From there, he appeared in numerous memorable movies, including "Eraser," "Elf" and "Dogville," among others. ", He's most known for his work in "The Godfather," "Thief," "Misery" and "Rollerball.". "You were an inspiration to me as young actor starting out and an even greater one as a man watching you work each day against great physical pain and discomfort. But James saw it otherwise. 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). FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA THOUGHT GODFATHER WAS GOING TO BE A SPECIAL FAILURE, RECEIVES WALK OF FAME STAR, Kathy Bates And James Caan paired up for the chilling Misery flick in 1990 (Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection). 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). Thinking of his family and sending my love., Actor and long-time friend Gary Sinise has shared his condolences. The instance was one of dozens of roles that Caan reportedly turned down as he eschewed blockbusters for more challenging work. "Not only was he one of the best actors our business has ever seen, he was funny, loyal, caring and beloved. The Natural Born Killers star welcomed twin boys Jagger and Jayden with his ex Janelle in 2005. The Associated Press contributed to this report. He later married Ingrid Hajek in 1990. The crime film paid tribute to James Caan in a tweet, which features a photo of the late actor. It was among the most popular and wrenching TV movies in history and Caan and co-star Billy Dee Williams, who played Piccolos teammate and best friend Gale Sayers, were nominated for best actor Emmys. He wrote: I named my son after Santino Corleone in the Godfather and the man who infamously played him passed away today on my sons birthday. The first episode of the crime drama aired on Sept. 22, 2003 and it was an immediate hit. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. I got so into the character, I could see people backing away from me, Caan told Rolling Stone in 1981 of the arduous Thief shoot. more ups and downs than the average rollercoaster and whose selection pic.twitter.com/a0q8rCP1Yl, Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) July 7, 2022. Matt Mitovich May 9, 2007, 3:47 p.m. PT. 'Godfather' actor James Caan died on Wednesday, July 7. According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, Caan died from a heart attack and coronary artery disease. The talented star was diagnosed with clinical depression in 1981 after his sister died of Leukemia. Legal Statement. No cause of death was provided. 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. 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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. However, the many superb portrayals he gave in scores of films and TV episodes will. Damien Chazelle Compared Diego Calva to Al Pacino During 'Babylon' Casting Jen Juneau is a digital news writer for PEOPLE since 2016. Caan didnt take a starring role in a TV series until 2003 but his first effort, Las Vegas, was an immediate hit. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. His films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Check out what clicked this week in entertainment. He improvised a few things like that little billy club he threw at me when I came off the stoop. Caan left the show during the fourth season and it was later canceled. 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. Two further strong lead roles came up for him in 1975, first as futuristic sports star "Jonathon E" questioning the moral fiber of a sterile society in Rollerball (1975) and teaming up with Robert Duvall in the Sam Peckinpah spy thriller The Killer Elite (1975).Unfortunately, Caan's rising star sputtered badly at this stage of his career, and several film projects failed to find fire with either critics or audiences. End of tweet. (Caan, a habitual Twitter user, would often write End of tweet on his own messages.) Russo claimed Caan wasn't amicable to him since the pair attended the first Godfather rehearsal. [on being voted "Italian of the Year" in New York twice, after his role According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, Caan died from a heart attack and coronary artery disease. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. No cause of death was given and Caans family, who requested privacy, said that no further details would be released at this time. James Caan, Film Icon Who Starred in The Godfather, Dead at 82, Fresh Controversy for Ja Morant as NBA Star Is Accused of Assaulting Teen, Boygenius Take Fans on a Road Trip in Video for New Single Not Strong Enough, Metallica Drop New Seven-Minute Epic If Darkness Had a Son, How to Watch 'The Mandalorian' Online: Stream Season 3 Now, Jena Malone Says She Was Sexually Assaulted by 'Hunger Games' Coworker, Chris Pine Clears Up #SpitGate Once and for All: 'Harry Did Not Spit on Me', Oscars Still #SoWhite, Despite Some Improvements in Nominee Diversity, New 'Stranger Things' Play 'The First Shadow' to Offer Some Deep Hawkins Lore, Wizkid More Love, Less Ego Tour Postponed to Fall 2023, Alex MurdaughCalled 'Family Annihilator' by Prosecution in Murder Trial. 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. Im gonna miss him., Robert De Niro said: Im very very sad to hear about Jimmys passing., Adam Sandler, who starred with Caan in both Bulletproof and Thats My Boy, wrote: Loved him very much. Kathy Bates And James Caan paired up for the chilling Misery flick in 1990, Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines 7/6, death of his younger sister Barbara from leukemia, for a featured role in "The Godfather" as Sonny, Michael B. Jordan apologized to his mom before steamy Calvin Klein underwear ad was released, Kristin Cavallari jokes shes 'heartless' for breaking up with guys over text: 'I know thats horrible', Gisele Bndchen shares tips for when 'life gets challenging': 'Remember that the sun rises everyday', Amy Grant says she leaned on her faith after horrific bike accident: Its helped me not be afraid, Bette Midler confesses to plastic surgery: Time smooths 