Photo: Matt Carr/Getty. The late Associated Press writer Bob Thomas contributed biographical information to this report. James Caan's son on 'dysfunctional' relationship with dad. Heartbroken for his family & his friends. 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. [on being voted "Italian of the Year" in New York twice, after his role All rights reserved. When the series debuted, he was a casino surveillance chief dealing with cheaters and competitors of the fictional Montecito Resort and Casino. There was an incident where his team's weakest player hit a home run that won a game. After the death of his sister, Barbara in 1981 fromleukemia,Caanfell into a deep depression thatplagued himfor most of his life. 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. It might be variable, the corners could be rounded with urban irony, but there was a line and it was non-fungible. He was born in the Bronx, to Sophie (Falkenstein) and Arthur Caan, Jewish immigrants from Germany. (CBS via Getty Images), "I had great, great times as a Little League coach," he told Esquire. Caan worked steadily thereafter, often trading on his abrasive manner and hard-living reputation. We kept him laughing, and he kept us laughing.. You can bull---t your way around it, but it is there, you know?" After finding fame as a tough guy in Hollywood, James Caan decided it was time for a break. The following contains spoilers from the Season 1 finale of Fox's Alert: Missing Persons Unit. the actor explained why he hesitated to join the cast of Las Vegas. I wouldnt give Jimmy Caan a part in anything. He was so rude to me.". 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. 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. The legendary actor starred in 'Misery' and 'Elf," in addition to hundreds of other roles. 1 enforcer and eldest son of Mafia boss Vito Corleone. 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. Las Vegas provided him with an exceptional opportunity to experience an aspect of film production he was more or less unacquainted with before. Between 1982 and 1987, he went on what he would later call the Hollywood burnout. All Rights reserved. 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. 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. James acted for decades in numerous blockbuster movies, including Misery, Dick Tracy and most endearingly, Elf.. (FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives). He wrote: "We were lucky enough to work with James Caan on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. 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. As Caan told Rolling Stone, Coppola later wanted to cast him as the lead in Apocalypse Now (ultimately played by Martin Sheen), but he and the director couldnt agree on a fee. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Francis Ford Coppola, James Caan, The Godfather. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. James Caan's son on 'dysfunctional' relationship with dad. "I really want to work. In 2007, he announced his departure from the show, stating that he was eager to make movies again. 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. There was a core of values within him about how people should be, more or less. No cause of death was provided. His output slowed in the Eighties as the actor dealt with personal problems, addiction and burnout. He was never satisfied. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! 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). ", He added: "He made mistakes that affected him and me but he's always been there for me no matter what. James Caan, the American actor renowned for his role as Sonny Corleone in the mafia epic The Godfather, as well as a string of . According to Yahoo! Jimmy got a little aggressive, Russo said back in 2017. James Caan, pictured in 2000, has died aged 82. James disappeared from Hollywood on several occasions, intermittently working as a children's sports coach. Born on December 18, 1954, most ofRay Liotta'searly life was centered in Newark,New Jersey. ", 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. 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. The siblings lived close to each other as Barbara even ran his production company. Unique. Losing Ray Liotta and James Caan within months of each other just tells me God is up there making one helluva a mobster movie. Caan originally auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone that eventually went to Al Pacino, and was favoured by the studio executives, but after Coppola insisted on Pacino, Caan was given another plum role, Corleones older brother Sonny. Fox News' Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report. The actor has been seen in a wheelchair in more recent years as his health has declined since the incident. His movies were best of the best. A stage veteran before heading to Hollywood, the Bronx-born actor was next cast in 1969s The Rain People directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who he would soon collaborate with again and the lead role in the 1970 adaptation of John Updikes Run, Rabbit. His manager Matt DelPiano said he died Wednesday. Sonny Corleone, a violent and reckless man who conducted many killings, met his own end in one of the most jarring movie scenes in history. Before he can escape he is cut down by a seemingly endless fusillade of machine-gun fire. The character and the man like his Sonny in The Godfather were made for each other. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 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. He later reprised the role when he returned for Godfather II. 