# Toni Cipriani

Antonio "Toni" Cipriani is a fictional character and the playable protagonist of the 2005 video game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, the ninth main installment in Rockstar Games's Grand Theft Auto series. and supporting character of the 2001 video game Grand Theft Auto III. Toni was voiced by Michael Madsen in Grand Theft Auto III, and Danny Mastrogiorgio in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
Portrayed as a temperamental Italian-American mobster, Toni is a member of the Leone Crime Family in Liberty City, who was forced to live abroad for four years following his murder of a made man from a rival Mafia family under the orders of his boss, Salvatore Leone. Upon his return in 1998, he resumes work for the family, helping it increase its influence and eliminate its rivals, primarily the Sindacco and the Forelli Crime Families. As a result, the Leone Crime Family becomes the dominant Mafia organization in the city, and Toni earns Salvatore's trust and respect, becoming a Capo within the family.Toni is a made man or ex-soldato of the Forelli crime family, a fictional Italian Mafia organisation.
Toni was mixed to positive received by critics, largely due to his strong ties to the series' mafia-themed storylines. His interactions with various other characters, as well as his connection to the iconic Liberty City setting, have made him a memorable figure. However, some players found his rigid, sometimes abrasive personality to be less likable compared to other protagonists, leading to a divided fan opinion. Regardless, Cipriani is often cited as one of the more compelling mob bosses in the series, and praised his characterization, comparing it to that of Tony Soprano from the 1999 television series The Sopranos.

## Concept and design

Toni Cipriani first appears wearing a Brown jacket. He is offered more wardrobe options as the game progresses. Toni, in several ways, exhibits characteristics of fictional Italian-American Mafia 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. They also both would later go on to have weight problems, and were feuding with caporegimes in their respective crime families (Corrado 'Junior' Soprano and Vincenzo Cilli respectively). Moreover, Toni can wear a particular outfit that seems to be inspired by the dress style of Tony Soprano.
Toni's notably temperamental attitude is in some ways similar to Tommy Vercetti, the protagonist of 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto : Vice City. the fourth main installment in Rockstar Games's Grand Theft Auto series.

## Biography
### Early life

Toni Cipriani was born to Mrs. Cipriani and an unnamed father, who was a member of one of the city's mafia families. He lived with his Ma in their restaurant in Saint Mark's. At some point, Toni's father was killed by a rival gang, and since that day (or possibly even earlier) his Ma has been putting a lot of pressure on Toni, berating him and arguing with him over the smallest things, because she believed he would never live up to his father's legacy.

### Career in Organized Crime

Toni became involved in Liberty City's criminal underworld, joining the Leone Crime Family to follow in his late father's footsteps and prove his Ma wrong, Toni left Liberty City and decided to lay low abroad after killing a rival made man (presumably a member of the Forelli or Sindacco family) under orders from Salvatore Leone.

### Return to Liberty City

Toni returns to the Liberty city years later, in 1998, ready to continue his life of organized crime. A grateful Salvatore Leone gives Toni jobs, but because he was out of town for so many years, other members of the Leone Crime Family have had the time to move up in the hierarchy. Salvatore was forced to strip Toni out of his rank and give the position to Vincenzo Cilli during his leave of absence. Toni now finds himself 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 and Vincenzo immediately dislike each other, which ends up in Toni killing Vincenzo after his earlier betrayal.

### Rise in the Leone Crime Family

Toni's efforts in achieving his goal of reclaiming his place in the Leone hierarchy include battling two rival Mafia families, the Forellis and the Sindaccos via several means, allowing him to be "made" halfway through the storyline after killing the Liberty City mayor, Roger C. Hole, on Salvatore's orders.
Toni works for media mogul and mayoral candidate Donald Love on Salvatore's behalf, protecting him from the Forellis' attempts to sabotage his campaign. Despite Toni's efforts, however, Love loses the race due to his connections to organized crime, and the Forellis' puppet, Miles O'Donovan, is installed mayor. O'Donovan promptly has Salvatore arrested on several crime charges, but Toni remains loyal to his boss and continues to accept jobs from him in prison, where he poses as Salvatore's lawyer. One of these jobs involves killing the Don of the Sindacco Crime Family, Paulie Sindacco, ending the war with the Sindaccos, who are severly weakened and forced to leave Liberty City for good.
Not long after, Donald Love, who went bankrupt after his ties to the Leone Crime Family were discovered, comes up with a plan to regain his fortune and hires Toni to help him act on it. The two murder real estate businessman and Love's former mentor, Avery Carrington, and steal his re-development plans for Fort Staunton. Toni subsequently destroys Fort Staunton with explosives supplied by 8-Ball, allowing Love's company to receive city funding to rebuild it, and also dealing a major blow to the Forelli Crime Family in the process, as the neighborhood was controlled by them. Later, when Donald finds himself targeted by the Colombian Cartel, he enlists Toni's help to flee the city with the corpses of Avery Carrington and Ned Burner. During this time.
Toni also finds himself taking jobs from Toshiko Kasen, the neglected wife of Yakuza leader Kazuki, who wants to sabotage the Yakuza's operations to punish her husband, culminating in Toni killing Kazuki in a duel and a guilt-ridden Toshiko committing suicide not long after.
Salvatore is eventually released from prison, after being escorted to the courthouse by Toni, due to the Sicilian Mafia wanting Salvatore dead. Following his release, Salvatore realizes that the Sicilian Mafia is to blame for most of his recent problems, and enlists Toni's help to rescue Mayor O'Donovan, who was kidnapped by Sicilian underboss Massimo Torini to prevent him from dropping the charges against Salvatore. Toni and Salvatore kill Torini and rescue the Mayor from Portland Rock, whereupon Salvatore tells O'Donovan that he is now in the Leone Crime Family's debt and to ensure its protection. Afterwards, Salvatore reveals that Torini was working for his uncle, who wanted to weaken his nephew's control over Liberty City as revenge for not paying him tribute. After meeting with Uncle Leone to secure peace between the Leone Crime Family and the Sicilian Mafia, Toni has finally earned Salvatore's trust and respect.

### Later Life

Toni has become one of the highest-ranking members of the Leone Crime Family. The police had attempted to connect Toni and Salvatore throughout 2001; however, they fail to link them beyond his Ma's restaurant. Salvatore’s son, Joey, introduces Claude, to Toni, whereupon the latter hires Claude to perform several attacks on the Triads, who the Leones are currently engaged in a war with. The jobs Claude performs for Toni include collecting protection money from Mr. Wong's Laundromat, killing three Triad warlords, and destroying the Triad-owned fish factory in Callahan Point. Toni also introduces Claude to Salvatore Leone.
In 2001, Toni is still living with his Ma and is frequently seen in his family-run restaurant, from where he provides Claude with jobs. The constant insulting from his Ma about him not being able to be like 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 Ma's constant berating. His standing in the Leone Crime Family following Salvatore Leone's assassination is unknown.

## Reception

Toni Cipriani received a mixed-to-positive reception from critics and fans following his role as the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. his character was praised for delivering a grounded and traditional Mafia narrative, with critics commending his loyalty, ambition, and dedication to the Leone Crime Family. Toni’s underdog story, where he rebuilt his reputation after years of exile, resonated with many players.
Critics also highlighted the performance of Danny Mastrogiorgio and Michael Madsen, whose voice acting brought a gritty and authentic tone to Toni's character. Additionally, fans appreciated Toni's role in connecting the events of Liberty City Stories with Grand Theft Auto III, expanding the lore of Liberty City and providing greater context for the Leone Crime Family's operations.