James Caan was a longtime Hollywood star known for “The Godfather,” “Brian’s Song,” and “Misery.”
- Died: Wednesday, July 6, 2022. (Who else died on July 6?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 82.
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Hollywood legend
James Caan started out acting in off-Broadway plays and then moved on to Broadway, making his debut in “Blood, Sweat, and Stanley Poole, opposite Peter Fonda. From there came guest appearances on TV series such as “Ben Casey” and “Dr. Kildare.” He gained his first starring role in the auto racing drama “Red Line 7000” in 1965 but his career went to the A level in the 1970s. In 1971, he played the real life terminally ill NFL player Brian Piccolo in the TV-Movie “Brian’s Song,” in which Billy Dee Williams played his friend Gale Sayers.
The following year he played what might be his signature role, Sonny Corleone, the hot-tempered son of a mafia don in the classic Francis Ford Coppola film “The Godfather.” Many starring roles in films followed including “The Gambler,” “Thief,” “Misery,” ” “Funny Lady,” “Honeymoon in Vegas” and “Chapter Two.” A younger generation may know him best from a major role in the holiday classic “Elf.” Caan also starred on television, playing a casino boss on the NBC series “Las Vegas” in the 2000s. His son Scott Caan is an actor who recently starred in the TV reboot of “Hawaii Five-O.”
Notable Quote
“They called me a wiseguy. I won Italian of the Year twice in New York, and I’m not Italian.… I was denied in a country club once. Oh, yeah, the guy sat in front of the board, and he says, ‘No, no, he’s a wiseguy, been downtown. He’s a made guy.’ I thought, What? Are you out of your mind?” “ – 2009 article in Vanity Fair by Mark Seal
Tributes to James Caan
“Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend.” “It’s hard to believe that he won’t be in the world anymore because he was so alive and daring. A great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend. I’m gonna miss him.” – Al Pacino said in a statement.
Full Obituary: Variety
