The Role You Likely Forgot Sofia Coppola Played In The Outsiders

Those among us of a certain age have a very vivid connection to "The Outsiders." Director Francis Ford Coppola was a film veteran by the time of its release in 1983, having already directed "Patton," both "The Godfather" and its first sequel, "Apocalypse Now," and many others (via IMDb). But it also provided a breakout for so many leading men who would feature in some of the most memorable films of the 1980s and, in some ways, define the decade in film. Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez, and Tom Cruise. Diane Lane also appeared in the film, though it would admittedly take a bit longer for her breakout to come.

And then there's Coppola's daughter, Sofia. It would be an understatement to say that Sofia Coppola's acting career is far less celebrated than her directing career. Her performance as Michael Corleone's (Al Pacino) daughter Mary in "The Godfather Part III" was much panned after the film's release in 1990, even being blamed for the film's relatively poor showing at the box office (via Entertainment Weekly). Though her acting career ended quickly, she has received acclaim in the director's chair, from "The Virgin Suicides" to "Lost In Translation" (per Brittanica).

Nonetheless, Sofia Coppola did indeed have an acting career, albeit a small one. And yes, that included an appearance in "The Outsiders."

It comes about 45 minutes in. While Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell), Johnny (Ralph Macchio), and Dally (Matt Dillon) sit in the parking lot of the Dairy Queen, a young girl approaches the car, asking for 15 cents. Dally responds gruffly, ordering her to go away. She persists, asking instead for a dime, but a worried Dally, scared that she might see the gun he's showing his friends, and tell somebody, again barks at her to go away (via IMDb).

Though she is only listed in the credits as Domino, that little girl is Sofia Coppola. Though, this wasn't her first time onscreen. She appeared in "The Godfather" as the infant Michael Rizzi, son of Connie Corleone (Talia Shire) and Carlo Rizzi (Gianni Russo). It is little Michael's baptism that Michael Corleone attends while his enemies are murdered on his orders. Two years later she would appear briefly as a child on the ship young Vito (Oreste Baldini) takes from Sicily to Ellis Island. Coppola was the only actor other than the leads to have a role in all three "Godfather" films, according to Vogue. 

In all, Coppola would appear in eight of her father's films. Four of these would credit her as Domino, while two would be uncredited. Not until her brief appearance as Nancy Kelcher in her father's 1986 film "Peggy Sue Got Married" would she appear under her own name of Sofia Coppola (per IMDb).