Al Neri

Albert "Al" Neri is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather and the three films based on it. He was portrayed by actor Richard Bright.

Neri becomes one of Michael Corleone's most trusted aides in the second and third installments of the Godfather trilogy. He functions as one of Michael's caporegimes, after the death of Pete Clemenza, the arrest of Frank Pentangeli the betrayal of Sal Tessio.

Neri began his career as a member of the New York Police Department. He developed a reputation for his brutal enforcement of the law. After he killed a local drug dealer and pimp, he was removed from the police force and sentenced to prison. The Corleone family, upon recommendation of Clemenza, managed to have his sentence suspended, and he was recruited into Clemenza's regime.

When Michael ordered the assasination of the heads of the five New York Families, at the end of The Godfather Part I, Neri was responsible for the murder of Emilio Barzini, donning his old Police uniform in order to arrange an ambush on the steps of a building as Barzini was leaving.

In The Godfather Part II, Neri was responsible for the brutal murder of a prostitute in order to blackmail U.S. Senator Pat Geary into the Corleone family's service, as well as the assasination of Micheal's brother Fredo Corleone.

By the time of The Godfather Part III, the aging assassin was still working for the Corleones, his loyalty to Micheal extending to the new Don, Micheal's nephew Vincent. His talents were called upon once again who at the conclusion of the film when Vincent ordered him to kill Archbishop Gilday in revenge for the priest's intrigue against the family.