Toni Cipriani
Antonio "Toni" Cipriani is the playable protagonist in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. A recurring character, Toni had previously appeared with a major role in Grand Theft Auto III. In Grand Theft Auto III, Claude, the game's protagonist, is introduced to Toni Cipriani by Salvatore Leone's son, Joey Leone, who indicates Toni's position as a capo for Salvatore Leone. Early missions with Cipriani were primarily focused on extorting protection money from a Triad-controlled laundromat, by destroying several of the business's delivery trucks. Coupled with a Triad attack during the transportation of the Family's high-ranked members to one of Don Salvatore's meetings, a full-blown war between the Leone Family and the Triads occurred, and Claude was now an enemy to the Triads. The war led to the destruction of the Triads' fish factory, with Toni instructing Claude to deliver a garbage truck armed with a bomb to the factory.
Toni lives with his mother, Ma Cipriani, and is frequently seen in his family-run restaurant, Momma's Restaurante (or Cipriani's Ristorante, as seen in its sign at the restaurant), providing jobs for Claude. The constant nagging from his mother about him not being able to match up with his father and failing to meet up to her expectations had forced him to call the local chat radio station, Chatterbox FM, and complain about his mother's constant bickering. It is believed that Toni will take control of the Leone Mafia Family, simply because, Joey Leone, Salvatore Leone's son, hasn't exactly done much to help the family.
GTA Liberty City Stories
In Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Toni Cipriani assumes the role of the playable character and protagonist of the game. Liberty City Stories explores Toni's history and exploits in 1998, three years prior to events in GTA III.
Toni Cipriani left Liberty City for several years and decided to lay low after killing a "made man" for Salvatore Leone. He finally returned to the city in 1998, ready to continue his life of organized crime. Toni is given jobs by a grateful Salvatore Leone, but because he was out of town for so many years, other members of Salvatore's Leone Family have had the time to move up in the hierarchy. Salvatore was forced to strip Toni of his rank and give the position to Vincenzo Cilli during his leave of absence. Toni now finds himself as a low-ranking goon that has to once again gain favor with the Don, in order to secure a leadership position in the family.
Toni is depicted in the game to be much thinner than his depiction in GTA III. Much of his efforts in achieving his goal of reclaiming his place in the Leone hierarchy include battling two other Mafia families, the Forelli's and the Sindacco's via several means, allowing him to be "made" halfway through the storyline after killing the Liberty City mayor, Roger C. Hole. Later, Toni works for millionaire man and mayor candidate, Donald Love and fights the Forelli's in order to help the Leone's own City Hall while protecting Donald. Donald Love is eventually found to be in league with Salvatore and Toni which makes him unfit for the office in people's eye. After the mayor is chose to be Miles O'Donovan, Salvatore Leone is arrested on several crime charges forcing Toni to pose as a lawyer while taking jobs from the police station where Salvatore is jailed at. Donald Love in a panicked phone call says that he has a lot of propositions for Toni. Upon arriving at the flophouse Donald Love says that he has plans that will make both Toni and himself rich and orders Toni to kill real estate mogul and former mentor Avery Carrington at the Francis International Airport. Toni and Donald steal the plans of Avery's and bomb expert 8-Ball is paid to give them explosives that will destruct the whole Fort Staunton district which is Forelli's turf. Toni is called by a mysterious woman, Toshiko Kasen and asked to fight the local Yakuza organization. Salvatore is eventually released from jail but escorted by Toni safely to his court while being attacked by the Sicilian Mafia, whom are trying to take over Liberty City by the downfall of the three families. Salvatore is successfully released and alongside Toni goes to see the mayor, Miles O'Donovan to get his charges dropped but Massimo Torini, the leader of the Sicilians has kidnapped the mayor which forces Toni and Salvatore to fight their way through the lighthouse. With Massimo successfully killed by Toni, the Leone's are assured to control Liberty City, with the mayor under the Leone's influence. At the end of the game Toni is given payment for his help, and it is suggested that he is promoted to become Salvatore Leone's capo.
Personality
Toni's behavior in scenes of the game suggest that he is very loyal but is very easy to irritate (of course, this may be in part of that he is surrounded by such strange people, for instance, Vincenzo Cilli, Maria, JD O'Toole, possibly Ma Cipriani or Donald Love).
In Libery City Stories, Toni is significantly thinner than GTA III's depiction; this is commented or criticized by his mother, Maria and Salvatore Leone, with his mother and Salvatore in particular commenting about him not being fed well. By GTA III, Toni is fatter and has aged considerably in the three years that have passed.
Murders commited by Toni
- Unknown made man-Killed under Don Leone's orders
- Dan Sucho-Killed in Ma Cipriani's orders
- Giovanni Casa-Killed for not paying protection money.
- Cedric Fotheringay-Killed for beating up Maria
- Vincenzo Cilli-Killed for attempting to kill him.
- Roger C. Hole-Killed on Salvatore's order
- DB-P-Killed on Father Ned's orders
- Black Lightman-Killed on Father Ned's orders
- Faith W.-Killed on Father Ned's orders
- Avery Carrington-Killed on Donald Love's orders
- Ned Burner-Killed for witnessing Avery's murder.
- Kazuki Kasen-Killed on Toshiko's orders
- Paulie Sindacco-Killed on Salvatore's orders
- Franco Forelli?-Possibly killed during the "Little Italy Explosion" caused by Toni.
- Massimo Torini-Killed on Salvatore's orders.
Toni Cipriani is likely a 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 (Cipriani would face this predicament in GTA:LCS).
Voice
Toni Cipriani was voiced by Danny Mastrogiorgio in GTA Liberty City Stories, although he was voiced by Michael Madsen in GTA III.
Trivia
- An Easter Egg in Grand Theft Auto IV suggests that Toni Cipriani died after 2001. However, this is not considered canon with the GTA III Era.
See also
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