Momo Barone
Encyclopedia
Cosimo "Momo" Barone is a fictional character in the novels The Godfather Returns
and The Godfather's Revenge
. He grew up in the Bronx alongside boyhood friend Eddie Paradise
. "Momo", as he was called, got his nickname "the Roach" because his flamboyant, rigidly shellacked hairstyle seemed as hard as a roach's exoskeleton
.
Momo Barone grew up around people like Pete Clemenza
and was 'attached like a fly to him' in the novel. He was also the best friend of soldato
and caporegime
Nick Geraci
, and the nephew of Sal Tessio.
After Geraci killed Tessio in 1955, Momo is 'made' under him with fellow soldier
Eddie Paradise. He also befriended fellow Geraci soldier Carmine Marino
. He is considered untrustworthy because of his blood relationship to Tessio, but is liked by Tom Hagen
, and thus given the job to kill the man who stole his watch.
Barone is Nick Geraci's closest aide circa 1956 to 1960. After Geraci is deposed in 1961, Barone is considered a likely candidate for the role of caporegime
, but Paradise is chosen instead to be capo. It is implied Barone doesn't hold a grudge for being overlooked, but he is angry that nobody trusted him because he was "Tessio's Kid". Barone meets with Geraci, who is still on the run in 1963, and agrees to help Geraci in his bid to dethrone Michael Corleone
and take over as Don.
Geraci promises Barone the title of consigliere
if he agrees to help. Barone agrees, and feeds Geraci information on Michael Corleone's plans. Ultimately, both Geraci and Barone are killed while attending a meeting that had been supposedly arranged for Geraci to negotiate his bid for leadership. The meeting turns out to be a setup masterminded by Michael Corleone. Barone is killed by his lifelong friend Eddie Paradise.
The Godfather Returns
The Godfather Returns is a novel written by author Mark Winegardner, published in 2004. It is the sequel to Mario Puzo's The Godfather, which was originally published in 1969, and The Sicilian...
and The Godfather's Revenge
The Godfather's Revenge
The Godfather's Revenge, a 2006 novel written by author Mark Winegardner, is the sequel to The Godfather, The Sicilian, and The Godfather Returns. The story takes place from 1963–1964, and picks up the story from where The Godfather Returns left off...
. He grew up in the Bronx alongside boyhood friend Eddie Paradise
Eddie Paradise
Edward 'Eddie' Paradise is a fictional character in the novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge.He is a Sicilian gangster and Soldato in the Corleone crime family under Nick Geraci....
. "Momo", as he was called, got his nickname "the Roach" because his flamboyant, rigidly shellacked hairstyle seemed as hard as a roach's exoskeleton
Exoskeleton
An exoskeleton is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton of, for example, a human. In popular usage, some of the larger kinds of exoskeletons are known as "shells". Examples of exoskeleton animals include insects such as grasshoppers...
.
Momo Barone grew up around people like Pete Clemenza
Pete Clemenza
Peter Clemenza is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather and two of the three films based on it. He is played by Academy Award-nominee Richard Castellano in Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation of the novel, and by Bruno Kirby in The Godfather Part II.-The...
and was 'attached like a fly to him' in the novel. He was also the best friend of soldato
Soldato
A Soldato is the lowest level of the formal Mafia hierarchy, both in America and in Sicily. However, a soldier is much greater in rank and prestige than any ordinary associate of the crime family. In order to become a soldier, the primary requisite for an associate is to become a made man...
and caporegime
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
Nick Geraci
Nick Geraci
Fausto Dominic 'Nick' Geraci Jr. is a central character in the Mark Winegardner novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge. He is a caporegime in the Corleone crime family, but later betrays the family, and becomes a sworn enemy to Don Michael Corleone.-Biography:The Godfather Returns...
, and the nephew of Sal Tessio.
After Geraci killed Tessio in 1955, Momo is 'made' under him with fellow soldier
Soldato
A Soldato is the lowest level of the formal Mafia hierarchy, both in America and in Sicily. However, a soldier is much greater in rank and prestige than any ordinary associate of the crime family. In order to become a soldier, the primary requisite for an associate is to become a made man...
Eddie Paradise. He also befriended fellow Geraci soldier Carmine Marino
Carmine Marino
Carmine Marino is a fictional character who plays a prominent role in the novel The Godfather Returns.-Character history:Marino came into America in 1956 to be a hostage held by Donnie Bags, Eddie Paradise, and Momo Barone. He plays cards with them in a building being supervised by caporegime Rocco...
. He is considered untrustworthy because of his blood relationship to Tessio, but is liked by Tom Hagen
Tom Hagen
Thomas "Tom" Feargal Hagen is a fictional character in the Godfather books and films. He was portrayed by Robert Duvall in the films. He is the informally adopted son of Don Vito Corleone and serves as the family lawyer and consigliere . Mild-mannered and soft-spoken, he often serves as a voice of...
, and thus given the job to kill the man who stole his watch.
Barone is Nick Geraci's closest aide circa 1956 to 1960. After Geraci is deposed in 1961, Barone is considered a likely candidate for the role of caporegime
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
, but Paradise is chosen instead to be capo. It is implied Barone doesn't hold a grudge for being overlooked, but he is angry that nobody trusted him because he was "Tessio's Kid". Barone meets with Geraci, who is still on the run in 1963, and agrees to help Geraci in his bid to dethrone Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone
Michael Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's novels, The Godfather and The Sicilian. He is also the main character of the Godfather film trilogy that was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, in which he was portrayed by Al Pacino, who was twice nominated for an Academy Award for his...
and take over as Don.
Geraci promises Barone the title of consigliere
Consigliere
Consigliere is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The word was popularized by Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather , and its film adaptation...
if he agrees to help. Barone agrees, and feeds Geraci information on Michael Corleone's plans. Ultimately, both Geraci and Barone are killed while attending a meeting that had been supposedly arranged for Geraci to negotiate his bid for leadership. The meeting turns out to be a setup masterminded by Michael Corleone. Barone is killed by his lifelong friend Eddie Paradise.