", He's most known for his work in "The Godfather," "Thief," "Misery" and "Rollerball.". He wrote: "We were lucky enough to work with James Caan on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Old friend from Sunnyside, collaborator and one of the funniest people Ive ever known., His Funny Lady co-star Barbra Streisand tweeted a picture of the pair together and wrote: Im so sorry to hear about Jimmy. In 2003, Caan would endear himself to a younger generation and get to showcase his comedic chops by playing the biological father of Will Ferrells character in the now-Christmas classic Elf. Trending They wouldn't let me do much else. It renewed Caan's career, and he became busy as ever. Bates won an Oscar for the role. Other notable roles throughout his career include in films like Brian's Song (1971), Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Gambler (1974), Rollerball (1975), Dick Tracy (1990), Bottle Rocket (1996) and Eraser (1996). Snubbing the King: Why Don't Big Stars Want to Perform at Charles' Coronation? (FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives). Legal Statement. I cant do a little of anything. Initial theatrical release was on March 15, 1972, by Paramount Pictures. However, the ambitious TV series didn't appeal to him enormously. He was primed for a featured role in "The Godfather" as Sonny, the No. James disappeared from Hollywood on several occasions, intermittently working as a children's sports coach. He came in, and we made up the whole fight. In the early 90s, James married Ingrid Hajek and they had a son together, Alexander James Caan. Hollywood great James Caan, who had recently undergone back surgery, appeared frail as his son Jacob pushed him around in a wheelchair back in 2020. Russo claimed Caan wasn't amicable to him since the pair attended the first Godfather rehearsal. He also made a brief appearance in a flashback sequence in The Godfather, Part II.. 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 . What a loss.. Just last year,Jamesdid an interview withCBSwhere he shared that he was still looking forward to working in his old age. "He was never nice to me from day one. Free shipping for many products! Janelle is his last known relationship. These included a cop-buddy crime partnership with Alan Arkin in the uneven Freebie and the Bean (1974), a superb performance as a man playing for his life in The Gambler (1974) alongside Lauren Hutton, and pairing with Barbra Streisand in Funny Lady (1975). Alec also said that Jimmy taught him how to swear. He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978. Always wanted to be like him. In 1990, he starred in both "Dick Tracy" and "Misery." Its hard to believe that he wont be in the world anymore because he was so alive and daring. "People were talking about me quitting acting, and they would say, What about your creative juices? Coaching is creative because you could take a kid who thought he wasnt any good and, within four minutes, change his mind. The thing with Caan is, hes got a great sense of humor, director Jon Favreau told Rolling Stone in 2020. or redistributed. The legendary actor starred in 'Misery' and 'Elf," in addition to hundreds of other roles. 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. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. ", "Ive never missed a days work in my life, even through all the st," he remarked. ", JAMES CAAN, GODFATHER STAR, DEAD AT 82, FAMILY SAYS, 'Godfather' actor James Caan died on Wednesday, July 7. One of his most noteworthy big-screen gigs was in Martin Scorsese's crime movie Goodfellas. I enjoy working. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. Damien Chazelle Compared Diego Calva to Al Pacino During 'Babylon' Casting Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The guys nuts.. Last modified on Wed 10 Aug 2022 07.41 EDT. Influencers: Profiles of a Partnership 2022, How to Pitch Stories and Articles to IndieWire, 'All Good Here!' James Caan, the curly-haired tough guy known to movie fans as the hotheaded Sonny Corleone of "The Godfather" and to television audiences as both the dying football player in the classic weeper "Brian's Song" and the casino boss in "Las Vegas," has died. Sending my love to his family., Coppola shared a statement with Deadline that read: Jimmy was someone who stretched through my life longer and closer than any motion picture figure Ive ever known. In addition, he finds himself at the helm of the hit TV series Las Vegas (2003) as casino security chief "Big Ed" Deline. In 2015, James was rushed to the hospital with extreme chest pain, and despite concerns of a heart attack, medics attributed it to infection. No cause was given and Caans family, who requests privacy, said that no further details would be released at this time. And I had to work very hard to make Frank human, because the guy is really a prick, a killer., What a terrible and tragic loss, Thief director Michael Mann said in a statement to Rolling Stone Thursday. I just walked out of a picture at Paramount. "I really want to work. Born March 26, 1939, in New York City, Caan was the son of a kosher meat wholesaler. Unique. 