Richard S. Castellano (1933-1988) was an American actor primarily known for his character roles, often portraying Italian-Americans.

His most iconic performance was that of Peter Clemenza in Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece *The Godfather* (1972). For this role as a good-natured yet lethal mafioso, he became famous, helping to define the archetype of the cinematic gangster.

Prior to this, he had earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the film *Lovers and Other Strangers* (1970), where he played a husband in a dramedy. Castellano excelled at portraying strong characters, often gruff but with a humane core, typical of the Italian-American community. His acting style was natural and credible, lending authenticity to his characters, whether they were criminals or ordinary men. Although his film career was not extensive, his contributions, particularly *The Godfather*, remain etched in collective memory.