Geri Rosenthal, famously portrayed by Sharon Stone in Martin Scorsese's "Casino," was more complex than the film suggested. As the wife of mobster Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, her story reveals a determined woman who built her own success before meeting him.

Before Las Vegas, Geraldine McGee had a daughter with her high school boyfriend Lenny Marmor. After he refused to marry her, she moved to Las Vegas in 1960 with her mother. Through hard work as a cocktail waitress and showgirl, she achieved financial independence, owning her home and maintaining a stock portfolio while supporting multiple family members.

Her marriage to Lefty Rosenthal wasn't based on love but practicality. Despite his wealth and influence, Lefty was far from the charismatic figure portrayed by Robert De Niro. They had two children together, but their relationship was complicated by mutual infidelity.

Geri's affair with Tony "The Ant" Spilotro, Lefty's boss, ultimately contributed to the mob's downfall in Las Vegas. The FBI used this scandal to increase pressure on the criminal organization, leading to the exposure of illegal casino skimming operations.

The marriage ended dramatically when Geri pulled a gun on Lefty, emptied their safe deposit boxes, and fled to Los Angeles. She died of a drug overdose in 1982 at age 46, the same year Lefty survived a car bombing. He later died of natural causes in 2008 at 79.

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