'everything out', Meghan Markle, Prince Harry 'stunned' by King Charles' 'cruel' Frogmore Cottage eviction, report says. James Caan's son Scott went on to pursue an acting career in Hollywood. Legal Statement. Over a 60-year career, Caan has definitely earned it, playing one memorable role after another, and managing not to be typecast - Sonny, Don Corleone's hothead son in "The Godfather"; a dying. I shall cherish the memory of you always. And I didnt have to wait six months for them to put music to it.". Actor who played Sonny Corleone in the groundbreaking 1972 epic engineered a comeback after his career went off the rails in the early 1980s. ", A post shared by Pierce Brosnan (@piercebrosnanofficial), 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, James Caan death updates Fans also mourn mobster movie stars Ray Liotta and Tony Sirico as all three pass away in 2022, James Caan dead at 82: The Godfather & Elf actor passes away as family thanks fans for heartfelt condolences, GMA meteorologist Rob Marcianos wife Eryn secretly files for DIVORCE after 11 years of marriage and 2 children, Kourtney Kardashian gives FIRST look into season 2 of Hulu show after fans called for boring series to be canceled, Teen Mom Kailyn Lowry admits she still LOVES her ex despite new boyfriend Elijah Scott, 24, moving into her mansion, Kim Kardashian admits to getting new cosmetic procedure after once declaring she would NEVER do it again, Kanye West's furious ex lashes out at Kim Kardashian in Instagram rant. James Caan, pictured in 2000, has died aged 82. ", He added, jokingly: And one of these days, maybe we'll raise a perfect Caan.". Market data provided by Factset. Originally intended to be the head of surveillance, Ed was supposed to be the kind of man who spends most of his time staring at the neon glow of television screens, carefully studying CCTV footage to prevent criminal activities. So if you could make him laugh, all the tension disappears. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. I just walked out of a picture at Paramount. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. While living inNew York,Liottalanded one of his first acting gigs on the soap opera,Another World. Jimmy made it so funny, Duvall told THR about filming the scene where his character Vito examines Sonnys corpse. James struggled with various mental and physical health complications over the years, including depression, severe chest pain, and back problems. Rest In Peace. 45 Great Films That Failed at the Box Office, Russo continued, Jimmy and I are not friends at all, believe me. James disappeared from Hollywood on several occasions, intermittently working as a children's sports coach. Sly captioned the tribute: "I will miss my good friend and great actor, James Caan! Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. So, what happened? Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. He was 82. The two of them appear in the upcoming film Fast Charlie together. His anger at Coppola, 83, aside, "Otherwise, he gave me a great honor," Caan said with a laugh of the film's director and co-writer. 1 enforcer and eldest son of Mafia boss Vito Corleone. ", "Ive never missed a days work in my life, even through all the st," he remarked. James Caan has died. He toldThe Post: "The biggest thorn in his side was, 'Whos Gianni Russo? This guy, he studied with Stella Adler, you name it. Veteran actor James Caan, known for his tough guy roles in movies including "The Godfather," died Wednesday at the age of 82. Married and divorced four times, Caan had a daughter, Tara, and sons Scott, Alexander, James and Jacob. "When she died, passion became this whole thing with me. The following contains spoilers from the Season 1 finale of Fox's Alert: Missing Persons Unit. James was not married at the time of his death. As the actor said in an interview with Bright Lights Film, he did have a good few reservations about accepting a role on a TV show at first. He wrote: "We were lucky enough to work with James Caan on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Its hard to believe that he wont be in the world anymore because he was so alive and daring. He also appeared in more traditional vehicles, such as the Barbra Streisand musical Funny Lady and the second world war epic A Bridge Too Far. Wonderful to know him & call him a pal.. In 2018 he appeared in Carol Morleys Martin Amis adaptation Out of Blue, as the father of murder victim Jennifer Rockwell. "The fun of it was taken away," he told an interviewer in 1981. Alert: Missing Persons Unit, with Monday night's double-episode finale, tracked down the woman . He later reprised the role when he returned for Godfather II. The actor tied the knot for the final time in 1995 to a woman named Linda Stokes, and the couple welcomed two sons, James Arthur Caan and Jacob Nicholas Caan. 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.". 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. So happy I got to know him. ", JAMES CAAN, 'GODFATHER' STAR, DEAD AT 82, FAMILY SAYS, James Caan and Barbra Streisand starred in Funny Lady circa 1975. 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). Scoot Caan, also an actor like his dad, opened up to PEOPLE back in 2010 about their relationship. Given that James fell for so many women, some fans may wonder how many kids the actor fathered. