The most memorable characters from Francis Ford Coppola films

From the 1966 comedy You're a Big Boy Now, Geraldine Page earned both an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress as the overbearing and overprotective mother of awkward 19-year-old protagonist Bernard (Peter Kastner). The movie is filled with plenty of over-the-top humor, goofy pranks, and harmless fun. Page goes full tilt into her role as Mrs. Chanticleer, who can best be described as hilariously annoying.

While this 1969 picture might be best known for the appearances of both James Caan and Robert Duvall, a couple of Coppola favorites, celebrated veteran actress Shirley Knight is arguably the star of this provocative drama. Her Natalie is a young, pregnant woman who leaves her husband and drives across the country while trying to make sense of her current lot in life. The movie is an example of Coppola's early, experimental work, which often left audiences struggling to decide whether they liked the movie or not. From a critical standpoint, it seemed to be successful, and Knight's performance as the maddeningly complex Natalie is a big reason why.

Richard Gere and Diane Lane star in this crime drama from 1984 that was critically acclaimed but a box-office bust. Yet, the multi-talented Gregory Hines, another favorite of Coppola, delivers a splendidly unheralded performance as one of The Cotton Club's top attractions. While Hines' exceptional tap-dancing skills are on display, the movie also shows off just how good an actor he was during his career. Especially here, as one of his most powerfully emotional characters.

Say what one will about the need for The Godfather Part III (1990). But the role of Vincent (nicely played by Oscar-nominee Andy Garcia), with various liberties taken, as the illegitimate son of Sonny Corleone and his mistress Lucy Mancini is an intriguing addition to The Godfather story. Coppola has long stated that Vincent, who eventually rises to the top of the food chain in the Corleone family, is a personality mix of some of the saga's most legendary characters that came before him.

When it comes to mafia captains, Clemenza (brilliantly played in adult form by the late Richard Castellano) is among the best. He can be tough as nails, which is expected, and willing to do the dirty work ("Hello, Carlo"). But he's a family man and likes to eat, which is why he's an exceptional cooker of authentic Italian food. Clemenza is also responsible for one of the greatest lines in cinema history with his "Leave the gun, take the cannoli" order from the first installment of The Godfather trilogy. 

One of Coppola's most celebrated early films, Finian's Rainbow (1968) earned two Academy Awards nominations. Fred Astaire and Petula Clark, as this father-daughter duo, were each nominated for an Oscar for their parts in this fantasy musical about the old pot-of-gold-at-the-end-of-the-rainbow tale. Of course, the roguish Finian managed to steal his crock of gold, while Sharon is opt to work for it — even if it's in the form of happiness or true love.

It's widely recognized within The Godfather universe that The Godfather Part II (1974) antagonist Roth was based on infamous mafia associate Meyer Lansky. Roth was superbly played by veteran actor Lee Strasberg, who earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting actor. The cunning Roth is a longtime acquaintance and business partner of the Corleone family. However, there was always an element of distrust that the clan had for the subtly ruthless businessman.

Kathleen Turner earned an Oscar nomination for her role as Peggy Sue, the soon-to-be divorcee, from this 1986 hit. Through the magic of film and attending her 25-year high school reunion, Peggy Sue finds herself transformed back to the 1960s, when she was in high school. It's now her chance to maybe do things over, especially when it comes to her relationship with high school sweetheart and adulterous husband Charlie (Nicolas Cage). Turner is excellent in the role, which should be no surprise considering her success during the 1980s.

The first of two memorable characters from Coppola's popular biopic about the story of Preston Tucker, and the controversy that surrounded his 1948 Tucker Sedan. Martin Landau received an Oscar nomination for his role as Abe Karatz, the New York financier who helps Tucker try to build his brand as the "the car of tomorrow." Abe is the straight man of the duo, with the sole purpose of making a lot of money. Of course, his past has the potential to come back and haunt him.

The resident hothead in the Corleone family, Sonny (in a signature role for the late James Caan) is overtly authoritative and certainly doesn't mind flexing his muscle. He doesn't have the temperament to run the family. He's consistently unfaithful to his wife, but Sonny is overprotective when it comes to his younger siblings. And he's hellbent on taking on anyone who does he — or his family — harm. Sadly, Sonny's death scene on the causeway is one of the most memorable in movie history.

S.E. Hinton created the Johnny character, but Coppola and Ralph Macchio brought him to life on the big screen through this acclaimed 1983 movie. Johnny is a 16-year-old with an even older soul. He's shy and battered from a house mired by parents who fight all the time, including an alcoholic father with no problem beating on his son. He's a great friend to his fellow Greasers, but is on the verge of a breakdown. The combination of poverty, a broken home, and social irregularities in 1960s Tulsa is starting to wear on this emotionally tortured young man.

Sticking with The Outsiders, Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell) is the youngest of the Curtis brothers. He's an intelligent teenager, who's also a pacifist appreciator of poetry. Not a common trait among Greasers. Ponyboy is essentially the narrator of Coppola's film, while also trying to balance the seemingly dead-end life of a Greaser because he has the potential for so much more thanks to his intellect. Ponyboy's loyalty is admirable, and he tries to see the best in everyone regardless of which side of the tracks they reside. 

While Coppola was the filming The Outsiders, he and Hinton were writing the screenplay for Rumble Fish, also released in 1983. While Matt Dillon is billed as the "star" of this avant-garde drama, also set in Tulsa, the supporting characters, like Diane Lane's Patty, arguably are the real stars of the picture. Patty is the girlfriend of ruffian Rusty James (Dillon). While she loves Rusty, she becomes conflicted, considering his volatile nature and lack of focus on anything of substance. Eventually their loyalty is tested, and perhaps that's when we see Patty's most human side.

