Who is donnie brasco based on

Pistone, who was 32 at the start of the operation in , with a wife and two young daughters, already had carried out a major undercover sting with success before he was tapped for what turned into a six-year assignment. Truly a one-man operation, he was to pose as a Miami-based thief who specialized in jewelry and watches and was looking to fence his merchandise through the New York mob.

And the entire time, he had to live completely away from his wife and girls. Although the case essentially helped bring down the five major New York Mafia families and ended an infamous era of impunity for the mob, the goals of the sting initially were anything but lofty.

You couldn't do anything in New York City back in those days without getting the approval of the mob. The idea, Pistone says, was to go after the crime family's fences rather than the "made men" themselves, who were considered to be virtually untouchable.

In fact, Pistone was so good at earning the trust of higher-ups in the feared Bonanno family -- namely Anthony Mirra, Benjamin "Lefty" Ruggiero and Dominick "Sonny Black" Napolitano -- that he eventually earned consideration for promotion as a "made man" himself.

In the mob, being "made" is reserved strictly for the most trusted members of the family, and they must have Sicilian blood lineage. The key to his success, Pistone says, wasn't so much his acting ability as it was the lack of a need for him to act at all. I didn't have to put on a persona. I just really had to stay who I was. Other factors in Pistone's success, he says, were minding his own business, not getting involved in conversations that didn't concern him and choosing "jewel thief" and "burglar" as Donnie Brasco's "profession.

As a jewel thief, I could bring precious gems, diamonds, watches and stuff like that around. Several years of operating on the far outer edge of the law created some incredibly dangerous moments for Pistone.

Once, when he was with Black at the airport in Miami -- still undercover as Brasco -- a federal prosecutor who'd known Pistone from a previous case just about blew his cover. Pistone had to think quickly to avoid being exposed, so he pretended like he didn't know the prosecutor and shoved him to the ground. It was the bureau's final cue to pull him out.

But by then, he'd already gathered enough intel to blow up the Mafia, figuratively speaking. Prosecutions began in We showed how Chicago was involved. We showed how families across the country were all involved in this criminal enterprise known as the American Mafia. But if you think Pistone was happy to see the FBI when they terminated the operation, think again. He wanted to stay undercover. Top cast Edit. Al Pacino Lefty as Lefty.

Johnny Depp Donnie as Donnie. Michael Madsen Sonny as Sonny. Bruno Kirby Nicky as Nicky. James Russo Paulie as Paulie. Anne Heche Maggie as Maggie. Brian Tarantina Bruno as Bruno. Zach Grenier Dr. Berger as Dr. Walt MacPherson Sheriff as Sheriff. Ronnie Farer Annette as Annette.

Mike Newell. More like this. Watch options. Storyline Edit. Ruggiero and Pistone become tight as the group goes about collecting money for 'the bosses'. Eventually, the group become big-time when Black himself becomes a boss; all the while, Pistone collects evidence. However, the trials and tribulations of the undercover work become more than Pistone can bear.

His marriage falls apart, and to top it off, the mafia suspect a mole in the organization. The real dilemma is afforded to Pistone, who knows if he walks away from the mafia, Ruggiero will be the one punished.

Donnie Brasco. Based On A True Story. Rated R for some strong graphic violence, pervasive strong language and brief nudity and sexuality.

Did you know Edit. Trivia Al Pacino loved being able to use all of the rich Mafia slang throughout the film. New York Mafia families have instituted new rules to thwart future undercover penetrations. Before a new member is made a soldier he must kill someone, and two family members, instead of one, must vouch with their own lives for him.

Pistone's wife is Maggie, a former nurse. The couple has three daughters. The family lives in New Jersey under false identities. We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives.

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