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). ", "I will miss him dearly and am proud to have worked with him all these years. So happy I got to know him. The actor's manager shared the news of his demise a day after his passing via the late star's Twitter. The 45-year-old told the news outlet: "To say our relationship wasn't dysfunctional would be a lie. 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, as well as Robert Duvall and Al Pacino. All Rights Reserved. ", "Ive never missed a days work in my life, even through all the st," he remarked. 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. Scoot Caan, also an actor like his dad, opened up to PEOPLE back in 2010 about their relationship. ", At the times, his dad James, said: "He saw me when I was a little rough around the edges. Robert Duvall, James Caan, The Godfather. 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. It was among the most popular and wrenching TV movies in history. Trending He was 82. Caan died Wednesday night in Los Angeles, his rep Arnold Robinson told The Hollywood Reporter, confirming a post on the actor's Twitter account. James Caan, the Hollywood icon who portrayed Sonny Corleone in The Godfather and starred in films like Brians Song, Thief, and Misery, has died at the age of 82. Whenever wed go into an Italian restaurant, theyd put onThe Godfathersoundtrack. James was not married at the time of his death. His movies were best of the best. Further work followed in Journey to Shiloh (1968) and in the sensitive The Rain People (1969). He hit me right in the head with that, and then he throws me over the railing and hes biting my hands when I crawl out, he literally lifted me up with his kick none of that was supposed to happen., Related James Caan, who has died aged 82, sought satisfaction in extreme sports, drugs and a colourful personal life. 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. All rights reserved. Caan's family announced his passing on his Twitter account. Besides being a talented instinctive actor, he was the only Jew I knew who could rope a calf with the best of them. Market data provided by Factset. 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.. I said you havent got enough money to make me go to work every day with a director I dont like.". 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 . Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. 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. Francis Ford Coppola, James longtime friend and director in The Rain People andThe Godfather, shared an emotional statement about the late actor. But James saw it otherwise. "Then I felt there was this stigma to doing a TV series. The creators obliged, and Ed Deline's character was born. And everything you saw in there is something that Paul and I created the day before.. Its hard to believe that he wont be in the world any more because he was so alive and daring. An earlier version mistakenly listed Things to Do in Denver When Youre Dead among Caans film credits. He returned to full-fledged stardom opposite Kathy Bates in Misery in 1990. Jimmy was not just a great actor with total commitment and a venturesome spirit, but he had a vitality in the core of his being that drove everything from his art and friendship to athletics and very good times. "I've had a wonderful four years, worked with great people and made friends for life working on Las Vegas, but I'm eager to return to where my heart is, which is film, and due to the show's schedule, I missed some great opportunities to do that," James explained in a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter. And I didnt have to wait six months for them to put music to it.". He was 82 years old. "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. Now, Caan cleared up the altercation, telling THR that Russo was mistaken. My heart has a deep sorrow this day for your passing. Alec also said that Jimmy taught him how to swear. End of tweet. (Caan, a habitual Twitter user, would often write End of tweet on his own messages.) FILE - James Caan attends the 2016 Summer TCA "Hallmark Event" on July 27, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Caan, whose roles included "The Godfather," "Brians Song" and "Misery," died Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at age 82. He was in the Dominican Republic shooting for an upcoming film titled Dangerous Waters. "If you know any directors, tell 'em I'm ready," he added. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He starred as a self-destructive gambling addict in the 1974s now-cut classic The Gambler, the foil to Barbra Streisands Fanny Brice in the Funny Girl sequel Funny Lady and as a superstar athlete-turned-revolutionary in the 1974 sci-fi sports film Rollerball. Instead of a passive, relatively one-sided character, he wanted to play someone able to walk around the casino and engage in small talk with its most eccentric customers. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. He brought a pathos and authenticity to the role of Tim Lockwood that held the film together. So happy I got to know him. "There was a scene before in the same room that I had with Bobby [Duvall] that was like 10 pages long and Francis [Ford Coppola] cut all of it out!" Caan played . ". Caan was originally cast in Al Pacinos role in the mob classic, but he soon took over as Santino Sonny Corleone, the hair-trigged eldest son of a mob family. 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. Russo claimed in 2017 that a physical altercation between their characters became elevated after Caan allegedly took out real-life frustrations. 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.