‘The Godfather’ star James Caan dies at 82
American actor James Caan who played gangster Sonny Corleone in the epic mob movie. ‘The Godfather’He has died aged 82, his family said in a statement Thursday.
The statement, posted on Caan’s official Twitter account, says the actor died Wednesday night. No cause of death or location was provided.
“The family appreciates the outpouring of love and deepest condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time,” the statement said.
It is with great sadness that we inform you of Jimmy’s passing on the night of July 6th.
The family appreciates the outpouring of love and sincere condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.
end of tweet
—James Caan (@James_Caan) July 7, 2022
Caan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the temperamental Corleone in 1972. ‘The Godfather’. She reprized the role in flashbacks in ‘The Godfather: Part II’ in 1974. Other nominations included four Golden Globes and an Emmy.
Al Pacino, who played Sonny Corleone’s brother Michael in ‘The Godfather’He praised Caan as “a great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend.”
“It is hard to believe that he will no longer be in the world because he was so alive and daring,” Pacino said in a statement.
Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Caan in ‘The Godfather’ and 1969 movie ‘The Rain People’He said Caan’s films “and the great roles he played will never be forgotten.”
Caan’s career spanned six decades and included a wide range of other roles in psychological thrillers. ‘Misery’ to comedy ‘Elf’. Last year she starred in a romantic comedy. ‘Queen Bees’ opposite Ellen Burstyn.
James Edmund Caan was born in the Bronx borough of New York City on March 26, 1940, the son of German Jewish immigrants. Caan, one of three brothers, began acting on television in 1961. He garnered widespread acclaim for his role in the 1971 television movie ‘Brian’s Song’in which he played real-life Chicago Bears football player Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer at age 26. The role earned Caan an Emmy nomination.
Companions and friends until the end. RIP Jimmy 💔#jamescan pic.twitter.com/s7lfMzMlh3
—Billy Dee Williams (@realbdw) July 7, 2022
Billy Dee Williams, who acted with Caan in ‘Brian’s Song’He shared an undated photo of the two of them together in recent years on his Twitter account.
“Comrades and friends until the end. RIP Jimmy,” Williams tweeted with a broken heart emoji.
