Wednesday, July 6, the world lost another golden star of the silver screen. Legendary actor James Caan breathed his last at the age of 82. His death was announced via his official Twitter account by family members. There has been a flood of condolences and recollections of fond memories posted by Caan’s friends, co-stars, and colleagues.
Per USA Today, fellow legend Al Pacino, Caan’s co-star in “The Godfather,” referred to his “onscreen brother and friend for a lifetime” warmly as “Jimmy.” He further eulogized him as “a great actor and daring, so full of life.” Barbara Streisand, who shared the screen with Caan in “Funny Lady,” remembers him for his “great talent.” And Adam Sandler offered some incredible memories as he Tweeted how much he had loved Caan and could “never stop laughing” around him.
James Caan was born in the Bronx as the son of German-Jewish immigrants. He rose from humble beginnings to embark on an acting career that lasted nearly half a century. One of his most famous parts was that of Sonny Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece, “The Godfather.” He received the Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for best supporting actor in 1972 for this role.
Before “The Godfather,” Caan portrayed the football hero Brian Piccolo in “Brian’s Song.” Co-starring Billy Dee Williams, this 1971 tearjerker tells the story of the Chicago Bears player who died at just 26 years of age. The film is also notable for portraying the first interracial roommates in the National Football League.
In 1990, Caan starred in Rob Reiner’s adaptation of Stephen King’s “Misery.” The electrifying film has become a classic, with Caan’s co-star Kathy Bates winning an Oscar for her role as his character’s captor.
A legend in every sense of the word, James Caan will be dearly missed by cinema lovers and his millions of fans across the world.