Career Richard Bright (actor)

al neri portrayed richard bright in godfather part ii.

in 1972, appeared in francis ford coppola s adaptation of godfather al neri, michael corleone (al pacino) s primary enforcer , bodyguard. michael, don of corleone family, implements security detail keeps neri , rocco lampone close @ times. deleted scene godfather shows former consiglieri , family attorney tom hagen reviewing payroll ledgers , finding both neri , lampone being paid more nominal jobs worth. revealed both are, in fact, assassins michael has doubling bodyguards.

in book, neri s character former new york city police officer hung out dry department after killing sadistic pimp. michael uses corleone family influence him off hook , draws neri service. @ end of first film, neri, dressed police officer, murders rival mob boss emilio barzini , henchmen during film s famous baptism scene. also, last faces seen in godfather bright s , diane keaton s, closes michael s office door in face. bright played neri in both sequels, becoming 1 of 5 actors appear in 3 godfather films; character murdered both fredo corleone (john cazale) @ end of godfather part ii , vatican banker archbishop gilday @ end of godfather part iii.

bright played hired killer, chicken joe, in sergio leone s gangster epic once upon time in america (1984). other roles include pat garrett , billy kid (1973), rancho deluxe (1975), marathon man (1976), looking mr. goodbar (1977), film adaptation of hair (1979), red heat (1987), , beautiful girls (1996).

in 1993, had recurring role on 1 life live moose mulligan, rival , former underboss longtime arch-villain , crime lord carlo hesser.

bright continued make number of both commercial , independent films, such jaded (1998). continued working on stage , in television, appearing on such shows law & order, oz, third watch, , sopranos. these later performances showed bright using oxygen tank in these appearances (although suffered emphysema, tanks props characters).