Paulie Gatto a fictional character created by Mario Puzo. He is a soldier to the Corleone family and is commissioned to be the Don's bodyguard. The Tattaglia family pay him to call in sick so that the Don's semi-incompetant son, Fredo Corleone, would have to guard him instead. The Don is shot and nearly killed by Tattaglia assassins.Sonny demands his presence at the compund, wheather he s sick of not, after the Don is shot. He pretends to be sick when he arrives but Sonny and the others see throught his act.Because of this treachous action, Clemenza plans his death. Paulie drives Clemenza and Rocco out to a Tattaglia business they intend to attack. On the way back Clemenza asks him to pull over. Paulie does so and is then shot from behind and killed by Rocco. Clemenza then asks Rocco to leave to gun and take the canoli.