Godfather Star and Acting Icon James Caan Dead At 82

We’ve lost another Hollywood legend. James Caan, known for his roles in The Godfather, Misery, and Brian’s Song, passed away at age 82. In a career that spanned nearly six decades, Caan was a reliable leading man and supporting actor with a range that matched his classic good looks.

James Caan’s Life And Career

A frequent collaborator with Francis Ford Coppola, Caan was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as ne’er-do-well gangster Sonny Correlon in The Godfather.

Born and raised in New York City, Caan was the son of Jewish immigrants from Germany. Caan was a standout athlete who played football for two years at Michigan State before transferring to Hofstra University, where he met Coppola. 

After starring in a string of films, including the hit El Dorado, Caan hit gold with the starring role in the Television film Brian’s Song. The part made Caan a household name and led to other leading man roles. Caan was reportedly so convincing in the role that for years people assumed he was a real-life mafioso:

“They called me a wiseguy. I won Italian of the Year twice in New York, and I’m Jewish, 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?””

Throughout the 70s and 80s, Caan frequently worked in a mix of dramatic and action roles. In the 90s and 00s, his most prominent roles were as a bedridden and tortured author in Misery, a college football coach in The Program, and the father of Buddy the Elf in Elf.

In addition to acting, Caan was a 6th-degree blackbelt in karate.

Internet Reacts To James Caan’s Death

Right now, the James Caan’s cause of death is unknown, but there’s been an outpouring of support from fans.

In addition, Caan reached a newer audience with bizarre Twitter posts that appeared to be dictated to another person verbatim. 

Share your James Caan memories in the comment section below. 

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