Toni Cipriani: Difference between revisions

|image = ToniCipriani-GTAIII.jpg

|games = [[Grand Theft Auto III]]<br />[[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]]

|aka = Toni<br />Toni Cipriani<br />Anthony

|pob = [[Saint Mark's]], [[Portland]], [[Liberty City in GTA III Era|Liberty City]]

|home = [[Saint Mark's]], [[Portland]], [[Liberty City in GTA III Era|Liberty City]]

|nationality = [[United States of America|American]]

|family = [[Ma Cipriani]] <small>(mother)</small>

|affiliations = [[Leone Family]]<br />[[Salvatore Leone]] <small>(until [[2001]])</small><br />[[Luigi Goterelli]]<br />[[Joey Leone]]<br />[[Mickey Hamfists]]<br />[[Maria Latore]] <small>(until [[2001]])</small><br />[[Vincenzo Cilli]] <small>(until [[1998]])</small><br />[[Giovanni Casa]] <small>(until [[1998]])</small><br />[[Joseph Daniel O'Toole]] <small>(until [[1998]])</small><br />[[Toshiko Kasen]]<br />[[Donald Love]] <small>([[1998]])</small><br />[[Leon McAffrey]] <small>([[1998]])</small><br />[[Mr. Wong]] <small>([[2001]])</small><br />[[Claude]] <small>([[2001]])</small><br />[[Uptown Yardies]] <small>([[1998]])</small><br />[[Southside Hoods]] <small>([[1998]])</small>

|vehicles = [[Kuruma]]<br />[[Leone Sentinel]]

|businesses = [[Momma's Restaurante]] <small>(owned by [[Ma Cipriani]])</small>

|voice = [[Michael Madsen]] <small>([[Grand Theft Auto III|GTA III]])</small><br />[[Daniel Mastrogiorgio]] <small>([[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories|GTA Liberty City Stories]])</small>

'''Antonio "Toni" Cipriani''', also referred to as '''Anthony Cipriani''', is a recurring character in the [[Grand Theft Auto]] series who appears as a main character in [[Grand Theft Auto III]] (set in [[2001]]) and as the [[protagonist]] of [[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]] (set in [[1998]]). He is a [[Caporegime|made man]] in the [[Leone Family]], the main [[Mafia]] family in [[Liberty City in GTA III Era|Liberty City]] and also helps run his [[Ma Cipriani|mothers]] [[Momma's Restaurante|restaurant]] in [[Saint Mark's]], [[Portland]], Liberty City. Cipriani is voiced by [[Michael Madsen]] in GTA III and by [[Daniel Mastrogiorgio]] in GTA Liberty City Stories.

Antonio "Toni" Cipriani was born to [[Ma Cipriani]] and an unnamed father, a member of one of the city's [[Mafia]] families, in [[Portland]], [[Liberty City in GTA III Era|Liberty City]]. He lived his parents in their [[Momma's Restaurante|home and restaurant]] located in the [[Saint Mark's]] neighbourhood. Cipriani grew up in a Mafia controlled neighbourhood and later became involved in the criminal underworld before joining the [[Leone Family]]. In [[1994]] Toni killed a made man on orders from [[Salvatore Leone]], [[Don]] of the Leone Family, and left Liberty City for an unknown destination.  

===Return to Liberty City===

Toni returned to Liberty City on a [[coach]] in [[1998]] and immediately [[Introduction (GTA LCS)|met a grateful]] Salvatore who immediately places him under the leadership of [[Caporegime|made man]] [[Vincenzo Cilli]] who rose through the family's hierarchy during Toni's abscene.  

Toni initially finds himself performing menial tasks for Cilli, including [[Slacker|taking a drug dealer to his turf]] but is later asked to do more troublesome tasks, including assisting [[Smash and Grab|robbers escape]] from the [[AMCo. Petroleum Company]] petrol station. Toni, however, is later [[Hot Wheels (GTA LCS)|set up]] by Vincenzo when collecting a [[Banshee|car]] loaded with drugs being watched by the [[LCPD in GTA III Era|police]]. Toni, angry and ashamed at working for Vincenzo, is entrusted with working for [[Joseph Daniel O'Toole]], a member of the rival [[Sindacco Family]] who wants to join the Leones. While working for O'Toole, Toni manages to impress Salvatore by driving him away from [[Paulie's Revue Bar]], which was being raided by the police, by preventing the destruction of a [[Leone Casino|Leone controlled casino]] and then, in retaliation, destroying the Sindacco run [[The Dolls House|Dolls House]] casino/bordello.

