Vic Damone once had the chance to step inside ‘The Godfather‘, but instead of accepting a role many performers would fight for, he turned it down and later revealed it was not for the reasons everyone assumed.
At the time, he said he didn’t want to play into stereotypes, especially a character who relied on mob ties for success. But years later, Damone admitted there was more behind his decision; something he never said openly.
‘The Godfather’ Role That Hit Too Close For Vic Damone
When Francis Ford Coppola was assembling ‘The Godfather‘, he had already secured big names like Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan. For the role of Johnny Fontane, he approached Vic Damone, a major music star from the 1940s and 1950s. It was an ideal choice because both Fontane and Damone came from the world of Italian-American show business.
However, Damone declined the part. In a 1971 New York Times report, he said it “was not in the best interests of Italian-Americans,” and said that he didn’t want to play someone who rose through mob connections. Some accounts also suggested he wasn’t happy with the limited screen time, while others saw Fantone as a minor character. Others also mentioned salary disputes as a major reason.
Initially, it looked like a decision rooted in image and pride. But as time went on, it became clear those reasons didn’t tell the whole story. Years later, in a 2016 NPR interview, Coppola offered a different perspective.
Francis Ford Coppola’s Version Of The Story
When asked if Damone feared upsetting Frank Sinatra or people connected to him, Coppola suggested that he did. That changed everything about how Damone’s exit was viewed. Johnny Fontane had long been rumored to be inspired by Sinatra. He was a singer often linked to whispers of mob ties, despite his denials. Damone, who moved in similar circles, likely understood the risk of accepting a role that many would interpret as a direct reference to Sinatra.
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Reportedly, Sinatra hated Mario Puzo’s novel. According to USA Today, he confronted Puzo at Chasen’s restaurant and told him to “go ahead and choke”. However, we later got a sneak peek of a similar scene in ‘The Offer.’ It was the 2022 miniseries about ‘The Godfather’s making. Now that we know this, Damone’s refusal makes more sense. As it turns out, it wasn’t about the role even; it was about respect and survival ultimately.
With Damone out, Coppola turned to Al Martino, another Italian-American singer with firsthand experience of industry dealings. According to ‘The Godfather Legacy,’ Martino’s own past helped inspire parts of Johnny Fontane’s backstory. Others had been considered, like Eddie Fisher, but Martino delivered a more realistic performance and never tried to mimic Sintara. Instead, he played Fontane as someone who understood what it meant to owe a debt and live with it.
Sure, Vic Damon’s refusal didn’t derail ‘The Godfather,’ but it undeniably altered it. Now, we will always wonder how things would have been if Damon hadn’t denied.
