Summary

• Al Pacino was 31 when he played Michael Corleone in The Godfather, but the character was only 25.
• In The Godfather Part III, Pacino was 49 while the character, Michael Corleone, was 59 years old.
• Despite the age difference, Pacino's portrayal of Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy remains iconic.

Al Pacino played Michael Corleone throughout the three movies of The Godfather trilogy, but the actor’s age didn’t always match that of his character. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo, The Godfather trilogy is a sprawling crime epic that follows the rise and fall of an Italian-American mob family. The saga focuses on Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone as he takes over from his father, Vito Corleone. The Godfather's ending sees Vito die and pass on his legacy to Michael, while The Godfather Part II flashes back to Vito’s early adulthood to fill in his story.

Although The Godfather devotes a lot of screen time to the older Vito and The Godfather Part II features many scenes starring Robert De Nio’s younger version of the character, The Godfather movies as a whole center on Michael. It is Vito’s heir who takes over his crime empire when he dies and, in the underrated Godfather Part III, it's an older Michael who tries to legitimize the infamous family’s many shady business dealings. Although Al Pacino portrayed Michael throughout the series, the actor’s real-life age did not always match the age of the trilogy’s main character.

Al Pacino's Age In The Godfather's 3 Movies Explained

Pacino Was 31 Years Old When He First Played Michael Corleone

Al Pacino was 31 years old when he filmed The Godfather in 1971, and the actor’s career was still in its infancy at the time. Although he impressed as the desperate addict Bobby in the intense drama The Panic in Needle Park, Pacino’s star-making roles in Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon were still in his future. Pacino was 33 when he filmed The Godfather Part II in late 1973, and he was 49 when he shot The Godfather Part III in 1989. By that stage, roles in Scarface and Sea Of Love had cemented his superstar status outside The Godfather trilogy.

Although all of The Godfather’s cast became stars after their parts in the original movie, Pacino’s youth meant that he could parlay the role into a string of acclaimed movie roles. Pacino went on to star in other iconic gangster movies like Carlito’s Way, Donnie Brasco, and The Irishman, as well as critically adored hits like Any Given Sunday, Heat, and Glengarry Glen Ross. However, while Pacino’s work in the trilogy is still seen as a career high point, the actor’s age was often a little out of alignment with the age of Michael Corleone, whether younger or older.

How Old Michael Corleone Is Supposed To Be In Each Godfather Movie

Michael Corleone's Age Never Quite Lined Up With His Actor During Filming

Michael Corleone is only 25 in The Godfather, although his actor was six years older than the character. In The Godfather Part II, a 33-year-old Pacino plays a 38-year-old Corleone, getting a little closer to matching the character’s age. By The Godfather Part III, the gap between the pair is wider than ever. Michael Corleone is 59 in The Godfather Part III, but Pacino is 10 years younger at only 49. While this might sound like a major age gap, it is worth noting that The Godfather’s Marlon Brando was only 47 when he played the 68-year-old Vito Corleone.