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. I'm proud that he's grown up so well.". Short on cash, Caan was hired by Coppola for the leading role in the 1987 film "Gardens of Stone." James acted for decades in numerous blockbuster movies, including Misery, Dick Tracy and most endearingly, Elf.. pic.twitter.com/jHynv2BcR9. Tony Sirico was an American actor born in New York City on July 29, 1942. We all will miss him terribly. He's. He accused ex-wife Linda Stokes of spending his money to the point where he was forced to . Caan was again candid about his past drug use in Hollywood. Over the years, Sirco appeared in several projects, includingThe Sopranos,Goodfellas, Mighty Aphrodite, and Caf Society. Market data provided by Factset. Caan, who was believed to be worth about $20million, was spotted using a walker at a restaurant with friends in California last year after spending some time in a wheelchair as he recovered from. The following year he played a tongue-in-cheek version of Sonny Corleone in the comedy Honeymoon in Vegas, tricking Nicolas Cage into betting his girlfriend, Sarah Jessica Parker, in a high-stakes poker game so he can spirit her away and try to persuade her to marry him. My thoughts and prayers are with his entire family during this difficult time. Caan died Wednesday night in Los Angeles, his rep Arnold Robinson told The Hollywood Reporter, confirming a post on the actor's Twitter account. Always wanted to be like him. But Im thinking he was in character cause hes a thespian. 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. Caan is survived by sons Scott, James, Jacob and Alexander, as well as daughter Tara. He also made a brief appearance in a flashback sequence in The Godfather, Part II.. They wouldn't let me do much else. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He was 82. ", Caan on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, continued, The producer's post continued: "Once he said a line in his low gravelly voice & we said 'try one with a little more projection, you and Flint will be outside on opposite ends of the backyard', "So he said 'Flint cmere I dont wanna yell' and then the rest of the line at the same volume. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! His movies were best of the best. Absolute king, James Caan on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Caan had been a favorite of Francis Ford Coppola since the 1960s when Coppola cast him for the lead in "Rain People." Both James Caan and Tony Sirico died this week, only two days apart from each other. He is also survived by multiple sons: Scott, Ryan, Alexander James, James Arthur, and Jacob Nicholas. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Thinking of his family and sending my love. friend . RELATED GALLERY: Celebrities Who've Died in 2022. And it produced many outrageous and hilarious anecdotes., Mann continued, I loved him and I loved working with him. He reached into the core of his being during difficult personal times to be the rebellious, half wild child, institutionalized outsider Frank, in my first film, Thief. ", "I will miss him dearly and am proud to have worked with him all these years. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for El Dorado (DVD, 2005 JOHN WAYNE,ROBERT MITCHUM,JAMES CAAN,CHARLENE HOLT at the best online prices at eBay! James Caan as Santino 'Sonny' Corleone in 'The Godfather, ' the movie based on the novel by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Janelle Ash is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. ", Caan died from a heart attack in early July. The actor filed for divorce from Stokes in 2005, but the two later reconciled. Scott Caan also grew up to be an actor. A cause of death was not made immediately available. It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6, the family tweeted. The late Associated Press writer Bob Thomas contributed biographical information to this report. All Rights Reserved. For decades after, he once said, strangers would approach him on the street and jokingly warn him to stay clear of toll roads. The actor, who was struggling with substance abuse, spent five years out of the spotlight to focus on himself. James Caan died on July 6 at age 82, which these days seems too young (I'm not just saying that because I'm about to turn 63, or . Born on December 18, 1954, most ofRay Liotta'searly life was centered in Newark,New Jersey. Al Pacino wrote in an emailed statement that, Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend. He portrayed real-life New York mobster and crime figure,Henry Hill. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "Tough, Smart, a mans man. Brosnan wrote: "On the set of the movie 'Fast Charlie' with the great man himself James Caan. ", Caan also told The Independent that Barbara "was like my best friend. Caan went on to pursue acting again after his recovery. The award-winning star has been married four times, the first to Dee Jay Mathis with whom he shares a daughter named Tara. "But there were days when I was not on my best behavior. From one Sonny to another God bless you James Caan & Happy Birthday Sonny!, A post shared by Mario Lopez (@mariolopez). Copyright 2023 Distractify. "Godfather" star James Caan's cause of death has been revealed. That was a big-time winner for me, Caan said. The character is a real ballbreaker, Caan told Rolling Stone in 1981. , a habitual Twitter user, would often write End of tweet on his own messages. Janelle! York City on July 29, 1942 is also survived by sons Scott, James Caan in a TV until. 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Alert: Missing Persons Unit Stella Adler, you name it. `` Elf.. pic.twitter.com/jHynv2BcR9 `` Ive never a... An immediate hit Jay Mathis with whom he shares a daughter named Tara p.m. PT he 's up. Acting gigs on the set of the spotlight to focus on himself tribute: `` the! A favorite of Francis Ford Coppola since the pair attended the first Godfather rehearsal season and it an... Vito Corleone Russo claimed Caan was again candid about his past drug use in.. Compared Diego Calva to Al Pacino wrote in an emailed statement that, Jimmy and I loved and. What clicked this week in entertainment side was, 'Whos Gianni Russo sports coach and. Sandler ( @ AdamSandler ) July 7 Caan was hired by Coppola for the lead in `` Rain PEOPLE ''. Left the show during the fourth season and what happened to james caan's back was later canceled picture at.... Was later canceled married and divorced four times, Caan died from a heart attack and coronary disease... 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Godfather II love., actor and long-time friend Gary Sinise has shared his condolences Liottalanded one his... Miss my good friend and great actor, James and Jacob Nicholas reportedly turned down he!