the early twenties of the twentieth century), one of the notorious “fathers” of the criminal business of the entire country lived on the territory of the city. This man's name is Al Capone. Having moved with his family to Brooklyn from Naples, he brought his own “zest” to the criminal structure of the United States, which was nurtured in him by the Italian mafia. The gangsters of his organized crime group were known for their brutality, quick execution and relentlessness.
It is noteworthy that Al Capone’s main “white” business was the creation and restoration of furniture. However, under such an ordinary business there was bootlegging, pimping, sale of drugs, weapons and gambling.
It is noteworthy that it is thanks to this crime boss Laundromats have appeared everywhere in America. In order to hide his income from a prohibited business, Al Capone ordered the construction of laundries with Laundromat machines throughout the city. The price for services was set so minimal that these establishments became popular among all segments of the population. It was impossible to track the number of visitors. Thus, the profit also remained unaccounted for. Thanks to this, Al Capone was able to hide his “dirty” amounts in the “clean” income of the laundries. Since that time, a stable expression has appeared - “money laundering”.
"Fathers" of the criminal world in life imprisonment
The history of Alcatraz prison, where, in turn, Al Capone and many other gangsters spent several years of his life, can tell who the gangsters are. Located on an island off the coast of San Francisco, this institution during its operation was one of the most secure and reliable of all existing similar maximum security institutions. Escape from here was practically impossible. That is why the most brutal and merciless criminal elements from all over the country were exiled here.
These, in addition to Al Capone, already known to us, include:
- nicknamed "Machine Gun" Kelly. He was sentenced to life in prison for murder, kidnapping and other mafia matters. At that time, this gangster was considered the first enemy of the American state.
- Roy Gardner is a famous gangster and thief. He gained his “fame” by robbing trains. While serving his sentence, the mafioso wrote the book “Hellish Alcatraz,” in which he told his biography and also described the prison life of other crime bosses.
Chicago Gangsters
In addition to the gangsters who served their sentences in one of the harshest federal prisons in America, other criminal personalities also made their way into history. Among them is Chicago mafia element Stanley Moore, nicknamed "The Inquisitor". His fame, like many other gangsters, was of dubious quality. He “earned his name” by unprincipledly and harshly “extorting” debts from debtors. At the same time, he was also responsible for the execution of those people who in any way interfered with the “just cause” of the gang.
In addition to Americans, among the famous gangsters of America there were also people from Asia. One of them was Mr. Singh. He had special skill. He was brought into the case if it was necessary to present a murder as an accident due to poisoning. The Asian killer used rare oriental poisons in his profession.
Another feared figure of the time was the Chicago gangster nicknamed “Bone Hand.” Together with his assistants, he was involved in drug sales, gambling, “protection” of brothels and brothels, murders and robberies.
It is noteworthy that even though these representatives of the criminal world lived almost a century ago (in the 20-40s of the 20th century), photographs of Chicago gangsters were perfectly preserved in police databases and historical archives.
To the question: who are gangsters?
given by the author Anechka Boyko the best answer is American crooks.
Answer from 22 answers[guru]
Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: who are gangsters?
Answer from Kkk kkk[newbie]
cool boys from the area
Answer from Olya Yarmak[newbie]
member criminal community. The term "gangster" is used primarily to refer to members of criminal organizations in the United States, Italy, Mexico, Japan, China, and other countries.
Answer from Hyuga Hinata[newbie]
Khovansky.
Answer from Nikita Karachenko[newbie]
American Gopniks
Answer from Anastasia Bondareva[newbie]
A gangster is a member of a criminal gang, a bandit
Answer from Џ I[expert]
this gangster tough guys in jackets and hats they are in the mafia and not the same traitors
Answer from Daniil Lanskikh[active]
A gangster is (Bandit) or a person who is respected by the area, who is respected for his deeds such as helping the gang (participants), theft, murder, etc.: ,
Answer from Alyonk@[guru]
A gangster is a member of a criminal group, a bandit. The very concept of “gangster” arose in the USA in the 20s-30s of the twentieth century. Then in Chicago, New York and others major cities Numerous gangs began to appear in the New World. Each of them had a clear hierarchy, its own head and its own rules. Their goal was enrichment and power. The gangsters chose mainly forceful methods to achieve their goals. They killed, robbed, burned, blackmailed.
