Julian Crowley
The real life “Fat Tony” wasn’t nearly as cuddly as his Simpsons counterpart.
Easily distinguishable by his trademark cigar and fedora, Anthony Salerno worked his way up to Consigliere of the Genovese family in the 1970s, having spent the previous few decades practicing his skills in illegal gambling, loan sharking and protection rackets.
In the ’60s, his New York numbers empire was generating $50 million annually.
Salerno was also notable for sending his close personal friends Christmas cards with pictures of himself in pyjamas on the front. Come to think of it, that is pretty cuddly… Nevertheless, he died at the age of 80, having spent the fading years of his life in jail.
