Toni Cipriani

Updated 28 October 2026 · Fan site. Not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.

Toni Cipriani is a Leone family mobster who first appears as a mission giver in Grand Theft Auto III (2001) and is the protagonist of Liberty City Stories (2005). Set in 1998, that game follows his rise from errand boy to caporegime in Liberty City. Michael Madsen voiced him in GTA III and Danny Mastrogiorgio in Liberty City Stories.

Who is Toni Cipriani?

Toni Cipriani is a made man in the Leone Mafia family of Liberty City. He is one of the few GTA characters to appear first as a side figure and later as a lead. Players meet him in Grand Theft Auto III, and he returns as the playable hero of the prequel Liberty City Stories.

Toni's mother, known simply as Ma Cipriani, runs a restaurant in Portland and plays a large part in his story. She is never satisfied with his status in the family, which gives his games much of their dark comedy.

Toni in GTA III

In GTA III, set in 2001, Toni operates from his mother's restaurant in Portland. Claude first meets him when Joey Leone sends him to drive Toni around. Toni then gives Claude jobs against the Triads, including attacks on their leaders, as the Leones fight for control of the area. Michael Madsen, the actor known from Reservoir Dogs, provided his voice.

Story of Liberty City Stories

Liberty City Stories is set in 1998, three years before GTA III. Toni comes back to the city after four years abroad. He had to leave after killing a made man. Boss Salvatore Leone puts him to work under Vincenzo "Lucky" Cilli, who resents him. Vincenzo sets up an ambush, Toni survives it and kills him, and he is later made a full member of the family.

His mother is not impressed by his rank. At one point she even puts out a hit on him, then calls it off once he is inducted. Toni meanwhile works with JD O'Toole and others in a war against the Sindacco family, and he kills the Sindacco boss, Paulie.

Politics soon get involved. Toni kills the mayor, Roger Hole, and helps Donald Love's campaign for office. When Salvatore is arrested, Toni keeps taking orders from him in prison. He also steals a Yakuza tank, and he is later hired by Toshiko Kasen to undermine her husband Kazuki's operations, ending with Kazuki's death.

In the finale, Toni and Salvatore deal with Massimo Torini and confront a Leone elder known as Uncle Leone. With the family in charge of the city, Salvatore promotes Toni to caporegime.

Who voiced Toni Cipriani?

Two actors have voiced Toni. Michael Madsen played him in GTA III. For Liberty City Stories, the role went to Danny Mastrogiorgio. Ma Cipriani was voiced by Sondra James. These credits come from Wikipedia's article on the game.

Release and reception

Liberty City Stories came out first on the PlayStation Portable on 25 October 2005 in North America. A PlayStation 2 version followed in June 2006, and mobile versions arrived in 2015 and 2016. Wikipedia reports generally favourable reviews, with Metacritic scores of 88 for the PSP version and 78 for the PS2 version.

Reviews focused more on the game than on Toni himself. Still, the prequel gave depth to a minor GTA III figure and fleshed out the Leone family that Claude later brings down. Its 1980s counterpart, Vice City Stories, did the same for Victor Vance.