James Caan, the actor best known for his role as Sonny Corleone in the first two Godfather films, has died at age 82, according to a statement posted on his official Twitter account Thursday.
"It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6," the statement said. No cause was given.
"The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time."
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6.<br><br>The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.<br><br>End of tweet
—@James_Caan
The statement concluded with "End of tweet," a flourish that Caan often used to finish his tweets.
"Jimmy was one of the greatest. Not only was he one of the best actors our business has ever seen, he was funny, loyal, caring and beloved," said Caan's manager Matt DelPiano on Wednesday. "Our relationship was always friendship before business. I will miss him dearly and am proud to have worked with him all these years."
Godfather role brought fame, Oscar nod
Caan was born in The Bronx, N.Y. in 1940.
A football player at Michigan State University and a practical joker on sets, Caan was a grinning, handsome performer with an athlete's swagger and muscular build. He managed a long career despite drug problems, outbursts of temper and minor brushes with the law.
Caan had been a favourite of Francis Ford Coppola since the 1960s, when Coppola cast him for the lead in Rain People. He was primed for a featured role in The Godfather as Sonny, the No. 1 enforcer and eldest son of Mafia boss Vito Corleone.
Sonny Corleone, a violent and reckless man who conducted many killings, meets his demise by being gunned down at a toll booth by rival mobsters in one of the most jarring movie scenes in history. For decades after, Caan once said, strangers would approach him on the street and jokingly warn him to stay clear of toll roads.
Despite Coppola's fears he had made a flop, The Godfather's 1972 release was an enormous critical and commercial success and brought supporting actor Oscar nominations for Caan, Robert Duvall and Al Pacino.
Caan was already a star on television, breaking through in the 1971 TV movie Brian's Song, an emotional drama about Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo, who had died of cancer the year before at age 26.
After Brian's Song and The Godfather, he was one of Hollywood's busiest actors, appearing in Hide in Plain Sight (which he also directed), Funny Lady (opposite Barbra Streisand), The Killer Elite and Neil Simon's Chapter Two, among others. He also made a brief appearance in a flashback sequence in The Godfather, Part II.
Sister's death devastated star
But by the early 1980s he began to sour on films. He had begun to struggle with drug use and was devastated by the 1981 leukemia death of his sister, Barbara, who until then had been a guiding force in his career.
He returned to full-fledged stardom opposite Kathy Bates in Misery in 1990.
Once again in demand, Caan starred in For the Boys with Bette Midler in 1991 as part of a song-and-dance team entertaining U.S. soldiers during the Second World War and the Korean and Vietnam wars. The following year he played a tongue-in-cheek version of Sonny Corleone in the comedy Honeymoon in Vegas.
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 Will Ferrell's Buddy in Elf.
As news of Caan's death spread on social media, directors Rob Reiner and Scott Derrickson, as well as actor Michael McKean posted tributes on Twitter.
RIP to legendary actor, James Caan. <a href="https://t.co/dME2tY7mgi">pic.twitter.com/dME2tY7mgi</a>
—@PrimeVideo
Married and divorced four times, Caan had a daughter, Tara, and sons Scott, Alexander, James and Jacob.
James Caan, actor best known for Godfather films, dead at 82 - CBC News
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