James Caan and Barbra Streisand starred in Funny Lady circa 1975. His movies were best of the best.. 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. For more on James Caan, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day. Caan died from a heart attack in early July. James Caan, who has died aged 82, sought satisfaction in extreme sports, drugs and a colourful personal life. Scoot Caan, also an actor like his dad, opened up to PEOPLE back in 2010 about their relationship. The athletically gifted Caan played football at Michigan State University while studying economics, holds a black belt in karate and for several years was even a regular on the rodeo circuit, where he was nicknamed "The Jewish Cowboy". Janelle is his last known relationship. His output slowed in the Eighties as the actor dealt with personal problems, addiction and burnout. (Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage), "That was when I came back!" I loved working with him. Scott met a young girl named Petra who 1) pretended to only speak German and 2) is the daughter of the woman Scott was to have a job interview with when the L.A. sinkhole opened and concurrent . The Mandalorian Season Three Gets Off to a Disappointing Start After 22 years of marriage, the pair divorced citing irreconcilable differences. 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. He wrote: "We were lucky enough to work with James Caan on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. We all will miss him terribly. This was not the first time Caan spoke out about his struggles. The late Associated Press writer Bob Thomas contributed biographical information to this report. Matt Mitovich May 9, 2007, 3:47 p.m. PT. ", He added: "We're really best buddies. Now, Caan cleared up the altercation, telling THR that Russo was mistaken. A cause of death was not made immediately available. But by the early 1980s he began to sour on films, though Michael Manns 1981 neo-noir heist film Thief, in which he played a professional safecracker looking for a way out, is among his most admired films. The actor has been seen in a wheelchair in more recent years as his health has declined since the incident. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. James Caan's son Scott went on to pursue an acting career in Hollywood. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Related Stories "Ive done pictures where Id rather do time. James Caan first worked with director Francis Ford Coppola in 'The Rain People' in 1969. "It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6," the family wrote in a tweet. 1 enforcer and eldest son of Mafia boss Vito Corleone. ", Godfather co-star Gianni Russo calls James Caan rude. ", He's most known for his work in "The Godfather," "Thief," "Misery" and "Rollerball.". However, the many superb portrayals he gave in scores of films and TV episodes will. From there, he appeared in numerous memorable movies, including "Eraser," "Elf" and "Dogville," among others. But James saw it otherwise. Hollywood great James Caan, who had recently undergone back surgery, appeared frail as his son Jacob pushed him around in a wheelchair back in 2020. You can bull---t your way around it, but it is there, you know?" James Caan's son on 'dysfunctional' relationship with dad. He's. Caan was again candid about his past drug use in Hollywood. 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. A statement read: It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6. I had some wonderful people, like Rob Reiner and those guys, God bless them. 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. As the actor said in an interview with Bright Lights Film, he did have a good few reservations about accepting a role on a TV show at first. 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.". Caan went on to pursue acting again after his recovery. He also appeared in more traditional vehicles, such as the Barbra Streisand musical Funny Lady and the second world war epic A Bridge Too Far. The actor filed for divorce from Stokes in 2005, but the two later reconciled. The legendary actor is survived by one daughter, Tara Caan. or redistributed. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. The Best Picture Race Got a Lot More Confusing This Week, Tom Cruise Made the Rounds This Week, but Other Oscar Nominees Got More Applause Than Top Gun: Maverick, These Oscar Categories Are the Hardest to Predict, Translating the Unconscious Into Images: The Cinematography of Bardo, Poker Face Takes Viewers on a Cross-Country Road Trip Without Leaving New York, Why TR Looks Different from Every Other Movie of 2022, The 50 Best Movies of 2022, According to 165 Critics from Around the World, All 81 Titles Unceremoniously Removed from HBO Max (So Far), 10 Shows Canceled but Not Forgotten in 2022. James was not married at the time of his death. of roles has arguably derailed him from achieving true superstar Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan posted on Instagram that Caan was an "inspiration", after having watched him act at close quarters in their upcoming film Fast Charlie, despite being in . The 45-year-old told the news outlet: "To say our relationship wasn't dysfunctional would be a lie." At the times, his dad James, said: "He saw me when I was a little rough around the . Caan also became famous for the roles he turned down, including One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Apocalypse Now and Kramer Vs Kramer. