THE much-talked about mob movie The Irishman has finally dropped on Netflix.
Fans are now wondering who the characters are based on in real-life – we take you through who’s who…
Who are the characters in The Irishman based on and who plays them?
New hit movie The Irishman features the lives of real life mobsters.
Questions are now being asked about who these men were and how they where connected to the mob.
We take you through all the people that are portrayed in the film and the actors that play them.
Jimmy Hoffa played by Al Pacino
The real-life Jimmy Hoffa enjoyed a luxury lifestyle and was highly regarded after he became president of a massive coalition for truck drivers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union from 1957 to 1971, and helped create the formation of a union health and welfare fund.
In 1964, he helped establish the National Master Freight Agreement, which united more than 400,000 long-haul drivers under a single contract.
But while Hoffa was able to grow the union with these achievements, he reaped criminal benefits, too.
He used the Teamsters pension fund to buy property in Florida, and to help fund Las Vegas casinos built by Mafia bosses.
Hoffa’s disappearance on July 30, 1975, is still unsolved, though there are numerous accounts about what actually happened, and where his body ended up – something which remains a mystery to this day.
Actor Al Pacino, who plays him in The Irishman, is known for The Godfather films and recently starred in Once Upon Time In Hollywood.
Frank Sheeran played by Robert De Niro
Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran was an American labour union official who was accused of having links to the Bufalino crime family.
In his capacity as a high-ranking official in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Sheeran was a leading figure in the corruption of unions by organised crime.
Sheeran enlisted in the Army in August 1941 but was discharged in 1945.
When he left the service, Sheeran became a truck driver but made extra money on the side by committing crimes, including murder for hire.
Due to his criminal acumen, he became a close associate of Mafia bosses Russell Bufalino and Angelo Bruno.
Shortly before his death, Sheeran claimed to have killed Jimmy Hoffa in 1975.
He died in a nursing home aged 83 in 2003.
Actor Robert De Niro, who plays him in The Irishman, is known for Taxi Driver, Goodfellas Cape Fear and Casino.
Allen Dorfman played by Jake Hoffman
Allen Dorfman was an insurance agency owner and a consultant to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Central States Pension Fund.
He was a close associate of Jimmy Hoffa and associated with organised crime via the Chicago Outfit.
Dorfman was convicted on several felony counts, and was murdered in 1983.
Actor Jake Hoffman, who plays him in The Irishman, has previously starred in Wolf of Wall Street. He is also the son of Hollywood star Dustin Hoffman.
Sally Bugs played by Louis Cancelmi
In a movie full of murderers and mobsters, one killer sticks out as especially ruthless – and that is Salvatore “Sally Bugs” Briguglio.
Briguglio was a New Jersey loan shark and mafia hitman.
He wasn’t tied to the Teamsters at first, but was given the coveted job of Secretary/Treasurer.
He has also been the prime suspect in the Jimmy Hoffa murder since 1985.
Sally Bugs was shot dead in March 1978 in New York City’s Little Italy.
Actor Louis Cancelmi, who plays him in The Irishman, is known for playing Mike D’Angelo in Boardwalk Empire and Victor Mateo in Billions.
Fat Tony Salerno played by Domenick Lombardozzi
Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno was an American mobster who served as underboss and front boss of the Genovese crime family in New York City from 1981 until his conviction in 1986.
Usually seen wearing a fedora and chomping on a cigar, he was nicknamed “Fat Tony” due to his size.
After his conviction and imprisonment, Salerno’s health deteriorated because of his diabetes and suspected prostate cancer and he died of a stroke in July 1992.
Actor Domenick Lombardozzi, who plays him in The Irishman, is known for playing Herc in The Wire. He currently stars as George in Mrs. Fletcher.
Angelo Bruno played by Harvey Keitel
Angelo Bruno was a Sicilian-American mobster, notable for being boss of the Philadelphia crime family for two decades until his assassination.
Bruno gained the epithets “the Gentle Don” or “the Docile Don” posthumously due to his preference for conciliation over violence in stark contrast to his successors.
Actor Harvey Keitel ,who plays him in The Irishman, is known for Taxi Driver and playing Mr. White in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs.
Bill Bufalino played by Ray Romano
Born William Eugene Bufalino Sr, Bill was an American attorney who represented the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1947 until 1971.
Bufalino worked closely with Jimmy Hoffa until his disappearance.
William was the cousin of Northeast Pennsylvania mob don Russell Bufalino.
Actor Ray Romano, who plays him in The Irishman, is best known for his sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond.
Russell Bufalino played by Joe Pesci
Russell also known as “McGee” and “The Old Man”, was a Sicilian-born American mafioso who became the boss of the Northeastern Pennsylvania crime family known as the Bufalino crime family which he ruled from 1959 to 1989.
Despite being the boss of a small crime family, Bufalino was a significant influence in the national Cosa Nostra criminal society.
Actor Joe Pesci, who plays him in The Irishman, is well known for the Goodfellas movies and also the Home Alone films.
Phil Testa played by Larry Romano
Phil, also known as “The Chicken Man” or “The Julius Caesar of the Philadelphia Mob” or “Philly”, was a Sicilian-American Mafia figure known for his brief leadership of the Philadelphia crime family.
Testa became boss after the former boss Angelo Bruno was murdered by his own consigliere, Antonio Caponigro, who, in turn, was ordered killed by The Commission for acting without permission.
Testa’s nickname came from his involvement in a poultry business.
In 1981 Testa was killed by the blast of a nail bomb allegedly ordered by his underboss, Pete Casella.
According to the Philadelphia press, that event marked the beginning of the four-year Philadelphia Mafia War that led to 30 mobsters being killed.
Actor Larry Romano, who plays him in The Irishman, is known for NYPD Blue and the sitcom The King of Queens.
Frank Sindone
Frank also known as “Barracuda Frank”, was a loan shark and soldier in the Bruno crime family who helped plot the 1980 murder of family mob boss Angelo Bruno.
On October 29, 1980, Frank was found dead in an alley behind a variety store in South Philadelphia, shot three times in the head.
Frank is mentioned in the movie but you do not see him.
