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He didn't appear to be handicapped in any way, but he was a weak-willed, ineffectual person who was easily manipulated and below average in intelligence. He was not up to the task of helping the Family and was easily used by Abe Roth (based on the real life Meyer Lansky) in an assassination attempt on Michael.
While in Havana, Michael learned that Fredo betrayed him when Fredo accidentally let it slip that he and Johnny Ola had been to a sex show in Havana. He confronted Fredo at a New Year's party in Havana, telling Fredo that he knew he was the traitor, and that he broke Michael's heart.
This is unlikely because Fredo seemed completely unaware of the situation. Fredo later explains to Michael that Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg) and Ola had assured him it was not going to be an actual hit, just a ruse to frighten Michael into being more cooperative in his business negotiations.
There's even a scene in “The Godfather II” when baby Fredo gets cupped because he has pneumonia. Blink at the wrong time and you will miss it, but as a trained acupuncturist, I saw it and had to hit rewind several times because I couldn't believe my eyes.
In the novel, Fredo's primary weakness is his womanizing, a habit he develops after moving to Las Vegas and which earns his father's disfavor. In the films, Fredo's feelings of personal inadequacy and his inability to act effectively on his own behalf are character flaws leading to greater consequences.
The kiss is known as "Il bacio della morte," meaning "the kiss of death." In this instance, it was to signify to Fredo that he was marked for death for betraying his brother to Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg) and his right-hand man Johnny Ola (Dominic Chianese) in The Godfather Part II.
He found his brother tried to have him and his family killed. How could you ever trust him? Even if you cut ties with Fredo, Michael would always have to fear the possibility of Fredo going to the cops or planning another hit. He thought he and Fredo were good and Fredo betrayed him over jealousy.
In the mafia, Michael ordering the killing of his own brother is perfectly justified because of Fredo's treachery. But justified or not, Michael's decision has huge consequences for himself, and "The Godfather Part III" explores those consequences. Fredo isn't the only one who betrays a family member.
Because Al Neri was ordered to kill Fredo by Michael Corleone before Michael's mother had died. Because the killing wasn't personal vengeance for Michael, it was official Corleone family discipline and standard practice with those who betrayed the family.
While in Havana negotiating with Roth, Michael realizes that Fredo is the family traitor he had been looking for. Despite twice telling Michael that he had never met Ola, Fredo drunkenly lets slip that they had met in Havana earlier that year.
Fredo's decision is most likely a result of resentment toward Michael, by whom he felt he had been passed over. Michael was Fredo's "kid brother," and the fact that their father chose for Michael to take over the "family business" came as a great insult to Fredo, who was neither as intelligent nor as strong.
Michael is cold-blooded, ruthless, smart, and determined. His ability to think clearly under fire, to be decisive, and to command respect makes him an excellent Godfather. Of Vito's children, he is certainly the best candidate to take over the family.
There's a scene in "Godfather II" where Vito Corleone is in his dimly lit apartment worried about his son Fredo. Fredo has pneumonia and is being tended to by his mother and a nursemaid using a glass tumbler with a flame underneath. The thought was it would suck the illness out of his tiny body.
Autism? No. However, Don Vito had more of a Mustache Pete's point of view, seeing as to how he came from Sicily. He had formed his own way of thinking about the killing of family members since in the movie, his immediate family was all wiped out.
Roth secretly plans to assassinate Michael, partly to avenge Moe Greene's murder (as depicted in The Godfather). Roth instructs Ola to befriend Michael's brother Fredo, who provides Ola (and Roth) information about Michael that enables them to make an attempt on his life.
Michael finally relents at Kay's urging. She privately tells Michael that Anthony knows that he had Fredo killed. Anthony's career is a success, and he is set to make his operatic debut as the lead in Cavalleria Rusticana, in Palermo, Sicily, on Easter Sunday. His family joins him in Sicily, for the premiere.
Fredo failed to protect him from Sollozzo's goons, and Vito almost died as a result. Vito knows that he can't depend on Fredo. He probably doesn't want to say this to Fredo, and he doesn't feel like reassuring Fredo, either; therefore he just ignores him.
Meanwhile, Kay decides to leave Michael and take their children with her, believing Michael will always live in a world of crime and violence. Michael asks her to reconsider, but Kay reveals she aborted their unborn son because she refused to bring another of his children into the world.
Well, at the time of Don Vito Corleone's death by heart failure, Fredo had been sent off to Las Vegas to begin the process of securing the family real estate and business(es) as well as ensuring that local politicians and senior police are either bought, or otherwise neutered.
We have finally learned what caused Fredo Santana's untimely death, who passed away after a fatal seizure in January at the age of 27. The Los Angeles County coroner has ruled that cardiovascular disease was the main culprit and that idiopathic epilepsy was also partially responsible.
He was hit by a thunderbolt when he met Apollonia, and marrying her was the only way he could have her. He may have thought he might never return to the U.S. or else return after a very long time.
Fredo's Net Worth, Final Thoughts
He has several successful albums that have established his brand on the music landscape and provided several income avenues, including album sales, singles sales, touring, concerts, endorsements, and investments. His years of effort have earned him an estimated net worth of $3 million.
In 1955, he died of a heart attack at age 68, while playing with his grandson Anthony in his garden. His funeral was attended by members of the Families from across the country, as well as floods of well-wishers.