Toni later worked for Salvatore, doing various tasks to [[The Offer|attempt]] to [[Ho Selecta!|convince]] union leader [[Jane Hopper]] and [[Frighteners|her fellow union leaders]] to [[Rollercoaster Ride|grant them access]] to the [[Portland Harbor|harbor]] during planned strikes, which had been funded by Salvatore. During this time he also begins to work for Salvatore's wife, [[Maria Latore]], constantly rescuing her from danger when [[Shop 'Til You Strop|shop lifting]], [[Taken For A Ride|being kidnapped]], [[Booby Prize|illegal street racing]], [[Biker Heat|an aggressive love interest]] named [[Cedric Fotheringay|Wayne]], who he later kills, and from [[Overdose of Trouble|overdosing on drugs]]. Maria, during this time, begins to fall in love with Toni but, realising he has no money, reaffirms her interest in Salvatore's money.

Toni also confronts his [[Ma Cipriani|mother]] for the first time in four years following his hasty departure. His mother, disappointed in his lack of phone calls while in hiding, continually makes negative remarks about his character and appearance, claiming he is too thin. Toni, in attempts to impress his mother, takes [[Camera|photographs]] of [[Giovanni Casa]] in his underwear and chasing two prostitutes (including [[Mona Lott]]) and later [[Dead Meat|killing him]] when he stopped paying protection money, wins an [[Grease Sucho|illegal street race]] and kills [[Dan Sucho]], as well as killing many [[Portland Triads|Triads]]. His attempts, however, fall short of her high expectations following her husbands example and she places a [[No Son of Mine|hit on Toni]], asking him to die 'like a real man'.

[[File:MakingToni-GTALCS5.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Toni Cipriani, about to become a [[Caporegime|made man]], talking to the [[Don]] of the [[Leone Family]], [[Salvatore Leone]], as [[Mickey Hamfists]] looks on.]]

Toni, after escaping from [[hitmen]] and the interests of Maria, returns to Salvatore and is sent to collect some drugs from [[Miguel]] of the [[Colombian Cartel]]. Their deal is ambushed by the police but Toni manages to retrieve the drugs and kill Miguel before returning to Salvatore. A short while later he receives a [[Phone|phone call]] from O'Toole who informs him that Salvatore has been kidnapped by some [[Sindacco Family|Sindaccos]] although their attempts are thwarted when Toni rescues him and later helps Salvatore [[The Guns of Leone|exact his revenge on the Sindaccos]]. Salvatore later has Toni follow [[Massimo Torini]] of the [[Sicilian Mafia]], from which they learn of his [[Calm Before the Storm|treacherous alliances]] with the [[Portland Triads|Triads]] and [[Diablos]], before joining [[Mickey Hamfists]] in driving O'Toole to be 'made'.

O'Toole, however, is killed by Hamfists and Toni disposes of the body in the sea before receiving a phone call from Vincenzo, wanting to make peace at Salvatore's request. Toni, upon entering a freighter, [[The Portland Chainsaw Masquerade|is attacked by various men with weapons but survives, managing to kill Vincenzo in the process]]. Toni later [[Sindacco Sabotage|helps to repel]] the [[Diablos]] from [[Hepburn Heights]] and the [[Red Light District]] and [[The Trouble With Triads|retrieves some money]] from a warehouse in [[Callahan Point]], which had been destroyed by the Triads. The [[Mayoralty of Liberty City in GTA III Era|Mayor]] [[Roger C. Hole]], alligned with the [[Forelli Family]], puts out an arrest warrant for Salvatore who, along with Toni, is forced to flee to a [[Staunton Island Safehouse (GTA LCS)|safehouse]] in [[Newport]], [[Staunton Island]].

This occurs, however, only after an argument over comments Toni had supposedly made about Salvatore and his intelligence. The argument involves Salvatore pointing a gun at Toni before realising his loyalty and admitting to becoming increasingly paranoid. Salvatore, in retaliation at the Mayors actions, has Toni [[A Walk in the Park|kill the Mayor on his jog]] in [[Belleville Park]], retrieveing his phone in the process. For this, his work for the Leone Family and twice rescuing Salvatore he is [[Making Toni|made]] despite his concerns following O'Toole's 'ceremony'.

