Apollonia Vitelli
From The Godfather Wiki
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|
| Apollonia Vitelli | |
|---|---|
| Biographical information | |
| Gender |
Female |
| Eye color |
Brown |
| Hair color |
Brown |
| Born |
April 14, 1929 |
| Died |
August 10, 1948 (aged 19) |
| Portrayed By | |
Apollonia Vitelli-Corleone was Michael Corleone's first wife.
[edit] Biography
Born in the hills around Corleone, Apollonia was the daughter of a Greek mother and a Sicilian father, both of whom were incredibly protective of her. Apollonia grew into a very beautiful young woman.
Shortly after Michael Corleone arrives in Sicily following his escape from New York, Apollonia encounters Michael, who is walking to the village of Corleone with his bodyguards, Calo and Fabrizio. The two men claim Michael has been hit by what Sicilians call "the Thunderbolt," a powerful, almost dangerous longing in a man for a particular woman. After making inquiries with Apollonia's father, Michael courts and marries her.
[edit] Death
After several months, a pregnant Apollonia is killed by a car bomb intended for Michael. The attack was orchestrated by Michael's trusted bodyguard, Fabrizio, who was paid off by the Barzini Family from New York.
After Apollonia's death, Michael returns to the United States and marries Kay Adams, though she is unaware that he had been married, then made a widower, while he was living in Sicily. Michael hunts down Fabrizio and has him gunned down in his Buffalo pizzeria, avenging Apollonia's murder.
[edit] Memory
Despite re-marrying and having two children with Kay, Michael carried the memory of Apollonia with him until his death. He was particularly reminded of her by the Sicilian ballad 'Brucia La Terra', which his son Anthony performed for him upon his return to Sicily in 1980.
When Michael died in 1997, some of his last thoughts were of dancing with Apollonia at their wedding.
