James Caan, the American actor best known for his role as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, has died at the age of 82. Although the cause of death of actor James Caan has not been determined, he had a long history of health issues. The message from James Caan’s official Twitter account states, ‘It’s with deep regret that I confirm that James Caan has died.’ “Please accept our heartfelt condolences following Jimmy’s demise on July 6. In light of the outpouring of love and sincere sympathies, the family would appreciate it if you could keep your distance from them during this terrible time.”
For his role in The Godfather, Caan was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He resumed the character of Sonny Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974) and appeared in a brief cameo at the conclusion. Caan was a well-known actor of his period, well-known for his portrayals of difficult and fascinating characters in films.
He can also portray a range of parts, such as the author Paul Sheldon in the 1990 horror picture Misery, where he was kept hostage by Kathy Bates’ nurse Annie Wilkes. Caan was appreciated by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978 for his work as an actor. In 1965, the actor had a featured part in Red Line 7000, a motor racing thriller directed by Howard Hawks, in which he appeared in a number of supporting roles. El Dorado, starring John Wayne & Robert Mitchum in 1966, was the next film in which he appeared.
The Bronx-raised actor has appeared in a broad range of films, including Thief (1981), Brian’s Song (1971), Rollerball (1975), The Killer Elite (1975), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Hide in Plain Sight (1980), Funny Lady (1975), Elf (2003), and The Good Neighbor (2016), to mention a few. With Ellen Burstyn, Ann-Margret, and Christopher Lloyd, he recently starred in Queen Bees.
One of Caan’s children, Scott Caan, went on to have a successful acting career of his own, appearing in films such as Hawaii Five-0, Boiler Room, Varsity Blues, and Ocean’s Eleven as well as his father’s. The Caan family is in our thoughts and prayers at this terrible time.