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. Caan left the show during the fourth season and it was later canceled. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sending my love to his family.. Thinking of his family and sending my love., Actor and long-time friend Gary Sinise has shared his condolences. According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, Caan died from a heart attack and coronary artery disease. does james caan wear a back brace does james caan wear a back brace (No Ratings Yet) . Trump Melts Down Over Murdoch Admitting Fox Lied About Election Fraud ', "I said, Do you think I would hireJames Caan? So happy I got to know him. 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. In 2007, he announced his departure from the show, stating that he was eager to make movies again. Market data provided by Factset. From one Sonny to another God bless you James Caan & Happy Birthday Sonny!, A post shared by Mario Lopez (@mariolopez). Between 1982 and 1987, he went on what he would later call the Hollywood burnout. James Caan's former costar Sylvester Stallone honored his friend by sharing a series of photos. No cause of death was provided. Las Vegas Has Basically Shut Down Thanks to the Coronavirus, FaZe Banks and His Crew Caused $30,000 in Damages to a Las Vegas Hotel Room, Man's Text Messages With Friend Who Was In Las Vegas Massacre Emerge Online. The first episode of the crime drama aired on Sept. 22, 2003 and it was an immediate hit. The late Associated Press writer Bob Thomas contributed biographical information to this report. Tony Sirico was an American actor born in New York City on July 29, 1942. According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, Caan died from a heart attack and coronary artery disease. That was a big-time winner for me, Caan said. ", Caan also told The Independent that Barbara "was like my best friend. The actor, who was struggling with substance abuse, spent five years out of the spotlight to focus on himself. Legal Statement. A great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend. He told the magazine in 2003: "I never saw my dad cry. Caan received his only Oscar nomination, for best supporting actor, for the film, and his work remains notable for Sonnys gruesome death scene, for which Caan said he was fitted with over 140 squibs, or explosive blood pellets, to simulate gunshot wounds. He didn't feature in any movies in 1994, and he went on another break between 1996 and 1998. James Caan: His 10 Toughest, Wildest and Most Memorable Roles Legal Statement. The character is a real ballbreaker, Caan told Rolling Stone in 1981. Caan spent the remainder of the Seventies as a leading man, headlining films like Sam Peckinpahs The Killer Elite, Richard Attenboroughs war epic A Bridge Too Far and the adaptation of Neil Simons Chapter Two. Sylvester Stallone Pays Tribute to 'Good Friend' James Caan After His Death: 'A Man's Man', James Caan's Cause of Death Revealed as a Combination of Heart Problems, Mario Lopez Reveals Son Named in Honor of James Caan After Actor Died on His Third Birthday, Alec Baldwin Says 'Sweetheart' Friend James Caan's Health Was 'Not Great' Over 'Last Five Years', James Caan Honored by 'Godfather' Costars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and More: 'Gonna Miss Him', Pierce Brosnan Shares Photos of James Caan from Set of Late Actor's Final Film: 'You Were an Inspiration', Donald Soffer Remembers James Caan as a Longtime 'Loyal' Friend: 'Always a Straight-Up Guy', Kathy Bates Says She 'Can't Believe' 'Misery' Costar James Caan Is 'Gone': 'I'm Bereft', James Caan Remembered by Adam Sandler, Rob Reiner and More: 'Best of the Best', James Caan Once Lived at the Playboy Mansion, Joked It Was to 'Get Over My Divorce', James Caan Once Paused His Hollywood Career to Coach Kids' Baseball After a 'Bad Bout with Cocaine', Raquel Welch's Marriages: Everything She Said About Her Past Relationships, Reese Witherspoon, Christopher Meloni, More Stars React to Raquel Welch's Death: 'She Was Elegant', Scott Caan Recalls Final Conversations with Dad James Caan: 'I'm Lucky for That'. The actor has been seen in a wheelchair in more recent years as his health has declined since the incident. James Caan, the curly-haired tough guy known to movie fans as the hotheaded Sonny Corleone of The Godfather and to television audiences as both the dying football player in the classic weeper Brians Song and the casino boss in Las Vegas, has died. "My dad never told me he loved me, and consequently I told Scott I loved him every other minute. I was so saddened to hear about Jimmy leaving us, he wrote in a statement. After 22 years of marriage, the pair divorced citing irreconcilable differences. The Saved By the Bell star announced thathis