Tom Hagen (born January 4, 1916) is a fictional character in the Godfather books and films. He was portrayed by Robert Duvall. He is the informally adopted son of Don Vito Corleone.

Hagen is based on real-life mobster Frank DeSimone.

Biography

Tom Hagen was found, homeless, at age 11 by Sonny Corleone, who took him home and persuaded his father to take him into the family. Although the Don never formally adopted him, thinking that this would be an act of disrespect to Hagen's parents, Hagen thought of Vito Corleone as his true father.

After graduating from law school, Hagen offered to work for Corleone as though he were one of the Don's own sons. His German-Irish ancestry precluded his formal membership in the Mafia, which did not accept non-Italians, but after the death of Genco Abbandando, Hagen acted as consigliere to Don Corleone, the first non-Italian to achieve that important position.

While he loved all the Corleones, Hagen always idolized Sonny, and when Sonny was murdered, Hagen blamed himself. After becoming the new head of the family, Michael Corleone removed him as consigliere, restricting him to handling the Family's legal business. Hagen grudgingly accepted this decision and remained loyal.

After an attempt on the life of Michael in The Godfather, Part II, Hagen (whom Michael felt was the only one both intelligent and trustworthy enough) took over as Don whilst Michael tried to find out who in his organization had betrayed him and aided the assassins. Hagen was instrumental in both securing the friendship of powerful Senator Pat Geary and defending Michael during the Senate hearings on the Mafia. After the fall of Cuba to the communists and the killing of Fredo Corleone, Hagen retook a more active role in the Corleone family. In the novel The Godfather Returns, Hagen was instrumental in the election of fictional President Jimmy Shea and the death of Chicago boss Russo.

The fall of Cuba forced Michael to abandon his dream of becoming a legitimate businessman and retake his place as the Don of the Corleone family. As a result, Hagen was made consigliere.

According to The Godfather, Part III, Hagen died sometime around 1975. Duvall had been unable to reach agreement with the film's producers on financial terms for him to reprise the character. Francis Ford Coppola has stated that Part III was originally planned to have the eventual split between Michael and Tom as its central plot.

Hagen's son, Andrew later became a priest.

Family

• Vito Corleone — Unofficial adoptive father; played by Marlon Brando
• Carmela Corleone — Unofficial adoptive mother; played by Morgana King
• Teresa Hagen — wife
• Andrew Hagen — Son; played by John Savage as an adult in Part III.

The Godfather characters | Fictional lawyers | Fictional consiglieri | Fictional Irish-Americans | Fictional orphans

Tom Hagen | Tom Hagen