James Caan, who starred in Godfather, Misery and Elf, dies aged 82
Hollywood actor James Caan, who played gangster Santino “Sonny” Corleone in the Oscar-winning film The Godfather, has died at the age of 82.
Warning: This article contains graphic film trailers that may irritate some readers.
His family said in a statement posted on Twitter that he had died on Wednesday night.
“The family appreciates the sincere outpouring of love and condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time,” said the statement, which was posted on Caan’s official Twitter account.
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Caan’s manager, Matt DelPiano, confirmed the news.
“Jimmy is one of the greatest. Not only is he one of the best actors our business has ever seen, he’s also funny, loyal, caring and lovable,” DelPiano wrote.
“Our relationship has always been friendship before business. I will miss him very much and am proud to have worked with him over the years.”
While Caan had previous roles that saw his star rise, it was his portrayal of ruthless gangster son Don Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, that would become synonymous with him most.
Having previously acted in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1969 film The Rain People, Caan played Sonny in the 1972 screen adaptation of Ford Coppola’s Mario Puzo novel The Godfather.
Caan’s role in the film is remembered for several scenes but the most notable is perhaps the one in which he mercilessly beats his brother-in-law Carlo in a street scene, and the scene of Sonny’s death, where he is covered with bullets at the toll booth.
His performance in the classic, which won Best Picture at the 1972 Academy Awards, saw him opposite Brando, Al Pacino (Michael Corleone) and Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen).
All were nominated for Oscars, but only Brando won, taking Best Actor.
The other three missed out on the Best Supporting Actor Award, which was won by Joel Gray for his performance in Cabaret.
Famous for his party lifestyle, Caan quit his acting career abruptly in the early 80s before returning to the spotlight late in the decade.
In the 90s, Caan made a comeback, starring in For the Boys (1991), playing another gangster in Honeymoon in Vegas (1992) and working alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Eraser (1996).
In Elf (2003), a popular Christmas film starring Will Ferrell, Caan played Ferrell’s fictional father.
Director Jon Favreau later praised the relationship between Ferrell and Caan as an integral part of the film’s success.
Caan has never stopped making films, with one of his last roles being in a post-production film for 2023.
Married four times, he last filed for divorce in 2017.
Caan has 5 children, one of whom is also pursuing an acting career. Scott Caan starred in Hawaii Five-0, Entourage and Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen.
Celebrities pay homage to ‘legend’
Awards from celebrities started pouring in, including Misery director Rob Reiner, who wrote that he “loves working” with the charismatic actor.
“So sorry to hear the news. I enjoyed working with him. And the only Jew I know who can play strings with the best of them. Love for family.”
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Friend and fellow actor Gary Sinise expressed his sadness at the news, writing on social media that he was “heartbroken for his family and friends” and that “it was great to know him and call him a best friend.”
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Actor Cary Elwes offers his condolences to the Caan family.
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Caan starred in the hit animated film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in 2009 and its sequel in 2013.
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ABC/Reuters
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