[29] It was not a financial success. [105] He was one of many stars in New York, I Love You (2008)[106] and had a support role in Middle Men (2009). Hollywoods iconic leading man James Caan, who rose to fame in the 1970s with his role as Sonny Corleone inThe Godfather, died Wednesday at age 82. The news was released by his Twitter account on Thursday. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 2. As of 2010[update] Caan was the chairman of an Internet company, Openfilm, intended to help up-and-coming filmmakers. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. ", CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER, The actor was born in the Bronx and later made his on-screen debut in 1963 with "Irma la Douce. No cause of death was revealed. When asked about the situation, he often comments that he fell in love with acting and is happy to be part of the entertainment industry. We've received your submission. Caan married and divorced several times, got into on-set arguments and publicly struggled with substance abuse and depression. "They all said, 'His pictures never make money'. A cause of death was not made immediately available. In a 1994 interview with Vanity Fair, Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss claimed to be in a relationship with Caan during his marriage to Hajek in 1992, visiting him on the set of Flesh and Bone in Texas. Caan grew up in Sunnyside, Queens, New York, and Long Island City, with his brother, Ronald, who became a producer, and his sister, Barbara. Caan also became famous for the roles he turned down, including One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Apocalypse Now and Kramer Vs Kramer. Other popular nominations include Four Golden Globe Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards and Academy of Science fiction awards. He said it "was a film I really wanted to do, really wanted to be involved with. Mississippi, in support of John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. 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. The actors rep told The Hollywood Reporter that Caan died Wednesday night at 82, confirming a Twitter post from his family. Date Of Birth/Birthday:
"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. On July 6, 2022, beloved actor James Caan died at the age 82, according to an official statement released via Twitter. "[38] "No one would put me in a movie", he later recalled. The actors rep told The Hollywood Reporter that Caan died Wednesday night at 82, confirming a Twitter post from his family. James is alive and kicking and is currently 82 years old. James story serves as a source of encouragement to multiple people to strive and achieve their dreams. [24], Caan's first substantial film role was as a punk hoodlum who gets his eyes poked out in the 1964 thriller Lady in a Cage, which starred Olivia de Havilland, who praised Caan's performance. He was 82. A great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend. He also reprised his role as Sonny in a flashback scene in "The Godfather II.". Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In 2014, Caan appeared in the dramatic comedy Preggoland, playing a father who is disappointed with his daughter's lack of ambition, but who becomes overjoyed when she (falsely) announces that she is pregnant. His films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten. When it comes to the entertainment industry, some names are impossible not to mention. Career. [95], Caan was in The Yards (2000) with Mark Wahlberg and director James Gray, Luckytown (2000) with Kirsten Dunst, and The Way of the Gun (2000) for Christopher McQuarrie. Though Caan also then said he wasnt into reflection, which is why he never wrote an autobiography. [117] Their son, Scott Caan, also an actor, was born August 23, 1976. "I don't know what it is, but, boy, when you're down, they like to stomp on you", he said. according to a post on his official Twitter account. [118] Caan said his relationship with Fleiss was platonic. [61] He also liked his performances in The Rain People and Thief. [30] He then had the starring role in Robert Altman's second feature film, Countdown (1967)[31] and was second billed in the Curtis Harrington thriller Games (1967). / CBS News. Actor James Caan has died at 82 Caan's memorable screen appearances included Brian's Song, The Godfather, Misery and Elf. Actor who played Sonny Corleone in the groundbreaking 1972 epic engineered a comeback after his career went off the rails in the early 1980s. [120], In 1994, Caan was arrested and released after being accused by a Los Angeles rap artist of pulling a gun on him. Age/How Old:
