Al Capone, the notorious American gangster, had a relatively small family. Contrary to the suggestion made in the Netflix film, Capone did not father an illegitimate son. In reality, he had one legitimate child named Albert Francis “Sonny” Capone Jr.
Sonny Capone was born on December 4, 1918, to Al Capone and his wife, Mae Josephine Coughlin. He was their only child and the couple’s pride and joy. Sonny’s birth came at a time when Al Capone was rapidly rising in power and becoming a prominent figure in organized crime.
As Sonny grew older, he became aware of his father’s illegal activities and the dangers associated with it. The Capone family faced constant threats, and Al Capone made efforts to protect his wife and son from harm. Despite the tumultuous nature of his father’s life, Sonny had a relatively privileged upbringing.
However, the Capone family’s fortunes took a turn for the worse when Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion in 1931. He was sentenced to prison and eventually served seven years behind bars. During this time, Sonny and his mother faced significant financial difficulties.
After Al Capone’s release from prison in 1939, he retired to his estate in Palm Island, Florida. Sonny, now a young adult, followed his father to Florida and continued to support him. Despite the tarnished reputation of the Capone name, Sonny remained loyal to his family.
Sonny Capone married Diane Patricia Herbert in 1941, and they had four children together. However, their marriage was not without its challenges. Sonny struggled with alcoholism, which strained his relationship with his wife and children.
In the years following Al Capone’s death in 1947, Sonny tried to distance himself from his father’s criminal legacy. He changed his last name to Brown and moved to Arizona to start a new life. Sonny eventually became a successful businessman and lived a quiet life away from the public eye.
Sonny Capone Jr. passed away in 2004 at the age of 85. Despite the infamy surrounding his father, he managed to carve out a separate identity for himself and build a life of his own.
Al Capone had one legitimate child, Albert Francis “Sonny” Capone Jr. The suggestion of an illegitimate son in the Netflix film is fictional, as there is no historical evidence to support such a claim. Sonny Capone faced his own challenges but ultimately chose to distance himself from his father’s criminal past and build a different life for himself and his family.