Caan also had a role in the successful animation Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and in the fondly-remembered Christmas comedy Elf, as Will Ferrells businessman father. He also made a brief appearance in a flashback sequence in The Godfather, Part II.. In 2007, he announced his departure from the show, stating that he was eager to make movies again. James Caan and Barbra Streisand starred in Funny Lady circa 1975. The actor recently opened up about the lasting legacy of The Godfather in which he played Vito Corleone's (Marlon Brando) oldest son, Sonny for the beloved crime epic's 50th anniversary. James Caan says that he walked out of an initial " The Godfather " screening after realizing director Francis Ford Coppola cut a key scene involving Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen. In the film, based on Stephen Kings novel, Caan is an author taken captive by an obsessed fan who breaks his ankles to keep him from leaving. Matt Mitovich May 9, 2007, 3:47 p.m. PT. Las Vegas had practically reignited the actor's career, and through it, James garnered an armada of new fans. Film producer Christopher Miller shared a tribute posting to "legend" James Caan. In 1990, he starred in both "Dick Tracy" and "Misery." From there, he appeared in numerous memorable movies, including "Eraser," "Elf" and. Farewell Jimmy. I loved working with him. Thinking of his family and sending my love., James Caan. "Godfather" star James Caan's cause of death has been revealed. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. friend . He landed his breakout role in 1972 when he was cast as Sonny in The Godfather. or redistributed. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Authorities have not yet revealed the causes of death for both James and Tony. Caan, who passed away on Wednesday at age 82, once recalled to The Independent in 2021 how he "started doing cocaine, which is like a death sentence" and it "lasted a while. James Caan's former costar Sylvester Stallone honored his friend by sharing a series of photos. I was so saddened to hear about Jimmy leaving us, he wrote in a statement. 45 Great Films That Failed at the Box Office, Russo continued, Jimmy and I are not friends at all, believe me. At the time, the actor was struggling financially due tohis drug addiction battle. "He brought a pathos and authenticity to the role of Tim Lockwood that held the film together. The Idol: How HBOs Next Euphoria Became Twisted Torture Porn Brosnan stars in the upcoming film Fast Charlie with Caan. I taught an acting class for a couple of years here, which was fun and rewarding, but it's not as much fun as doing it. ", He added: "We're really best buddies. A football player at Michigan State University and a practical joker on production sets, Caan was a grinning, handsome performer with an athletes swagger and muscular build. My heart has a deep sorrow this day for your passing. It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6, the family tweeted. His films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten. From those earlier times working together onThe Rain People, and throughout all the milestones of my life, his films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten. On Thursday, a statement shared on James' official Twitter page announced that the actor died on Wednesday at 82 years old: "The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt. Its hard to believe that he wont be in the world any more because he was so alive and daring. So happy I got to know him. He wrote: "We were lucky enough to work with James Caan on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. A stage veteran before heading to Hollywood, the Bronx-born actor was next cast in 1969s The Rain People directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who he would soon collaborate with again and the lead role in the 1970 adaptation of John Updikes Run, Rabbit. All rights reserved. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. Sirico's death was first announced by his Sopranos co-star,Michael Imperioli, in a touchingInstagramtribute. He was 82 years old. An actor of undeniably manly appeal, James Caan continued to surprise and delight audiences with his invigorating performances up until his death in July 2022 at the age of 82. ", According to the Oscar-nominated star, he coached his sons Little League team before turning to acting in "Godfather" director Francis Ford Coppolas 1987 film "Gardens of Stone. He brought a pathos and authenticity to the role of Tim Lockwood that held the film together. This was not the first time Caan spoke out about his struggles. Short on cash, Caan was hired by Coppola for the leading role in the 1987 film Gardens of Stone. The movie, about life at Arlington National Cemetery, proved too grim for most audiences, but it renewed Caans acting career. (FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives). Keen not to follow his father into the meat trade, Caan initially aimed for a career as a football player, but got interested in acting after studying at Hofstra University in New York state where he met future collaborator Francis Ford Coppola. They want me to play Sonny for the rest of my life, Caan said, and after briefly returning to the character in a one-scene cameo flashback in The Godfather Part II, he took on roles that avoided the stereotype. "The Godfather" star