===Made Man===

Toni, after being made, receives a [[Phone|phone call]] from his [[Ma Cipriani|mother]] informing him that she had called off the hit but complains that she should not have had to go to sucuh lengths to force his upward movement in the family hierarchy. Toni then comes under the employment of [[Donald Love]], a rich businessman and Salvatore's preferred candidate to become Mayor. After [[The Morgue Party Candidate|collecting a corpse for a party]] Toni begins to [[Steering the Vote|campaign for Love]] and [[Cam-Pain|kill]] some of his [[Miles O'Donovan|rivals]] campaigners. Toni later also [[Friggin' the Riggin'|destroys a Forelli owned printing company]] that had been printing ballot papers, [[Love & Bullets|protects Love]] while he campaigns and, with the vote too close to call, [[Counterfeit Count|steals a number of the ballot papers]] to replace with votes for Love. [[Love on the Rocks|Their efforts, however, fall through]] as Love's connections with the Leone Family persuade voters to elect [[Miles O'Donovan]]. Love, now bankrupt, disppears.

 

Toni, during this time, had also helped Salvatore [[Caught in the Act|confirm Hole's allegiance]] to the [[Forelli Family]] and rescue Salvatore when he [[Search and Rescue|found himself in the middle of a hit during an attempt to spy of the Forellis]]. A peace deal between the Forelli and [[Sindacco Family|Sindacco]] families is also [[Taking the Peace|ruined]] by Toni, who also [[Shoot the Messenger|kills a wiseguy]] who was heading to Forelli [[Don]] [[Franco Forelli]] to inform him of [[Massimo Torini|Massimo Torini's]] plans to take control of the [[Liberty City in GTA III Era|city]].

 

The Sindacco Family were also targetted at this time when Toni began to work for corrupt [[LCPD in GTA III Era|police officer]] [[Leon McAffrey]], which included [[Sayonara Sindaccos|killing a]] [[Crazy '69'|number of]] Sindacco mobsters, helping the [[Uptown Yardies]] [[The Whole 9 Yardies|acquire]] and then [[Night of the Livid Dreads|maintain control]] of [[Newport]]. McAffrey also told Toni of the Forelli Family's plans to move their weapons to another location, which Toni stopped by destroying them.

 

[[File:TheShoresideRedemption-GTALCS11.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A free [[Salvatore Leone]] talking to Toni Cipriani after being released from [[LCPD in GTA III Era|police]] custody.]]

During this time Salvatore Leone is arrested and placed in prison on [[Shoreside Vale]]. While awaiting trial he visited by Toni, disguised as a lawyer named Lionel, and is told to attack the Forelli and Sindacco families for his incarceration. Toni assists the [[Southside Hoods]] in [[Rough Justice|taking control]] of [[Wichita Gardens]], a Forelli neighbourhood, and then kills Sindacco [[Don]] [[Paulie Sindacco]], before attacking a [[Yakuza]] weapons storage and destroying their [[Rhino|tank]].

 

He later meets [[Toshiko Kasen]], the bitter wife of [[Yakuza]] leader [[Kazuki Kasen]], who hires Toni to [[More Deadly Than the Male|slowly]] destroy her husband, including destroying his [[Cash Clash|money]] and [[A Date With Death|going to the opera with Toshiko, before killing Kazuki on the roof of his [[The Big Shot Casino|casino]]. He also meets [[Donald Love]] in a Shoreside Vale flophouse during this time and helps him [[Panlantic Land Grab|lill his old mentor]] [[Avery Carrington]] to acquire his plans to regenerate the city and kill [[Liberty Tree]] reporter [[Ned Burner]] who had taken [[Camera|photographs]] of Avery's murder.

 

Toni, [[L.C. Confidential|had]] [[The Passion of the Heist|previously]] [[Karmageddon|worked]] [[False Idols|for]] Burner when he pretended to be the vicar at the [[Liberty City Cathedral|city cathedral]] and knew him to be the chief reporter for the [[Liberty Tree]] newspaper. He later chases him down and collects the photographs before killing Burner after he tried to escape and after he published stories about Toni's criminal activities under his instructions. The corpses of Avery and Ned are later collected for another [[Morgue Party Resurrection|morgue party]]. Love has Toni meet explosives expert [[8-Ball]] who provides him with a van laiden with explosives, which he plants in old [[Subway in GTA III|subway]] tunnels under [[Fort Staunton]], a Forelli turf, before [[Bringing the House Down|detonating them causing the area to be completely destroyed]], allowing Love to rebuild the area. Toni also later helps [[Love on the Run|Love escape the attention]] of the [[Colombian Cartel]], Avery's partners, and he flees on his private aeroplane.

