For those who grew up in Melbourne in the 1990s, the name Alphonse Gangitano wasn’t just a face in the news — it was a symbol of the city’s dark underbelly. When he was shot dead in his Templestowe home on 16 January 1998 (ABC News), that death became the fuse for a gangland war that would claim dozens of lives. This article separates the verified facts from the dramatized fiction that played out years later on television, and looks at how the man known as the Black Prince of Lygon Street is remembered today.

4 related posts

Born: 22 April 1957 ·
Died: 16 January 1998 (aged 40) ·
Nickname: Black Prince of Lygon Street ·
Affiliation: Carlton Crew ·
Place of death: Templestowe, Victoria, Australia

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • The Underbelly franchise continues to keep his story alive, though fact and fiction are increasingly blurred (Wikipedia: Alphonse Gangitano)
  • Family members, including his daughter, have occasionally spoken about his legacy (Wikipedia: Alphonse Gangitano)

Six key facts, one pattern: Gangitano’s life and death sit at the center of a web of organized crime, media mythology, and unresolved questions.

Label Value
Full name Alphonse John Gangitano
Born 22 April 1957, Melbourne, Australia
Died 16 January 1998, Templestowe, Victoria
Nickname Black Prince of Lygon Street
Affiliation Carlton Crew
Known for Melbourne gangland violence, ordered several murders

The table confirms a criminal career rooted in Melbourne’s underworld, yet the most basic questions about his death remain unanswered by official sources.

What happened to Alphonse Gangitano?

The shooting death in Templestowe

  • Gangitano was shot dead at his home in Templestowe on 16 January 1998 (ABC News chronology)
  • The murder took place in the laundry of his home (ABC News chronology)
  • Coroner Iain West found that Jason Moran and Graham Kinniburgh were implicated in his death (ABC News chronology)

Former politician and author Phil Cleary reported that at a Coburg game in April, a former player said everyone knew Jason Moran shot Gangitano (Phil Cleary: Gangsters in Black Coats).

The context of the Melbourne gangland war

  • Gangitano’s murder is widely considered the beginning of the Melbourne gangland killings (Wikipedia: Melbourne gangland killings)
  • The State Library Victoria’s Ergo resource states the war resulted in 27 deaths (State Library Victoria Ergo)
  • A broader count puts the total number of underworld murders in Melbourne between 1998 and 2010 at 36 (Wikipedia: Melbourne gangland killings)
The trade-off

His death triggered a cycle of revenge killings that turned Melbourne into a battleground for control of the drug trade — a war that ultimately made Gangitano’s name immortal, but at a staggering human cost.

The implication: Gangitano’s murder, though unresolved, ignited a conflict that reshaped Melbourne’s criminal landscape for a decade.

Who played Alphonse Gangitano in Underbelly?

Actor portrayal and reception

  • Vince Colosimo portrayed Gangitano in the TV series Underbelly (Wikipedia: Alphonse Gangitano)
  • Colosimo’s role is one of the most recognizable depictions of a real-life Australian criminal on screen

How Underbelly dramatized his life

  • The series covers events from the Melbourne gangland war and features characters based on real criminals including Gangitano, the Moran family, and Carl Williams (Wikipedia: Melbourne gangland killings)
  • The dramatization has shaped public memory, blurring the line between verified history and television narrative

The implication: For many Australians, the TV version has become the default mental image, even when key details — such as the exact shooter — remain officially unresolved.

Where is Judy Moran now?

Judy Moran’s later years

  • Judy Moran is the former wife of Lewis Moran and mother of Jason Moran (Wikipedia: Alphonse Gangitano)
  • She was convicted for her role in a murder and served prison time

Her involvement in the gangland saga

  • As a central figure in the Moran family, Judy Moran has been a recurring presence in news coverage of the gangland war
  • After serving her sentence, she has largely avoided the public eye

Why this matters: Judy Moran’s story is a reminder that the gangland war wasn’t fought only by men — women in the orbit of these families also faced legal consequences and public scrutiny.

Timeline: Key events

  • 22 April 1957 – Alphonse Gangitano born in Melbourne
  • Late 1970s–1980s – Rises in the Carlton Crew, becomes known as the Black Prince of Lygon Street
  • 1990s – Involvement in multiple gangland killings and feuds
  • 16 January 1998 – Shot and killed at his home in Templestowe (ABC News chronology)
  • 2008 – Underbelly TV series airs, featuring his character played by Vince Colosimo (Wikipedia: Alphonse Gangitano)

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Born 22 April 1957 (Wikipedia: Alphonse Gangitano)
  • Leader of the Carlton Crew (Wikipedia: Alphonse Gangitano)
  • Shot dead on 16 January 1998 (ABC News chronology)
  • Portrayed by Vince Colosimo in Underbelly (Wikipedia: Alphonse Gangitano)

What’s unclear

  • Exact number of murders he committed is debated (Wikipedia: Alphonse Gangitano)
  • Some details of his early life are not fully documented

“Everyone knew Jason Moran shot Gangitano.”

— Phil Cleary, former politician and author (Phil Cleary: Gangsters in Black Coats)

“The Gangland War resulted in 27 deaths.”

— State Library Victoria Ergo (State Library Victoria Ergo: The Gangland War – Melbourne)

The pattern is clear: the public record contains hard dates and affiliations, but the attribution of specific violent acts remains contested — a reality that both frustrates historians and fuels the mythology.

For true crime followers, the takeaway is clear: Gangitano’s legend has been amplified by television, but the real victim was a city that endured years of bloody retribution.

Related reading: Melbourne gangland killings · The Gangland War – Melbourne

Additional sources

facebook.com, youtube.com, findagrave.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is Alphonse Gangitano based on a real person?

Yes, Alphonse John Gangitano was a real Australian criminal and leader of the Carlton Crew.

How old was Alphonse Gangitano when he died?

He was 40 years old when he was shot dead on 16 January 1998.

What was the cause of Alphonse Gangitano’s death?

He was shot multiple times in the laundry of his Templestowe home.

Was Alphonse Gangitano portrayed in any TV series?

Yes, Vince Colosimo played him in the Australian series Underbelly.

Who killed Alphonse Gangitano?

The coroner implicated Jason Moran and Graham Kinniburgh, but the precise shooter was never conclusively established.

What happened to the Carlton Crew after Gangitano’s death?

The Carlton Crew’s influence waned as the gangland war escalated, with many members killed or imprisoned.

Did Alphonse Gangitano have a wife?

He was in a long-term relationship and had a daughter, but he was not married at the time of his death.

Where is Alphonse Gangitano buried?

He is buried in Melbourne, with a funeral attended by many underworld figures.