Steven Seagal 'threatened by Mob boss'

Steven Seagal, the Hollywood action man and star of such films as Under Siege, has been the victim of an extortion attempt by senior Mob figures that included threats of violence and even death, US prosecutors believe.

The strange saga that has pitted Mr Seagal against a one-time production partner, Julius Nasso, was detailed in a Brooklyn court as part of a wider case against a Mafia leader accused of corruption on the New York docks. Prosecutors told the court that Anthony "Sonny" Ciccone had agreed to use bully-boy tactics in demanding "millions of dollars" from an individual in the film industry. While they did not name the intended victim, previous reports have identified him as Mr Seagal.

The bad blood began when Mr Seagal allegedly backed out of a 15-year partnership with Mr Nasso, saying he no longer wanted to play gun-toting roles because he had become a Buddhist. Mr Nasso filed a suit against the actor, saying he had reneged on a contract for four more films.

Ciccone, one of 17 members of the Gambino family arrested on charges related to Mafia influence on the New York waterfront, was caught "admitting on tape", according to prosecutors, that "he's been threatening to kill this person".

The indictment alleges the extortion scheme ran from September 2000 until last month. Prosecutors said neither Mr Seagal nor any other victim had approached the government because they were "reluctant".