Gangster groups became especially widespread during Prohibition, when the underground trade in alcohol brought in huge profits. cash. The gangsters also organized the smuggling and sale of drugs, created closed casinos, collected money from small and large entrepreneurs in exchange for patronage or without any exchange. These criminal organizations could grow to quite large sizes and then inevitably collided with each other. The gangsters eliminated weaker rivals, and preferred to share spheres of influence with strong ones.
Over time, some gangsters were no longer content with power only in the criminal world. They began to penetrate the economy and politics, placing their proteges in high positions. They moved from the rank of gangsters to the rank of mafiosi. Despite the law against organized crime, such groups continue to exist to this day, but on a smaller scale and with greater secrecy.
The times of gangsters are reflected in cinema. This era is often romanticized and bandits are portrayed as noble robbers with their own code of honor. Some gangsters have become legends of sorts American history. Among them: Al Capone, Salvatore Luciano, John Gotti, Carlo Gombino, Frank Costello, Dutch Schultz.
Answer from Yasmina Muslimova[newbie]
Gangster (eng. gangster) - The term “gangster” is used mainly in relation to members of criminal organizations in the USA, Italy, Mexico, Japan, China, and other countries.
Answer from Elena Menshikova[newbie]
The term "gangster" is used mainly to refer to members of criminal organizations in the USA, Italy, Latin America and other countries associated with Prohibition or the American offshoot Italian mafia. Here are the most famous of them. Prominent representatives the underworld and very colorful personalities...
I remember my childhood, when I watched enough of “The Godfather” or played enough of “Mafia” - I’ll grab the Thompson right now and go do big things;)
Frank Costello
Gangster Nickname: Frank "First Minister" Costello
In Italy, the boy was born under the name Francesco Castiglia. At the age of 4, his family moved to New York. He grew up on the tough streets of New York in a very difficult years economic crisis. Later, through a series of events, he would become one of the most famous gangsters of all time. Frank Costello, the name he later adopted, was friends with another gangster, Charlie Luciano, as a child. Subsequently, Costello earned a reputation in the gangster world and amassed great fortune smuggling alcohol, gambling, participating in several major New York gangs: the Morello gang, the Lower East Side gang and joint affairs with the Luciano family.
Frank Costello gained enormous authority and managed to lead the Luciano family - one of the top five influential families New York. He owes part of his success good connections in politics.
And after the gangster war, he focused on the gambling business and became a major money earner. He died of a heart attack in 1973.
Carlo Gambino
Gangster nickname: Don Carlo, The Godfather
Gambino was a real gangster, flesh and blood. He was born into one of the Sicilian mafia families. Therefore, it is not surprising that he began to take part in “family” affairs from an early age.
He moved to Brooklyn in 1921 and at the age of 19 became a member of Cosa Nostra, becoming involved in criminal activities. Carlo Gambino was arrested for tax evasion in 1938 and spent almost 2 years in prison. In the 1960s, the mafioso gained greater influence. And in 1976 he died of a heart attack at home. The funeral was attended by 2 thousand people, including politicians, judges and police officers.
It was Gambino who became the founder of one of the most influential families in criminal America. After taking control of a row of high profitable areas, including illegal bootlegging, a government port and an airport, the Gambino family becomes the most powerful of the five families. Carlo forbade his people to sell drugs, considering this type of business dangerous and attractive public attention. At its height, the Gambino family consisted of more than 40 groups and teams, and controlled New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Miami and Los Angeles.
After a short, relatively “quiet” life in New York, Gambino became involved in the murder of Albert Anastasia, the Don of one of the most famous gangster families of the Lucianos. Thus, in 1957, Gambino himself became a Don. In the gangster world, reputation and ego played a very big role. And since Gambino had both, the famous family decided to change their last name to Gambino. Gambino successfully ruled the family for another 22 years before his death.
