Al Neri
Albert "Al" Neri is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and Francis Ford Coppola's trilogy of films based on it. In all three motion pictures, he is portrayed by actor Richard Bright. He functions as Michael Corleone's personal enforcer, bodyguard and assassin. In the novel In the novel The Godfather, Neri begins his career as a New York City police officer, where he earns a reputation for a fierce temper, quick reflexes, and physical strength. He frequently patrols with a large flashlight, which he uses to assault Italian youths who run with gangs or to shatter the windshields of diplomats who disregard traffic or parking laws. Neri is married, but his wife becomes afraid of him after he mercilessly beats up his sister's son. His nephew had been disrespectful towards his sister during a visit and Neri wanted to see the kid straightened out. After his wife leaves him, Neri kills a drug-dealer and pimp by cracking his skull with the flashlight and is convicted of manslaughter. Tom Hagen and Peter Clemenza see Neri as a potential replacement for Luca Brasi, Vito Corleone's feared enforcer, and arrange his release from prison. Normally, policemen are barred