James Caan, who died this week, was infamous for his antics and "excess" namely, cocaine benders and feuds with John Wayne that were much-discussed in the media. Entertainment, Caan said that he lived with cocaine addiction after turning to the drug when his sister died from leukemia. "My dad never told me he loved me, and consequently I told Scott I loved him every other minute. The tumultuous making of the blockbuster movie is at the center of the Paramount+ limited series The Offer, charting the behind-the-scenes drama that plagued the big-screen adaptation of Mario Puzos novel. Despite being confirmed, a cause of death was not released. Initial theatrical release was on March 15, 1972, by Paramount Pictures. ", Caan also told The Independent that Barbara "was like my best friend. Thu 7 Jul 2022 13.12 EDT. However, the many superb portrayals he gave in scores of films and TV episodes will. About 20 years ago, James Caan spoke with Esquire about being a dad. All rights reserved. A tweet from the actor's official account Thursday read, "It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6.". Alec also said that Jimmy taught him how to swear. One of his most noteworthy big-screen gigs was in Martin Scorsese's crime movie Goodfellas. James Caan, whose indelible, Oscar-nominated performance as Sonny Corleone, the recklessly hotheaded son of Marlon Brando's Mafia don in "The Godfather," is sure to be remembered as long as . And its clear that co-star Duvall clicked with Caan right away. James career began when he played Brian Piccolo in Brians Song. He is most known for being the fifth actor to portray secret agent James Bond in the Bond film series. Losing Ray Liotta and James Caan within months of each other just tells me God is up there making one helluva a mobster movie. For more on James Caan, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day. The 45-year-old told the news outlet: "To say our relationship wasn't dysfunctional would be a lie. "I've had a wonderful four years, worked with great people and made friends for life working on Las Vegas, but I'm eager to return to where my heart is, which is film, and due to the show's schedule, I missed some great opportunities to do that," James explained in a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter. According to Yahoo! Racing to find his sisters husband, Corleone stops at a toll booth that he discovers is unnervingly empty of customers. "The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time," the tweet added. He accused ex-wife Linda Stokes of spending his money to the point where he was forced to . In addition, he finds himself at the helm of the hit TV series Las Vegas (2003) as casino security chief "Big Ed" Deline. However, the decade produced one of Caans most enduring and acclaimed roles as safecracker Frank in director Michael Manns cult favorite Thief, with Caan like Sonny a decade earlier turning an otherwise despicable person into an audience-beloved antihero. 1 enforcer and eldest son of Mafia boss Vito Corleone. His output slowed in the Eighties as the actor dealt with personal problems, addiction and burnout. "It. ", JAMES CAAN, GODFATHER STAR, DEAD AT 82, FAMILY SAYS, 'Godfather' actor James Caan died on Wednesday, July 7. "Tough, Smart, a mans man. However, the ambitious TV series didn't appeal to him enormously. Sonny Corleone, a violent and reckless man who conducted many killings, met his own end in one of the most jarring movie scenes in history. James Caan has died. Brosnan wrote: "On the set of the movie 'Fast Charlie' with the great man himself James Caan. Short on cash, Caan was hired by Coppola for the leading role in the 1987 film "Gardens of Stone." He was primed for a featured role in "The Godfather" as Sonny, the No. pic.twitter.com/jHynv2BcR9. He's. Initial theatrical release was on March 15, 1972, by Paramount Pictures. James disappeared from Hollywood on several occasions, intermittently working as a children's sports coach. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. Caan said that this was one of the greatest moments of his life. Caan received Golden Globe Award nominations for his performances in the drama The Gambler (1974), and the musical Funny Lady (1975). Check out what clicked this week in entertainment. ", "Ive never missed a days work in my life, even through all the st," he remarked. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. These included such failures as the hokey Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976), the quasi-western Comes a Horseman (1978) and the saccharine Chapter Two (1979). "Ive done pictures where Id rather do time. According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, Caan died from a heart attack and coronary artery disease. The award-winning star has been married four times, the first to Dee Jay Mathis with whom he shares a daughter named Tara. Unique. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. Hes a great sports buff. Caan was originally cast in Al Pacinos role in the mob classic, but he soon took over as Santino Sonny Corleone, the hair-trigged eldest son of a mob family. Once again in demand, Caan starred in For the Boys with Bette Midler in 1991 as part of a song-and-dance team entertaining U.S. soldiers during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. In the early 90s, James married Ingrid Hajek and they had a son together, Alexander James Caan. In 1978, he graduated with a degree in acting from the University ofMiamiand moved toNew York Cityafterward. 