Mayer Lansky
Gangster nickname: "Accountant"
Mayer Lansky is one of the few famous gangsters born outside the USA, England or Italy. He was born Mayer Sukhovlyansky in Belarus and moved to New York with his family at the age of 9. Lansky started out in the Bugs and Meyer Mob and the National Crime Syndicate.
Even as a child, Meyer's friend was Charles Luciano. He demanded money from the stranger for patronage, but Lansky refused. There was a fight, the result of which was... friendship between the boys. After some time, Bugsy Seagal joined the guys, who was introduced into the company by Meyer. The friendly trio became the core of the Bug and Meyer group, which later grew into the famous Murder, Inc. At first, Lansky took up gambling and the money that comes with it. The arena of his actions was Florida, New Orleans and Cuba. Meyer became an investor in Seagal's casino, which he opened in Las Vegas; the mafioso even acquired an offshore Swiss bank in order to better launder money. When the National Crime Syndicate was formed in America, it was Lansky who was its co-founder. However, business is business, when Bugsy Seagal stopped giving money to the Syndicate, Lansky cold-bloodedly ordered the death of his old friend.
Lansky's forte is finance and gambling. He built a huge gambling empire, which spread its branches all over the world. He also managed to involve Swiss banks in his dirty deals. Lansky is known for his incredible intelligence and is recognized as the most cunning and resourceful gangster of all time. This is evidenced by the fact that Lanksy did not spend a single day behind bars. And this was commonplace for most gangsters.
Meyer Lansky died of cancer at Mount Sinai Hospital on January 15, 1983. Last words, which his second wife Teddy managed to make out, were: “Let me go! Let go!”
Benjamin Schiegel
Gangster nickname: Bugsy
Benjamin Schiegel, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, earned his nickname "Bugsy" due to his unpredictable personality. He was very powerful and was involved with Mayer Lansky's Murder Incorporated gang and also worked with the Luciano family. His specialization: trade in illegal alcohol and contract killings. However, he left a memory of himself that is associated not only with his criminal acts.
Seagal committed many murders for Charlie Luciano, which made him a lot of enemies. It is not surprising that in the late 30s Bugsy fled to Los Angeles, where he managed to make many acquaintances among Hollywood stars. After the passage of the Nevada gambling law, Segal borrowed millions of dollars from the Syndicate and founded the Flamingo Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, one of the first in the city. Thanks to this, he had many famous friends and acquaintances: singer Frank Sinatra, actors Clark Gable and Gary Grant. He was certainly a man with two different sides to his nature: a gangster and, at the same time, a man from high society. However, the business did not turn out to be profitable when criminal colleagues discovered that Seagal simply stole their money, Bugsy was killed. Benjamin Seagal was best portrayed by Warren Beatty in the 1991 film Bugsy and by Armand Assante in The Married Man (1991).
John Dillinger
Gangster nickname: "Gentleman John", "Hare"
You may remember John Dillinger from his role as Johnny Depp in the 2009 film Public Enemies. And if John Dillinger turned out to be famous enough for a Hollywood star to undertake to play his role, then he is certainly quite suitable for our list. The active phase of Dillinger's life occurred during the Great Depression in the United States. He was known as a gangster and bank robber. His life was very short - he was shot dead at the age of 31. He has two escapes from prison, as well as an affair with his own stepmother. It seems this man knew absolutely nothing about morality...
Charles Luciano
Gangster nickname: "Lucky"
Charles Luciano is believed to be the father organized crime and as such, it fully deserves its place on this list. At the young age of 10, Charles and his family moved from Sicily to NY, Lower East Side. It was thanks to him that the entire New York mafia was divided into 5 famous families. Naturally, after organizing the entire mafia in a similar way, Luciano headed one of the families - the Luciano family.
Charles Luciano was an incredibly powerful man. He is so influential that during the Second World War, the command navy The US turned to him for advice. Despite the fact that at that moment Luciano was in prison... For his useful tips and help he was subsequently released. But he was deported to Italy, where he spent the rest of his life.
The Sicilian gangster was the head of the international heroin trade. He began his criminal activities with smuggling, robberies, pimping, etc., this is how he earned authority and fortune. At first he was an ordinary member of the Giuseppe Masseria family. He survived an attack by a rival gang while being tortured to find out where a drug stash was. He survived and received the nickname "Lucky". He then removed his boss Masseria, strengthening his authority.