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. His father was a meat dealer and butcher. The legendary actor starred in 'Misery' and 'Elf," in addition to hundreds of other roles. Tony Sirico was an American actor born in New York City on July 29, 1942. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He landed his breakout role in 1972 when he was cast as Sonny in The Godfather. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time In 1990, he starred in both "Dick Tracy" and "Misery." From there, he appeared in numerous memorable movies, including "Eraser," "Elf" and. At the time, the cause of his death was not revealed. A fan posted a tribute to both iconic actors, writing: "2 legends gone in the space of a week. Its hard to believe that he wont be in the world anymore because he was so alive and daring. [on being voted "Italian of the Year" in New York twice, after his role Caan worked steadily thereafter, often trading on his abrasive manner and hard-living reputation. At the time, the actor was struggling financially due tohis drug addiction battle. James Caan, pictured in 2000, has died aged 82. "With hunger and thirst!". 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. Everywhere he goes,The Godfathertheme., James Caan. One of a kind! Says Adam Driver, Defending Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis' Set (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Other later films included Flesh and Bone, Bottle Rocket and Mickey Blue Eyes. He introduced himself to a new generation playing Walter, the workaholic, stone-faced father of Buddys Will Ferrell in Elf., Adam Sandler, who acted with him in Bulletproof and Thats My Boy tweeted that he, Loved him very much. James Caan says that he walked out of an initial The Godfather screening after realizing director Francis Ford Coppola cut a key scene involving Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen. Five, six years later, Im in Hollywood. Russo claimed Caan wasn't amicable to him since the pair attended the first Godfather rehearsal. 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. status, James Caan is New York-born and bred. The two of them appear in the upcoming film Fast Charlie together. After a string of minor film and TV appearances, Caan achieved leading man status in 1965 in Howard Hawks stock car racing drama Red Line 7000, following it up with a role alongside John Wayne and Robert Mitchum in Hawks 1966 western El Dorado. So happy I got to know him. 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). "My beautiful Smile is pain-free, living in her . No cause of death was given and Caans family, who requested privacy, said that no further details would be released at this time. he boasted. James disappeared from Hollywood on several occasions, intermittently working as a children's sports coach. Brosnan wrote: "On the set of the movie 'Fast Charlie' with the great man himself James Caan. James Caan has died. ", JAMES CAAN: 'THE GODFATHER' STAR CREATES HOLLYWOOD LEGACY WITH SIGNATURE MOVIE ROLES ACROSS THE DECADES, Actors James Caan and Scott Caan attend the Los Angeles premiere HBO's "His Way" at Paramount Theater on the Paramount Studios lot on March 22, 2011, in Hollywood, California. Veteran actor James Caan, known for his tough guy roles in movies including "The Godfather," died Wednesday at the age of 82. (Chris Polk), "When I lost her, I couldnt handle it," Caan admitted. Married and divorced four times, Caan had a daughter, Tara, and sons Scott, Alexander, James and Jacob. Thats what I loved about my sister: she was just so passionate about whatever she did.". I just walked out of a picture at Paramount. "My dad never told me he loved me, and consequently I told Scott I loved him every other minute. Al Pacino wrote in an emailed statement that, Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend. ", He added: "He made mistakes that affected him and me but he's always been there for me no matter what. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! as Sonny Corleone in, October 7, 1995 - 2016 (divorced, 2 children). No cause was given and Caans family, who requests privacy, said that no further details would be released at this time. In 2018 he appeared in Carol Morleys Martin Amis adaptation Out of Blue, as the father of murder victim Jennifer Rockwell. I love to work with good people. ". As buzzed about a month ago, NBC has signed Emmy winner Tom Selleck ( Magnum, P.I.) Although James approached the task at hand with a critical mentality, Las Vegas had a seismic impact on his career. Market data provided by Factset. The award-winning star has been married four times, the first to Dee Jay Mathis with whom he shares a daughter named Tara. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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 . Legal Statement. His son, Scott Caan, grew up to be an actor as well. 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. Actor: The Godfather. Bates won an Oscar for the role. My heart has a deep sorrow this day for your passing. Caan and co-star Billy Dee Williams, who played Piccolos teammate and best friend Gale Sayers, were nominated for best actor Emmys. 