The younger brother of Sonny, and second among the Corleone's four children, Fredo (portrayed by the severely underrated late actor John Cazale) is both physically and mentally weak, thus leaving him a liability within the family's business affairs. He's eventually sent to Las Vegas to learn the casino business, but his penchant for womanizing and soft allegiance to former hitman-turned-casino owner Moe Greene makes waves within the family. Fredo is also bitter after not being chosen to eventually head the family following Sonny's death. In the end, Fredo's decision to further go against the family, particularly his younger brother, leads to his own demise. 

A role that earned Robert Duvall an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor (The Godfather), Hagan was unofficially adopted by the Corleone family and tends to be the voice of reason as the organization's lawyer and consigliere. He's loyal, but he has his flaws, and those flaws are disclosed in The Godfather Part II: he has a mistress, who turns out to be Sonny's widow. Over time, Tom's professional role within the Corleone family is more of an attorney and dealing with its legitimate businesses. 

From 1974, Harry Caul (in one of Gene Hackman's best but unheralded roles) is a surveillance expert who believes he happened upon a murder. The thrills go from there. As the introverted and extremely private Caul must move beyond his comfort zone, when he finds himself amid this conflicting and potentially dangerous situation that seems to have turned his life upside down in a relatively short time. Hackman earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.

Like others on this list, Rudy Baylor is a celebrated literary character — in this case, courtesy of John Grisham. Matt Damon, however, gives the underdog rookie attorney the Hollywood treatment that makes him even more worthy of audience support. He has trouble passing the bar and isn't fortunate to have a gig with a big-time law firm. Sometimes, it takes a grinder, someone capable of succeeding based instincts, and not just how much knowledge of the law they consume from a text book. 

One of the more underappreciated characters in Coppola's arsenal, Martin Sheen's Captain Willard is dedicated to military service — serving three tours in Vietnam. As much as he hates to admit it, Willard actually finds some solace in war. He felt comfortable as a gun for hire. His mission to terminate, with "extreme prejudice," a highly decorated United States Army Colonel, who's gone rogue and essentially mad, was nothing like he'd been prepared to handle. Sheen's experience on the film is legendary, notably for a hotel room breakdown that was kept on camera for the film. 

While Abe Karatz might have delivered a more serious tone, Preston Tucker was the true showman when it came to showing off and marketing "the car of tomorrow." Jeff Bridges offers one of the best performances of his career, but it seems to get lost in the shuffle within his stellar catalog of work. If anything, Tucker is passionate, whether talking about his job or family. He was truly a man with a dream, and Bridges, for better or worse, brought that out in grand, Hollywood fashion.

Gary Oldman tends to knock it out of the park every time he appears on the big screen. So, when he took on the role of this iconic literary and cinematic character for the 1992 movie, he came through again. Based on Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, the story is even more menacing and dark than we've come to know. Yet Coppola and Oldman also bring a human, deeply emotional, and tortured quality. Maybe that hasn't been detailed, but it was truly impactful.

Mickey Rourke's "Motorcycle Boy," the older brother of the aforementioned Rusty James is certainly one of Coppola's most intriguing and mysterious characters. His real name is never disclosed. Once an infamous gang member, "Motorcycle Boy" has matured, and apparently trying to live a simple life, despite the complexity that surrounds his small world. Most notably, trying to keep Rusty in check. Misconstrued for being insane, "Motorcycle Boy" doesn't divulge much about his inner thinking, perhaps only that one day he would like to see the Pacific Ocean.

Coppola is responsible for bringing to life two of Marlon Brando's most legendary characters. Kurtz is one of Brando's more disturbing screen roles. A former highly successful and respected U.S. Army Special Forces officer, Kurtz became mentally consumed by the war in Vietnam. In laymen terms, he went insane. Run afoul of the system, and across the border into Cambodia, where Kurtz leads a rouge militia, which look at him like God, and one wanting nothing but ultimate power. He's not really sure who is the enemy. Meanwhile, it's up to the aforementioned Captain Willard to end Kurtz's reign. 

The plan from the Corleone family was that Michael (Al Pacino), the youngest of the children, was going to be the clean one. Earn a college degree, preferably. Then he became a war hero. However, as things progressed and times became more contentious among the five families of the greater New York City crime syndicate, Michael put himself square in the middle of the family business. He would ultimately run the show. Once reasonable and manageable, Michael became obsessed with power and more ruthless by the day. In the history of cinema, though, Michael Corleone has long earned legendary status.

Simply put, Kilgore is the man. If Bill Kilgore was in charge of the United States' involvement in Vietnam, the war might have been over in a couple of weeks. Arguably, it's Robert Duvall's best role and one that earned him another Academy Award nomination. Kilgore exudes confidence, and tries to make the living hell of war at least somewhat tolerable for his soldiers. He loves surfing, his steak rare and, of course, "the smell of napalm in the morning."

Vito Corleone was the first film character to earn two Hollywood actors Oscar victories for the same role. The venerable Marlon Brando won Best Actor for The Godfather and Robert De Niro, as a younger, more spry version of the character, won from The Godfather Part II. Not only is Don Vito Corleone the most memorable and celebrated character among Coppola films, he could be the greatest of all time. After coming to America from Sicily, Vito grew into a confident, cunning and witty young man. A smooth talker, who can be intimidating, but confident when it came to the streets, and reading people. In his later days, Vito exudes experience and wisdom that commands respect in an instant.