American actor James Caan, who was famed for his roles in The Godfather and Misery, has died at the age of 82.
A statement posted on his official Twitter account said, "It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6.
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6.
— James Caan (@James_Caan) July 7, 2022
The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.
End of tweet
"The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time."
Caan, who was born in 1940 in the Bronx, New York City, was best known for his role as Sonny Corleone in the mafia epic The Godfather, and a number of films in the 1970s. He also won wide acclaim for his role in Misery opposite Kathy Bates and as Buddy's dad in Elf.
He was renowned for his partying lifestyle before he suddenly quit acting after what he later called a "pretty scary period" and disappeared from public view.
Caan was initially interested in following a career as a football player but became interested in acting after studying at Hofstra University in New York state, where he met future collaborator Francis Ford Coppola.
His first significant acting credit was a small role in the 1961 Broadway production of Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole, a second world war play by William Goldman and his brother James.
Caan played the lead role in Howard Hawks' 1965 stock car racing drama Red Line 7000, and starred with John Wayne and Robert Mitchum in Hawks’ 1966 western El Dorado.
After roles in Robert Altman's Countdown and the 1969 film The Rain People, Caan achieved a major breakthrough with Coppola’s The Godfather, playing Michael Corleone’s older brother Sonny.
He received his only Oscar nomination, for best supporting actor, for the role.
He became a leading light of America’s new breed of actors in the 1970s with parts in The Gambler, Freebie and the Bean, and cult sci-fi movie Rollerball.
He also appeared with Barbra Streisand in the musical Funny Lady and Richard Attenborough's second world war epic A Bridge Too Far.
However, his career went off the rails in the early eighties. Badly affected by the death of his sister and his continued drug abuse, Caan didn't star in another Hollywood film until 1987, when Coppola cast him in his Vietnam war drama Gardens of Stone.
His revival came with Alien Nation and acclaimed Stephen King adaptation Misery.
Roles in Honeymoon in Vegas, Bulletproof and Mickey Blue Eyes and Eraser followed, as well as a much-loved appearance as Will Ferrell’s father in Christmas comedy Elf.
Four times married, Caan had five children and his son Scott followed him into acting.
