Emilio "The Wolf" Barzini is a fictional character and the main antagonist in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and its 1972 film adaptation. In the film, he is portrayed by Richard Conte. The Barzini crime family was inspired by the Genovese crime family. In the novel, Carlo Rizzi seeks revenge by secretly making a deal with Barzini to murder Sonny.