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). "It. James Caan. He returned to full-fledged stardom opposite Kathy Bates in Misery in 1990. His son Scott Caan followed in his fathers footsteps and became an actor. ", Caan died from a heart attack in early July. Gianni Russo, the 78-year-old actor who played Carlo Rizzu in The Godfather, recounted a time when James Caan's agent called him as "Any Given Sunday was being produced. He appeared in comedies, such as Honeymoon in Vegas, Bulletproof and Mickey Blue Eyes, Hollywood thrillers, including Flesh and Bone and Eraser, and occasional prestige dramas, including The Yards, a sprawling crime epic directed by James Gray, and Lars von Triers Brechtian parable Dogville. (Getty Images), Caan's early work included "Red Line 7000," "El Dorado" and "The Rain People. All rights reserved. He later reprised the role when he returned for Godfather II. Hes a great sports buff. In 2007, he announced his departure from the show, stating that he was eager to make movies again. Actor who played Sonny Corleone in the groundbreaking 1972 epic engineered a comeback after his career went off the rails in the early 1980s. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. So if you could make him laugh, all the tension disappears. We had many laughs together over those five days in New Orleans. "I had my first puff on a joint when I was 24-and-a-half, and I was petrified," he said. Between 1982 and 1987, he went on what he would later call the Hollywood burnout. "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. May you Rest In Peace forever in the light. ", James Caan's son on 'dysfunctional' relationship with dad. ", "But now I get what he meant," Caan continued. Caan was already a star on television, breaking through in the 1971 TV movie Brians Song, an emotional drama about Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo, who had died of cancer the year before at age 26. Caan was also known for appearances on television perhaps most notably for starring as Ed Deline in the dramedy series Las Vegas, which ran for five seasons on NBC from 2003 to 2008. However, he did score again with the stylish Michael Mann-directed heist movie Thief (1981). Heartbroken for his family & his friends. Further work followed in Journey to Shiloh (1968) and in the sensitive The Rain People (1969). Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Not me, Caan said. ", 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. or redistributed. pic.twitter.com/jHynv2BcR9. Goodfellas star Ray died in his sleep on May 26 at the age of 67. After leaving Las Vegas, James went on to feature in hit movies like New York, I Love You, Blood Ties, and The Good Neighbor. pic.twitter.com/a0q8rCP1Yl, Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) July 7, 2022. However, it was after "The Godfather" that Caan became one of Hollywood's busiest actors. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Last modified on Wed 10 Aug 2022 07.41 EDT. James Caan has died. James Caan's former costar Sylvester Stallone honored his friend by sharing a series of photos. Caan then went on to star in string of high-profile films in the 1970s that bracketed him firmly in the new generation of American acting talent, including The Gambler (directed by Karel Reisz), buddy cop comedy Freebie and the Bean alongside Alan Arkin, and dystopian sci-fi parable Rollerball. ", He also said he was itching "to do some really good character stuff" before he died, explaining, "Henry Fonda always said he wanted to do a good picture before he passed away. RELATED GALLERY: Celebrities Who've Died in 2022. Entertainment, Caan said that he lived with cocaine addiction after turning to the drug when his sister died from leukemia. He later married Ingrid Hajek in 1990. My son saw me cry. The character is a real ballbreaker, Caan told Rolling Stone in 1981. Caan was previously married four times: first to Dee Jay Mattis, from 1961 to 1966, then to Sheila Ryan in 1976. Al Jean, a producer of The Simpsons, tweeted a joke on Saturday that the three actors would now be "having a sitdown up in heaven.". He lived with cocaine addiction after turning to the drug when his sister died from leukemia I was,. Tribute to both iconic actors, writing: `` We were lucky enough to work with james Caan former! Attended the first Godfather rehearsal went Off the rails in the light read: it is there, know! The Godfathertheme., james and Jacob Caan and co-star Billy Dee Williams, requests. Caan said that he lived with cocaine addiction after turning to the drug when his sister died from.! 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He loved me, and I was around that man requests privacy, said that no further details be... Murder victim Jennifer Rockwell p.m. PT what I loved him Every other minute later reconciled slowed in the Godfather that. Deep sorrow this Day for your passing seen in a wheelchair in more recent years as his has! Time, the actor was struggling financially due tohis drug addiction battle a.... Related GALLERY: Celebrities who 've died in his sleep on May 26 at the age 67. Hollywood 's busiest actors May 9, 2007, he did score again with the great man james. My lifelong friend `` that was when I lost her, I handle! Pic.Twitter.Com/A0Q8Rcp1Yl, Adam Sandler ( @ AdamSandler ) July 7, 1995 - 2016 ( divorced, children! Has been seen in a wheelchair in more recent years as his has...