The gangster known as Scarface was Al Capone, a notorious American mobster who rose to power in the 1920s. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and became the leader of the Chicago Outfit, an organized crime syndicate. He was known for his flamboyant lifestyle and criminal activities, such as bootlegging, extortion, and murder. He was eventually convicted of tax evasion and served time in prison. He died in 1947 at the age of 48.