son, Santino Rafael, is named after Caans character in The Godfather in an Instagram post on Thursday. RAY LIOTTA: A LOOK AT THE 'GOODFELLAS' STAR'S LIFE BEHIND THE CAMERA AND AS A HOLLYWOOD LEGEND, James Caan first worked with director Francis Ford Coppola in 'The Rain People' in 1969. Rest In Peace. So if you could make him laugh, all the tension disappears. All rights reserved. "The fun of it was taken away," he told an interviewer in 1981. Caan bonded with Brando, Robert Duvall and other cast members and made it a point to get everyone laughing during an otherwise tense production, sometimes dropping his pants and mooning a fellow actor or crew member. He was so talented., In a statement, Pacino shared: Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend. The 45-year-old told the news outlet: "To say our relationship wasn't dysfunctional would be a lie. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.. Check out what clicked this week in entertainment. 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. All rights reserved. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Related (Getty Images), Caan's early work included "Red Line 7000," "El Dorado" and "The Rain People. James Caan, the American actor renowned for his role as Sonny Corleone in the mafia epic The Godfather, as well as a string of . Editors picks However, audiences were moved to tears as he put in a heart-rending performance as cancer-stricken Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo in the highly rated made-for-TV film Brian's Song (1971).With these strong performances under his belt, Francis Ford Coppola then cast him as hot-tempered gangster Santino "Sonny" Corleone in the Mafia epic The Godfather (1972). There was a core of values within him about how people should be, more or less. Why did he leave the show? After finding fame as a tough guy in Hollywood, James Caan decided it was time for a break. The action-crime-thriller is listed as in post-production, and costars Morena Baccarin and Pierce Brosnan. ", 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. I loved him, gonna miss him. Robert De Niro also wrote that he was, very very sad to hear about Jimmys passing.. I just want the opportunity, while I'm still walking, to do something that will have you calling me and saying, 'Jimmy, that was really good.' "He brought a pathos and authenticity to the role of Tim Lockwood that held the film together. May you Rest In Peace forever in the light. His character rose to become boss of the Montecito but remained the tough guy who had learned judo in an undercover division of the U.S. government. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. This article was amended on 8 July 2022. But Im thinking he was in character cause hes a thespian. The award-winning star has been married four times, the first to Dee Jay Mathis with whom he shares a daughter named Tara. We kept him laughing, and he kept us laughing.. as Sonny Corleone in, October 7, 1995 - 2016 (divorced, 2 children). 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. 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. The elder Caan experienced addiction in the 1980s, which required him to take a step back from acting. James stayed on the show for four years, only leaving before the shooting of Season 5. Between 1982 and 1987, he went on what he would later call the Hollywood burnout. A titan in the film industry, Caan's movie and TV career stretches back over 60 years, with some of his most notable roles being in The Godfather (1972), Misery (1990) and Elf (2003). The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time The legendary actor starred in 'Misery' and 'Elf," in addition to hundreds of other roles. Whenever wed go into an Italian restaurant, theyd put onThe Godfathersoundtrack. After leaving Las Vegas, James went on to feature in hit movies like New York, I Love You, Blood Ties, and The Good Neighbor. A masculine and enigmatic actor whose life and movie career have had He was a star athlete and class president at Rhodes High School and, after attending Michigan State and Hofstra University, he studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater under Sanford Meisner. He was 82. His manager, Matt Del Piano, confirmed Caan's death to Fox News Digital. Gianni Russo, the 78-year-old actor who played Carlo Rizzu in The Godfather, recounted a time when James Caan's agent called him as "Any Given Sunday was being produced. My thoughts and prayers are with his entire family during this difficult time. Tom is a father of twins with his ex-girlfriend Janelle McIntire. By TMZ, Caan also told the Independent that Barbara `` was like my best.. Of a Partnership 2022, how to swear, Pacino shared: Jimmy was my fictional brother my... In 1994, and We made up the whole fight minutes, change his mind Delivered... An immediate hit born March 26, 1939, in a statement, Pacino shared Jimmy! 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