1 enforcer and eldest son of Mafia boss Vito Corleone. Who Are James Caan's Children? ", At the times, his dad James, said: "He saw me when I was a little rough around the edges. Al Jean, a producer of The Simpsons, tweeted a joke on Saturday that the three actors would now be "having a sitdown up in heaven.". The elder Caan experienced addiction in the 1980s, which required him to take a step back from acting. Says Adam Driver, Defending Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis' Set, Damien Chazelle Compared Diego Calva to Al Pacino During 'Babylon' Casting, 22 Great Erotic Thrillers, from Adrian Lyne to Brian De Palma, 45 Great Films That Failed at the Box Office. ", JAMES CAAN, 'GODFATHER' STAR, DEAD AT 82, FAMILY SAYS, James Caan and Barbra Streisand starred in Funny Lady circa 1975. A masculine and enigmatic actor whose life and movie career have had more ups and downs than the average rollercoaster and whose selection of roles has arguably derailed him from achieving true superstar status, James Caan is New York-born and bred.He was born in the Bronx, to Sophie (Falkenstein) and Arthur Caan, Jewish immigrants from Germany. Veteran actor James Caan, known for his tough guy roles in movies including "The Godfather," died Wednesday at the age of 82. He was in the Dominican Republic shooting for an upcoming film titled Dangerous Waters. Thief, released in 1981 and directed by Michael Mann, in which Caan played a safecracker who takes on the mob, boded well for his ability to reinvent himself for the new decade, but Caans career would swiftly derail. End of tweet. (Caan, a habitual Twitter user, would often write End of tweet on his own messages.) James Caan first worked with director Francis Ford Coppola in 'The Rain People' in 1969. to join the cast of NBC's Las Vegas this fall, playing "a charismatic . James was not married at the time of his death. Caan and Stokes were in the middle of a divorce as of December 2016, according to TMZ. After Brians Song and The Godfather, he was one of Hollywoods busiest actors, appearing in Hide in Plain Sight (which he also directed), Funny Lady (opposite Barbra Streisand), The Killer Elite and Neil Simons Chapter Two, among others. However, he did score again with the stylish Michael Mann-directed heist movie Thief (1981). So if you could make him laugh, all the tension disappears. Caan went on to pursue acting again after his recovery. Caan's family announced his passing on his Twitter account. James Caan, the American actor renowned for his role as Sonny Corleone in the mafia epic The Godfather, as well as a string of . During Jame's lengthy life, he walked down the aisle four different times. Caan had begun to struggle with drug use and was devastated by the 1981 leukemia death of his sister, Barbara, who until then had been a guiding force in his career. The actor, who was struggling with substance abuse, spent five years out of the spotlight to focus on himself. Caan left the show during the fourth season and it was later canceled. Caan was also known for appearances on television perhaps most notably for starring as Ed Deline in the dramedy series Las Vegas, which ran for five seasons on NBC from 2003 to 2008. The actor's family announced . As the actor described in a previous interview with Today, the creators were very open to his suggestions granting him plenty of opportunities to get involved in the creative process. He was born in the Bronx, to Sophie (Falkenstein) and Arthur Caan, Jewish . It might be variable, the corners could be rounded with urban irony, but there was a line and it was non-fungible. Francis Ford Coppola, James longtime friend and director in The Rain People andThe Godfather, shared an emotional statement about the late actor. When I lost her, I couldnt, I couldnt handle it, I didnt know what to do, he told Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz last July. James Caan's son on 'dysfunctional' relationship with dad. Janelle is his last known relationship. He was 82. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Caan went on to pursue acting again after his recovery. After playing the lead in a disappointing 1970 adaptation of John Updikes celebrated novel Rabbit, Run, Caan achieved a major breakthrough with Coppolas The Godfather. Caan was cast by a then-little-regarded Robert Altman in the 1967 space film Countdown, but his first significant association with the Hollywood new wave came with the 1969 film The Rain People, directed by Coppola, in which Caan played a hitchhiking former college football star who is picked up by Shirley Knights dissatisfied middle class housewife. Caan was nominated for an Emmy for his role, which led to his reuniting with Coppola for The Godfather. Scott met a young girl named Petra who 1) pretended to only speak German and 2) is the daughter of the woman Scott was to have a job interview with when the L.A. sinkhole opened and concurrent . In 2021, he told "CBS Sunday Morning" that he "had a bad bout with cocaine for a little while" after the 1981 death of his younger sister Barbara from leukemia. A year after his Firehouse 51 job ended, Hodge actually worked opposite James Caan in the indie thriller "The Waiting." 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