Much of the public perception about him comes from the hit television
series
The Untouchables (1959). As portrayed by
Bruce Gordon, Nitti was shown as taking the
place of his boss,
Al Capone, while Capone was in prison. In reality, the
real men in power, learning from Capone's mistake, kept out of the
spotlight and used Nitti as a front man who had little actual
power.