Caan died on July 6, 2022, at the age of 82. 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. He was so talented., In a statement, Pacino shared: Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. Caan was famously known as Walter from the 2003 movie Elf starring Will Ferrell. Brooklyn, New York, U.S. He said that he originally said no to Will Ferrell's request to be in the movie but eventually changed his mind. ", He's most known for his work in "The Godfather," "Thief," "Misery" and "Rollerball.". WebCaan was born on March 26, 1939, in the Bronx, New York, the son of Arthur and Sophie Caan. "Team Mates and friends till the end. Legal Statement. I was on an extremely destructive kick. The following year, James was under the authorities governance after the accusation of pulling a gun on a Los Angeles, rap artist. [93] He was also in This Is My Father (1998). Caan eventually landed the role of a lifetime: Sonny Corleone in the 1972 Francis Ford Coppola film "The Godfather." It was a period of time when I said, 'I'm not going to work again. He was 82. WebJames Edmund Caan ( / kn / KAHN; March 26, 1940 July 6, 2022) was an American actor. "[123], Caan supported Donald Trump during the 2016 United States presidential election. [72], Caan was a gangster in the comedy Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)[86] and played Coach Winters in The Program (1993). They didn't want anything or anybody to distract from their directorial prowess. Caan was born in 1940 in the Bronx, New York City, the son of a kosher butcher. James Caan: the hard-working star who mixed the rough with the smooth, James Caan: some of The Godfather star's most memorable scenes video, Caan said he was fitted with over 140 squibs. According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, Caan died from a heart attack and coronary artery disease. Hollywoods iconic leading man James Caan, who rose to fame in the 1970s with his role as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, died Wednesday at age 82. This story has been shared 167,854 times. And this role earned him numerous nominations. [102], Caan had a role in the TV movie Wisegal (2008),[103] played the President of the United States in the 2008 film Get Smart,[104] and had a part in the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009). Some of these roles include The 1965 Glory Guys movie, El Dorado, and The Rain People. Later he was cast in the El Dorado film as a supporting role to John Wayne. [35] Caan won praise for his role as a brain-damaged football player in The Rain People (1969), directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Watch him in his early movies and TV appearances, and hes simply got it: he was handsome, virile-looking, and could act (New York trained, Broadway broken). "Jimmy was one of the greatest," Del Piano said in a statement. 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). He's a made guy.' James Caan: The studio thought The Godfather was a piece of garbage, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. [83] He only received a quarter of his pre-hiatus salary, and then had to kick in tens of thousands more to the completion bond company because of Holcroft. I have more fun when I'm working, because I get to know new people, and mostly good people, you know? [84] He had a support role as Spaldoni, under much make up, in Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy. His movies were best of the best. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Their marriage was from September 1990 to March 1994. On Saturday, July 23, TMZ reported Caan's cause of death was due to a heart attack and coronary artery disease. He was only After starting in theater and television, Caan burst into Hollywood like a comet, appearing in films by some of the most renowned auteurs of the era, including Howard Hawks (El Dorado), Robert Altman (Countdown) and Francis Ford Coppola (The Rain People). 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. ", "I can't take it easy," he said. [124], On July 6, 2022, Caan died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles from a heart attack caused by coronary artery disease; he was 82. WebAn 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. He has bagged many important roles in different movies. Caan was born on March 26, 1940, in The Bronx, New York City, to Sophie (ne Falkenstein; 19152016)[3] and Arthur Caan (19091986), Jewish immigrants from Germany. He came to prominence playing Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972) a performance which earned him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. [69], In 1978, Caan directed Hide in Plain Sight, a film about a father searching for his children, who were lost in the Witness Protection Program. John Downing/Getty Images Crackle premiered The Throwaways on January 30, 2015. Born March 26, 1940 Died July 6, 2022 (82) I just gave them all the cocaine they wanted.. Misery helped turn things around. "[63], Caan was one of many stars in the war film A Bridge Too Far (1977). He came to prominence playing Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972) a performance which earned him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. Some of his classmates include Lainie Kazan and Francis Ford Coppola. Please ignore rumors and hoaxes. "I mean, the fun of being an actor is being somebody else for three months, you know? He made his 40 million dollar fortune with Countdown, The Killer Elite, Bottle Rocket. [72][73] In 1977, Caan rated several of his movies out of ten The Godfather (10), Freebie and the Bean (4), Cinderella Liberty (8), The Gambler (8), Funny Lady (9), Rollerball (8), The Killer Elite (5), Harry and Walter Go to New York (0), Slither (4), A Bridge Too Far (7), and Another Man Another Chance (10). And he later joined Michigan State University for a bachelors degree. