The real-life mob figure Anthony 'Tony' Spilotro (who was portrayed in the film by Joe Pesci, using the name 'Nicky Santoro') had a girlfriend who was a Latter-day Saint. Another character ('Senator Harrison Roberts') is based partially on real-life Latter-day Saint politician Senator Harry Reid, who served as a Nevada state senator at the time period depicted in 'Casino,' and eventually became the Senate Minority Leader for the U.S. One character ('John Nance') is called an 'old Mormon' by Joe Pesci's character 'Nicky' approximately 8 minutes, 28 seconds after the start of the film. Two significant characters in 'Casino' are Latter-day Saints, or based partially on real-life Latter-day Saints. Based on real events, 'Casino' is Nicholas Pileggi's adaptation of his own book, Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas (1995).
'Casino' is a historical mob drama chronicling the rise and fall of mafia involvement in the Las Vegas casino industry. Jones, Dick Smothers, Frank Vincent, John Bloom, Pasquale Cajano, Melissa Prophet, Bill Allison Starring: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods, Don Rickles, Alan King, Kevin Pollak, L.Q.
Screenplay by Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese LDS/Mormon references and characters in 'Casino' (1995) < Return to Latter-day Saint Characters in Movies LDS/Mormon References and Characters