Luciano had excellent organizational skills. He decided to operate the mafia as a corporation and organized the Big Seven for alcohol sales. He also came up with the idea that a fictitious company could be used as a “cover” for bootlegging. Authorities sentenced Luciano to 50 years, but he was released early for helping to dismantle Sicilian gangs. In 1962, when meeting with the director for filming documentary film about the mafia he had a heart attack.
Kray Brothers
Reginald "Reggie" Kray and Ronald "Rony" Kray were twin brothers who lived and worked in London. During the 50s and 60s they created the gang "The Firm" - a name similar to the names of countless gangs of the time and intended to demonstrate the influence and reputation of the gang. These people were involved in arson, murder, blackmail and armed robbery.
The Kray brothers opened night club in London (a rather unusual occupation for gangsters of that time), which was often visited by many film and show business stars, including Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra. Frank Sinatra definitely gravitated towards the gangster circle of the time and maintained friendly relations with many.
Rotating in such a society, the Kray brothers eventually became famous themselves. They have appeared on TV shows many times, something that no other gangster on our list seems to have done. It would seem that they could have achieved incredible success, but the end of the Kray brothers was sad... In 1968, they were sentenced to life imprisonment. In addition, Reggie was diagnosed with cancer. He was released from prison 8 weeks before his death. His brother Rony was sent to Broadmoor Hospital for treatment of schizophrenia, where he died a few years later.
Joseph Bonanno
Gangster nickname: Joe Banana, Banana Joe
And this bandit was born in Italy, his homeland in 1905 was the island of Sicily. Already at the age of 15, the boy was left an orphan, and when he was 19, he fled from the fascist regime of Mussolini, first to Cuba, and from there to the USA. The young man soon became known as "Joey Bananas", becoming a member of the Maranzano family. Maranzano managed to form the “Commission”, which managed to establish control over the mafia families in Italy itself. However, Luciano soon killed his competitor. Bonanno gradually amassed large amounts of capital by managing cheese factories, as well as clothing and funeral businesses. But Joseph’s plans to gradually eliminate the remaining families did not come true. Bonanno was kidnapped, it took him 19 days to come to the decision to retire. But this decision allowed Joseph to live a long life. As a result, the bandit was never convicted of anything serious during his career. Two films were made about Bonanno: Love, Honor and Obedience: The Last Mafia Alliance, 1993, starring Ben Gazarra, and Bonanno: The Story of the Godfather, 1999, starring Martin Landau.
Joseph "Banana Joe" was the richest mobster and patriarch of the Bonanno family. He was a gangster for 30 years and founded a crime family that is still active in the United States today. Bonanno resigned voluntarily and ended his life in his huge mansion
Albert Anastasia
Gangster nickname: "Lord Executioner" and "Mad Hatter"
This mafia representative was born, like many of his colleagues, in Italy, but moved to America as a child. Albert's career began with the murder of a longshoreman on the Brooklyn docks. The killer began serving his sentence in the famous Sing Sing prison, but soon the only witness mysteriously died and Anastasia was released without serving his sentence. Albert earned the nicknames "Lord Executioner" and "Mad Hatter" for his many murders. Over time, the criminal ended up in Joe Masseria's gang, who just needed a cold-blooded killer. However, Albert was very friendly with his competitor, Charlie "Lucky", so Masseria's betrayal became a matter of time. It was Anastasia who became one of the four sent to kill the boss in 1931. Already in 1944, Albert became the leader of a group of murderers, which even got its name “Murder, Inc.” The perpetrator himself was never prosecuted for the murders, but according to authorities, his group was directly related to at least 400 deaths. The 50s elevated Albert to the status of leader of the Luciano family, but at the direction of Carlo Gambino, Anastasia was killed in 1957. The prototype of this mafioso became the basis for the films "Murder, Inc" with Peter Falk and Howard Smith in 1960, as well as "The Valacci Papers" in 1972 and "Lepke" in 1975.
