Carlo Gambino (September 1, 1902 — October 15, 1976), also known as "Don Carlo", was an Italian-American mobster and the boss of the crime family that bears his name from 1958 to his death in 1976. The most influential crime boss of the Five Families during his time, Gambino controlled a 200-man strong criminal organization and exerted power over a wide variety of illegal schemes and rackets, becoming recognized as the archetype of the classic Mafia godfather. A Sicilian immigrant to the United States from Palermo during the early 20th century, he quickly became involved in illicit activities and wound up in New York City by the time of the Castellammarese War, joining Vincent Mangano's crime family and supporting the side of Salvatore Maranzano during the conflict. Following the culmination of the war and in the following years, Gambino's expertise was rewarded with a promotion to caporegime and eventually consigliere of the family. With the infamous murder of boss Albert Anastasia in 1957, which he likely played a significant role in, he was eventually officially anointed as Anastasia's successor by the Commission, despite his exposure to the public during his arrest at the Apalachin Meeting shortly thereafter. During his nearly 20-year reign as boss, authorities were repeatedly unable to levy any serious charges against him, and Gambino whipped the family into the most powerful criminal organization in the city; he died a free man of natural causes, in 1976.