According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, Caan died from a heart attack and coronary artery disease. 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. He also made a brief appearance in a flashback sequence in The Godfather, Part II.. Really good always in some, you know, some things theres a couple of people you meet, and theres a lot I have a lot of laughs and I get respect, too, sometimes.. Caan received Golden Globe Award nominations for his performances in the drama The Gambler (1974), and the musical Funny Lady (1975). Thinking of his family and sending my love., James Caan. I loved him, gonna miss him. Robert De Niro also wrote that he was, very very sad to hear about Jimmys passing.. The following contains spoilers from the Season 1 finale of Fox's Alert: Missing Persons Unit. 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. 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. Born March 26, 1939, in New York City, Caan was the son of a kosher meat wholesaler. 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. 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, 'GODFATHER' STAR, DEAD AT 82, FAMILY SAYS, James Caan and Barbra Streisand starred in Funny Lady circa 1975. Offers may be subject to change without notice. ", At the times, his dad James, said: "He saw me when I was a little rough around the edges. 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. 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. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. James Caan has died. Free shipping for many products! "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. My thoughts and prayers are with his entire family during this difficult time. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Francis Ford Coppola, James Caan, The Godfather. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Further work followed in Journey to Shiloh (1968) and in the sensitive The Rain People (1969). His son Scott Caan followed in his fathers footsteps and became an actor. Always wanted to be like him. However, the many superb portrayals he gave in scores of films and TV episodes will. He followed it up with the popular Alien Nation but fully re-established himself with the Stephen King adaptation Misery, directed by Rob Reiner, in which Caan played the bedbound author subject to the attentions of obsessive nurse/fan Kathy Bates. May you Rest In Peace forever in the light. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. "My dad never told me he loved me, and consequently I told Scott I loved him every other minute. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "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. Stand-up comedian Johnny Taylor, Jr, tweeted a joke that Ray Liotta and James Caan must be up in heaven together making one helluva a mobster movie.. "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. Initial theatrical release was on March 15, 1972, by Paramount Pictures. James Caan's last divorce was a messy one, and according to his court documents, it was leaving him broke. James Caan and Barbra Streisand starred in Funny Lady circa 1975. He improvised a few things like that little billy club he threw at me when I came off the stoop. 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. Brosnan wrote: "On the set of the movie 'Fast Charlie' with the great man himself James Caan. Caan died Wednesday night in Los Angeles, his rep Arnold Robinson told The Hollywood Reporter, confirming a post on the actor's Twitter account. Russo claimed in 2017 that a physical altercation between their characters became elevated after Caan allegedly took out real-life frustrations. Caan said that this was one of the greatest moments of his life. Snubbing the King: Why Don't Big Stars Want to Perform at Charles' Coronation? When the series debuted, he was a casino surveillance chief dealing with cheaters and competitors of the fictional Montecito Resort and Casino. HEARTFELT tributes to James Caan are pouring out from fans and old friends alike following his death at the age of 82. Russo, who was help producing the drama, told theNew York Post: "He said, You know, Jimmy would be great in this movie. Loved him very much, Adam Sandler, who co-starred with Caan in the 1996 action film Bulletproof and the 2012 comedy Thats My Boy, tweeted; Sandlers character in Uncut Gems was likely informed by Caans turn in The Gambler decades earlier. The thing with Caan is, hes got a great sense of humor, director Jon Favreau told Rolling Stone in 2020. Entertainment, Caan said that he lived with cocaine addiction after turning to the drug when his sister died from leukemia. Article continues below advertisement Source: Getty James was not married at the time of his death. Losing Ray Liotta and James Caan within months of each other just tells me God is up there making one helluva a mobster movie. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! In remembrance of the legendary James Caan. But James saw it otherwise. While living inNew York,Liottalanded one of his first acting gigs on the soap opera,Another World. Caan was married four times: between 1961 and 1966 to Dee Jay Mathis, to Sheila Marie Ryan from 1975-76, to Ingrid Hajek from 1990-94, and to Linda Stokes from 1995 to 2017. 1 enforcer and eldest son of Mafia boss Vito Corleone. James Caan R.I.P: So Much More Than A "Tough Guy" Actor. The Mandalorian Season Three Gets Off to a Disappointing Start The guys nuts.. The film star received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor as well as a Golden Globe for his performance. He was 82 years old. He was 82. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! 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). According to Yahoo! 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. Before he can escape he is cut down by a seemingly endless fusillade of machine-gun fire. Tony, who played the iconic Paulie Walnuts on The Sopranos, died at the age of 79 on Friday, just one day after James' family announced his passing in a tweet on Thursday afternoon. The legendary actor starred in 'Misery' and 'Elf," in addition to hundreds of other roles. Tom is a father of twins with his ex-girlfriend Janelle McIntire. He portrayed real-life New York mobster and crime figure,Henry Hill. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Related He is most known for being the fifth actor to portray secret agent James Bond in the Bond film series. James Caan's former costar Sylvester Stallone honored his friend by sharing a series of photos. This article was amended on 8 July 2022. ", "But now I get what he meant," Caan continued. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! or redistributed. RIP to a legend", We were lucky enough to work with James Caan on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. He followed this with a supernatural romantic comedy titled Kiss Me Goodbye (1982) and then, due to personal conflicts, dropped out of the spotlight for several years before returning with a stellar performance under old friend Francis Ford Coppola in the moving Gardens of Stone (1987).Caan appeared back in favor with fans and critics alike and raised his visibility with the sci-fi hit Alien Nation (1988) and Dick Tracy (1990), then surprised everyone by playing a meek romance novelist held captive after a car accident by a deranged fan in the dynamic Misery (1990). His Legacy: Get to Know Late Actor James Caan's 5 Children John announced his wife's death on Facebook with a heartfelt post in February 2023. It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6, the family tweeted. He was primed for a featured role in "The Godfather" as Sonny, the No. He starred in four films GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day from 1995 to 2002, as well as several video games. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He later reprised the role when he returned for Godfather II. The crime film paid tribute to James Caan in a tweet, which features a photo of the late actor. We all will miss him terribly. "The fun of it was taken away," he told an interviewer in 1981. Its hard to believe that he wont be in the world any more because he was so alive and daring. Now, Caan cleared up the altercation, telling THR that Russo was mistaken. Legal Statement. No cause was given and Caans family, who requests privacy, said that no further details would be released at this time. James struggled with various mental and physical health complications over the years, including depression, severe chest pain, and back problems. 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. "Godfather" star James Caan's cause of death has been revealed. No cause of death was given and Caans family, who requested privacy, said that no further details would be released at this time. Editors picks His movies were best of the best. Why did he leave the show? 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. RELATED GALLERY: Celebrities Who've Died in 2022. We had many laughs together over those five days in New Orleans. Absolute king. The character is a real ballbreaker, Caan told Rolling Stone in 1981. "With hunger and thirst!". The film was an enormous success, Caan scored a Best Supporting Actor nomination and, in the years since, the role has proven to be the one most fondly remembered by his legion of fans. Market data provided by Factset. Despite Coppolas fears he had made a flop, the 1972 release was an enormous critical and commercial success and brought supporting actor Oscar nominations for Caan, Duvall and Pacino. Tony Sirico was an American actor born in New York City on July 29, 1942. Unique. 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. Caan had been a favorite of Francis Ford Coppola since the 1960s, when Coppola cast him for the lead in Rain People. He was primed for a featured role in The Godfather as Sonny, the No. Bates won an Oscar for the role. ", James Caan's son on 'dysfunctional' relationship with dad. ', "I said, Do you think I would hireJames Caan? Caan was nominated for an Emmy for his role, which led to his reuniting with Coppola for The Godfather. For more on James Caan, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day. "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. The first episode of the crime drama aired on Sept. 22, 2003 and it was an immediate hit. However, while studying at Hofstra University, he became intrigued by acting and was interviewed and accepted at Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse. He will always be my old friend from Sunnyside, my collaborator and one of the funniest people Ive ever known., The late actor's friend Alec Baldwin shared on Instagram that Caan's personal assistantwas "one of a handful of people who kept Jimmy alive the last five years because Jimmy's health was not great.". James Caan first worked with director Francis Ford Coppola in 'The Rain People' in 1969. ", Godfather co-star Gianni Russo calls James Caan rude. I was so pissed off, I couldnt watch the rest of the film., Caan added, But otherwise, [Coppola] gave me a great honor., Caan also dismissed the rumor that he butted heads with co-star Gianni Russo on set. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. The character and the man like his Sonny in The Godfather were made for each other. The legendary actor is survived by one daughter, Tara Caan. I loved working with him. "When Michael [Al Pacino] tells me he is going to take care of the cop and Sollozzo [Al Lettieri], I say, 'You'll get brains all over your nice Ivy League suit,' " Caan told The Hollywood Reporter in March. In 1978, he graduated with a degree in acting from the University ofMiamiand moved toNew York Cityafterward. Following a brief stage career, he moved to Hollywood. Check out what clicked this week in entertainment. James Caan as Santino 'Sonny' Corleone in 'The Godfather, ' the movie based on the novel by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. 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). He toldThe Post: "The biggest thorn in his side was, 'Whos Gianni Russo? This guy, he studied with Stella Adler, you name it. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. This was not the first time Caan spoke out about his struggles. The award-winning star has been married four times, the first to Dee Jay Mathis with whom he shares a daughter named Tara. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. His manager Matt DelPiano said he died Wednesday. Short on cash, Caan was hired by Coppola for the leading role in the 1987 film "Gardens of Stone." The legendary actor starred in 'Misery' and 'Elf," in addition to hundreds of other roles. Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines of the week, 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. Jimmy made it so funny, Duvall told THR about filming the scene where his character Vito examines Sonnys corpse. He was 82. ", Caan died from a heart attack in early July. So, what happened? 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. James career began when he played Brian Piccolo in Brians Song. ". His father was a meat dealer and butcher. Janelle Ash is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. The Oscar-nominated icon of Seventies cinema first appeared on the big screen in the mid-Sixties with roles in Howard Hawks-directed films like the auto-racing drama Red Line 7000 and the hit 1966 western El Dorado, where he starred alongside John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. : what happened to james caan's back Persons Unit about his struggles from fans and old friends alike following his death: film and episodes! In 1978, he moved to Hollywood '', we were lucky enough to work with James Caan:. 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