John Gotti
Gangster nickname: "Teflon Don"
This gangster stands out from all New York celebrities of this kind. John was born in 1940 and was always considered smart. Already at the age of 16, Gotti was a member of the Fulton Rockaway Boys street gang. John's talents allowed him to quickly become the leader of the group. In the 60s, the “Guys” lived in petty theft and car theft. However, this was clearly not enough for Gotti; in the early 70s he was already the godfather of the Bergin group, which was part of the Gambino family. Gotti's ambitions pushed him to take dangerous steps even among the mafia - he began to distribute drugs, which was prohibited by family rules. It's no surprise that boss Paul Castellano decided to remove Gotti from his organization. However, in 1985, John and his henchmen managed to kill Castellano and personally lead the Gambino family. Although New York law enforcement tried numerous times to convict Gotti, the charges consistently failed. The mafioso himself always looked presentable, which the media liked. It was they who gave the gangster the nicknames “Elegant Don” and “Teflon Don.” The police only reached Gotti in 1992, convicting him of murder. The gangster's life was cut short in 2002; he died of cancer. The life of a mafioso has been embodied in films many times - he was played by Antonio Denilson in the film "Getting Gotti" in 1994, Armand Assante in "Gotti" in 1996. And in the 1998 films "Mafia Witness" with Tom Sizemoor and "The Big Heist" in 2001 without the participation of a famous bandit.
Tony Accardo
Gangster nickname: "Big Tuna"
Tony was the boss of the Chicago mafia for more than ten years, from the very end of World War II. At this time, his competitors left the scene - Paul Ricca went to prison, and Frank Nitti committed suicide. And Accardo came to his first roles during the time of Capone, being at first his bodyguard. It was Tony who in 1931 became the main suspect in the murder of his boss's rival, Joe Aillo. Accardo is also credited with participating in the famous Valentine's Day massacre. After Capone's capture, Tony became the right hand of the new boss, Frank Nitti. They say that it was Accardo who eventually managed to introduce the Chicago family into the gambling business, and he also “set up” the entertainment and industrial rackets. Tony remained an influential member of the Family for a long time. When Giancana fled the country in 1966, Accardo returned to his usual leadership role. As a result, Accardo retired from business in the 80s, moving to California. There he died on May 27, 1992.
And of course Al Capone
Gangster nickname: Scarface (Big Al)
Al Capone was the first among all gangsters to “launder” money through a huge network of laundries, the prices of which were very low. Capone was the first to introduce the concept of “racketeering” and successfully dealt with it, laying the foundation for a new vector of mafia activity. Alfonso received the nickname “Scarface” at the age of 19, when he worked in a billiards club. He allowed himself to object to the cruel and seasoned criminal Frank Galluccio, moreover, he insulted his wife, after which a fight and a stabbing occurred between the bandits, as a result of which Al Capone received the famous scar on his left cheek.
This gangster deservedly goes under Number One, because his name is known to everyone. Alphonse Capone was born in Brooklyn to a family of Italian immigrants. After some time, the young man joined the Five Points gang, where he played the role of a bouncer. It was then that Capone was given the nickname "Scarface." In 1919, in search of new challenges, the bandit moved to Chicago to work for Johnny Torrio. This allowed Capone to begin to quickly move up the criminal hierarchy. During Prohibition, Capone did not disdain to engage not only in bootlegging and gambling, but also in prostitution. In 1925, the gangster is only 26 years old, but he is already the head of the Torrey family and is not afraid to start a family war. Capone became famous not only for his pomp and vanity, but also for his cruelty and intelligence. Suffice it to recall the famous massacre that occurred during the celebration of St. Valentine's Day in 1929, during which many leaders of criminal groups were killed. The police managed to arrest Al Capone for... tax evasion! This was done in 1931 by federal tax agent Eliot Ness. In 1934, the gangster ended up in the famous Alcatraz prison, from where he came out 7 years later having become fatally ill with syphilis. Capone lost his influence; his friends preferred to tell him fictitious stories about the true state of affairs. There have been many films about Capone, the most famous of which are 1967's "Valentine's Day Massacre" with Jason Robards, 1975's "Capone" with Ben Gazarra and 1987's "The Untouchables" with Robert De Niro.
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