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Actor James Caan has died at 82 Caan's memorable screen appearances included Brian's Song, The Godfather, Misery and Elf. His performance garnered him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Who was I screwing? Always wanted to be like him. Alan Arkin Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Biography, Wiki and Gunna Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Biography, Wiki and Career Cassie Randolph Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Biography, Wiki and Petey Pablo Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Biography, Wiki and Brenda Lee Net Worth 2023, Age, Height, Weight, Biography, Wiki and Scott Caan, Jacob Nicholas Caan, Tara A. Caan, James Arthur Caan, Alexander James Caan, He has been in multiple romantic relationships and has tied the knot four times, Caan often socialized with Barry Minkow who is a convicted felon, but there were no illegal faults in James Caans work, Back in the University days, he was lucky enough to study alongside celebrities such as Lainie Kazan and Francis Ford Coppola. Nick Name/Celebrated Name:
His height is 1.76 m tall, and his weight is 75 kg. An earlier version of this story said James Caan was in the film ET. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! James Dean died without a will. He came to prominence playing Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972) a performance which earned him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. Jen Juneau is a digital news writer for PEOPLE since 2016. He has done acting gigs for films as well as TV shows. Caan also anchored the movie emotionally. [100] The same year, Caan played Will Ferrell's estranged book publisher father in the enormously successful family Christmas comedy Elf, and auditioned for, and won, the role of Montecito Hotel/Casino president "Big Ed" Deline in Las Vegas. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images Caan, 82, appeared in dozens of projects since " The Godfather ," most famously 1990's " Misery ," in which he played an author held captive by a mentally disturbed super-fan. The actor is currently single, his starsign is Aries and he is now 82 years of age. His second marriage was to Sheila Marie Ryan in 1976. 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.". "The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. Its been a pretty full life, though. [40] Caan did not want to return to television and turned down the role several times,[41] but changed his mind after reading the script. James Caan, the beloved Godfather actor, was married four times. [17][125] He was buried at Eden Memorial Park Cemetery. Well, James Caans age is 82 years old as of todays date 23rd March 2023 having been born on 26 March 1940. 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. [15] In 1985 he was in a car crash. 'Godfather' actor James Caan died on Wednesday, July 7. James Caan did not complete his graduating to pursue his acting career. History writes that on September 30, 1955, James Dean's Spyder collided with a Ford sedan at an intersection in Cholame, California. Hollywoods iconic leading man James Caan, who rose to fame in the 1970s with his role as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, died Wednesday at age 82. His father was employed as a kosher meat wholesaler. Caan, 82, did not have a wife at the time of his death. Education James spent his early school days in New York City. In 1993, a young man tumbled to his death outside the apartment where Caan was sleeping. ", "Sorry about that, classic 'Get Smart' fans", "A Purveyor of Prurience in a Family-Man Guise", "Scott D. Pierce: Caan returns as an older, wiser mobster The Salt Lake Tribune", "Review: ABC's 'Back in the Game' finds James Caan in fine Dad form", "SXSW genre films "THE WAITING" and "I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER" land distribution", "Out of Blue review Carol Morley's visionary thriller", "James Caan files for divorce from wife Linda", "James Caan files for divorce from wife Linda Stokes for the third time", "James Caan Arrested, Released After Alleged Gun Incident", "James Caan, actor who played hot-tempered Sonny Corleone in 'The Godfather,' dies at 82", "James Caan believes Trump makes the US an offer it can't refuse", "James Caan's Cause of Death Revealed as a Combination of Heart Problems", "Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Duvall, and More Mourn James Caan", "James Caan's death mourned by 'Godfather' director Francis Ford Coppola, stars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Talia Shire", "Elf stars pay a sweet tribute to James Caan", "Pierce Brosnan Shares Photos of James Caan from Set of Late Actor's Final Film: 'You Were an Inspiration', "Caan appears in 'Annoying Orange' short", "Duvall and Caan in 'Godfather' video game", "The Best Jewish Cowboy: An Interview with James Caan", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Caan&oldid=1144932917, Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre alumni, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2010, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Turner Classic Movies person ID different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Filmed in 1969; also known as "Man Without Mercy", Episode: "And the Cat Jumped Over the Moon", 2 episodes "To Sire, with Love: Parts 1 and 2", Episode: "What Happens in Vegas Dies in Boston"", This page was last edited on 16 March 2023, at 10:58. 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