Nicky Santoro

### Cause of death

Beaten to death with baseball bats by Frankie Marino and other hitmen on Remo Gaggi's orders.

## Relationships

### Family

Jennifer Santoro (wife)
Nicky Santoro Jr. (son)
Dominick Santoro (brother)

### Affiliations

Frankie Marino
Ace Rothstein (both formerly)
Chicago Outfit

### Enemies

Ace Rothstein
Frankie Marino
Remo Gaggi

**Nicholas "Nicky" Santoro** is the titular deuteragonist turned main antagonist of Martin Scorsese's 1995 epic crime film, *Casino*. He is a wrathful and sadistic member of the Chicago Outfit who works alongside professional gambler, Ace Rothstein. He is based on real-life mobster, Anthony Spilotro.

He was portrayed by Joe Pesci, who also played Joey LaMotta in *Raging Bull*, Tommy DeVito in *Goodfellas*, and Russell Bufalino in *The Irishman*.

## Biography

### 1973

In 1973, high ranking member of the Chicago Outfit, Nicky Santoro is sent to Las Vegas by Chicago boss, Remo Gaggi to protect his childhood friend and now director of the Tangiers Casino, Sam "Ace" Rothstein. Nicky also recruits his younger brother, Dominick and his childhood friend, Frankie Marino to start doing various shakedowns and jewelry burglaries. Due to Nicky's recklessness bringing the attention of law enforcement, he is banned from every casino in Nevada.

### 1976

Three years later, tension grows between Sam and Nicky when Ace starts a local television talk show from inside the casino, which angers Nicky and the bosses as it brings unneeded attention towards the outfit, with Nicky bringing police attention to himself, along with Ace trying to have Nicky leave Las Vegas bringing more strain on their friendship.

### 1980

After Sam kicks his ex-wife, Ginger McKenna out of the house for attempting to kill him and kidnapping their daughter, Ginger confides with Nicky, which leads to them having an affair. After Sam ends his friendship with Nicky, Nicky ends his affair with Ginger after she asks him to kill Ace, as he has been friends with him since they were kids.

### 1982

Two years later, the Chicago bosses are arrested after underboss, Artie Piscano's records of people stealing from the bosses' skim are discovered by the FBI. This causes the bosses to order Nicky, Frankie and various other hitmen to murder anyone who would testify against them in court.

### 1983

In 1983, Sam survives a car bomb who he presumes to be from Nicky. However, it is never explained why Nicky tried to do this, especially when he was disgusted when Ginger recommended Nicky killing Sam.

### 1986

Due to the bosses growing tired of Nicky's recklessness, they order Frankie and his crew to murder Nicky and Dominick. The two are invited to a cornfield in Illinois, where they are beaten to death with baseball bats and are then stripped and buried alive.

## Deaths

### Confirmed Murders

* **Unnamed gambler:** Stabbed to death with a pen for insulting Ace Rothstein.
* **Tony Dogs:** Throat slit with a knife by Frankie Marino on Nicky's orders.
* **Anna Scott:** Shot several times in the head by Nicky on the Chicago Outfit's orders.
* **Andy Stone:** Shot several times in the back of the head by Nicky on the Chicago Outfit's orders.
	+ Total: 4

### Unconfirmed Murders

* **5 unnamed people:** Presumably killed by either Nicky, Frankie Marino or an unknown hitman.
	+ Total: 5
		- Total Murders: 9

## Trivia

* Nicky Santoro has various similarities to Tommy DeVito, another character played by Joe Pesci, featured in *Goodfellas*.
	+ Both are based on real life mobsters (Anthony Spilotro and Thomas DeSimone).
	+ Both are short-tempered and somewhat psychopaths.
	+ Both real life counterparts where reported missing, with Nicky's body being discovered while Tommy's body was never discovered.