 

Shortly after Salvatore is [[The Shoreside Redemption|escorted to his arraignment]] by Toni who kills a number of [[Sicilian Mafia]] mobsters attempting to murder Salvatore before helping him [[The Sicilian Gambit|end the Sicilians plans of taking over]] the [[Liberty City in GTA III Era|city]] by killing their [[Caporegime|caporegime]] [[Massimo Torini]] and 'persuading' the [[Mayoralty of Liberty City in GTA III Era|Mayor]], [[Miles O'Donovan]], to work for the [[Leone Family]].

Toni continued to work for [[Salvatore Leone]] and the [[Leone Family]] but became less active in the actual criminal activity. During this time he also moved back in with his [[Ma Cipriani|mother]] and her [[Momma's Restaurante|restaurant]], which he also became more active in running. He put weight on during this time and began to have a shorter temper, likely due to his mothers constant disapproval of him, and is known to have punched a man for claiming the ziti at the restaurant was over-baked. He also comes under investigation by the [[LCPD in GTA III Era|police]] for his links to [[Salvatore Leone]], although Toni maintains that he only purchases tomato sauce from him. He also manages, throughout the period, to establish himself as the right hand man of Salvatore, being placed above Salvatore's own son [[Joey Leone|Joey]].

In [[2001]] Toni continues to work for [[Salvatore Leone]] and help his [[Ma Cipriani|mother]] run her [[Momma's Restaurante|restaurant]]. He is [[Cipriani's Chauffeur|introduced]] to [[Claude]], a man capable of completing tasks similar to Toni three years previously, and he hires him after using him as a driver when attempting to collect his protection money from [[Mr. Wong|Mr. Wong's]] [[Mr. Wong's Laundromat|Laundromat]]. Toni later has Claude [[The Pick-Up|retrieve the protection money]], which is ambushed by the [[Portland Triads]], [[Taking Out the Laundry|destroy three Triad vans]], [[Triads and Tribulations|kill three Triad warlords]] and then [[Blow Fish|destroy]] the [[Belly-Up|Belly-Up Fish & Seafood Processing Plant]]. He also [[Salvatore's Called a Meeting|introduces Claude to Salvatore]], who is shown to hold a high opinion of him. Toni also phones in to [[Chatterbox FM]] and complains to the shows host [[Lazlow Jones|Lazlow]] about his mother, her unrealistic expectations and continual negativity towards him and his character.

 

Toni's behaviour changes somewhat throughout his appearance in the series. He is initially shown to be reserved when dealing with people such as [[Maria Latore]] and quickly annoyed, although his annoyance remains controlled. In GTA III, however, he is shown to have a short temper likely caused by living with his mother and her high expectations. Toni is also shown to be very loyal to those he trusts, in particular towards [[Salvatore Leone]], saving his life on at least one occasion, and towards his mother, [[Dead Meat|killing]] [[Giovanni Casa]] after he angered her. He also believes in showing proper respect to parents as seen through his disgust at [[Vincenzo Cilli]] while he received a blow job from [[Cheryl]] while talking on the [[phone]] to his mother. Toni, despite his temper, is also shown to be remorseful and makes a confession at the [[Liberty City Cathedral|Cathedral]] in [[Bedford Point]].  

*Toni Cipriani is likely homage of Tony Soprano, the main character from The Sopranos. Aside from their names, both characters also share ongoing problems with their mothers, who also ordered hits on them (which occur to Toni in GTA: Liberty City Stories).

*An [[Secrets and Easter Eggs in GTA IV#References to previous games|Easter egg]] in [[Grand Theft Auto IV]] suggests that Toni Cipriani died after [[2001]]. However, this is not been considered canon with the [[GTA III Era]].

*Toni is the only protagonist to give another protagonist ([[Claude]]) missions.

*The surname 'Cipriani' is a possible reference to the Itailian dish occupying the same name.

 

File:ToniCipriani-Artwork.jpg|Game artwork of Toni Cipriani in GTA III.