Share. A character actor with movie star swagger, or perhaps the other way around, Caan got his start on television in the 1960s before becoming one of the biggest names in Hollywood in the 1970s, thanks in large part to his immortal turn as Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather." He wasn't afraid to play against his tough guy image, either, in sensitive supporting turns opposite Barbra Streisand and Jane Fonda in "Funny Lady" and "Comes a Horseman," respectively. In Carol Morleys Out of Blue (2018), an adaptation of Martin Amiss 1997 novel Night Train, he was the intimidating father of a murdered astrophysicist daughter, and his movie work continued up to the time of his death. James Caan and Gianni Russo in the fight scene from The Godfather, in which Russo claims he broke two ribs. Mann said Jimmy was not just a great actor with total commitment and a venturesome spirit, but he had a vitality in the core of his being that drove everything from his art and friendship to athletics and very good times.. Lee called the police and Caan was arrested on a misdemeanor charge, then released later that night. Make sure to sign up for our books newsletter to have the latest books news delivered straight to your inbox. Caan threw a billy club at Russos head, bit his hands, and lifted him off the sidewalk with a kick actions Russo claims were not part of the choreography. More violence came his way as the brutal CIA man in Sam Peckinpahs The Killer Elite and, in contrast, he portrayed Billy Rose, the gambling, philandering husband of Barbra Streisands Fanny Brice in Funny Lady, all in the same year. In the early 60s, Caan made his off-Broadway debut in Schnitzlers La Ronde and started to appear on television, mostly as juvenile delinquents, in series including Naked City, Route 66, The Untouchables and Dr Kildare. Years later, Caan would downplay his contributions to the team, joking that his job was "mostly holding bags and being the tackling dummy," but that experience of being a football player and an athlete in general would mark a number of his most famous roles, from real-life Chicago Bear Brian Piccolo in the 1971 docudrama "Brian's Song" to the star player of a dystopian bloodsport in Norman Jewison's "Rollerball." We had a scene where he goes to Malibu [to be with his family] at the end, but Michael decided against it, said Caan. Best known by the younger generation for his roles as Buddy the Elf's (played by Will Ferrell) cranky father in the movie "Elf" and the temperamental Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather" franchise, the older generation recognizes Caan's versatility in a wide range of roles such asPaul Sheldon(via Screen Rant), an author turned prisoner in the movie "Misery," to Brian Piccolo in ABC's "Brian's Song," per TCM. Caan made his own indelible contribution to the English language by accident when he improvised the onomatopoeia "bada bing!" I mean, I couldn't stand it. "It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on . In search ofsomething good to read? In 2007, he announced his departure from the show, stating that he was eager to make movies again. The top entertainment stories, features and must-read reviews sent to you weekly. He toldCigar Aficionado that followingher death,his personal life took a turn for the worse. He made his movie debut in a brief uncredited role in 1963 in Billy Wilders Irma La Douce, then landed a role as young thug who terrorizes Olivia de Havilland in Lady in a Cage. He also appeared opposite John Wayne and Robert Mitchum in the 1966 Western El Dorado and Harrison Ford in the 1968 Western Journey to Shiloh.. But when we chatted via Zoom on Monday . But when we chatted via Zoom on Monday, helooked strong and healthy, was brimming with good spirit and was hurling enough expletives to make Sonny Corleone blush. The Associated Press wrote: an acquaintance [of Caans] fell eight stories to his death [from a fire escape] while trying to reach an apartment where Caan was staying. The New York Times reported that at the time, [t]he police questioned him at length. Caan told the police he was asleep when it happened, and the death was deemed accidental. Caan briefly lived at the Playboy Mansion and, in 2010, People reported that his son, Scott, spent much of his unconventional childhood inside the walls of the Playboy Mansion. James Caan told People, Id have Scott bring me girls. Cinderella Liberty is a 1973 American drama film adapted by Daryl Ponicsan from his 1973 novel of the same title. JAMES Caan looked frail and weak in the time leading up to his passing. We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. All titles are on sale Tuesday. I'd have to go out and beat up a wildcat or something." And I get respect, too sometimes.". The fun of it was taken away, he told an interviewer in 1981. Even at the end, when father and son have reconciled in time to save Christmas, there's the sense that Walter still isn't a big fan of Buddy's whole thing. I spend most of my time upstairs in my bedroom, wearing out one spot on the bed where I sit when Im making phone calls. When he had not appeared in a film for four years, people in Hollywood were beginning to ask, What ever happened to ?. Caan was also the first significant film star to admit to being friends with the Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss, although he said the relationship was platonic. After his death, many admirers took to social media to post excerpts of his infamous 1976 Playboy interview, during which he spent the whole time goofing on his interviewer and the entire concept of a celebrity profile. "I was very fortunate that I was able to do whatever the hell I wanted to do, so I put it together right away," he said. "Jimnez brings bravery to the page, and its her strong storytelling and humor that make this an outstanding debut," says a starred Kirkus review, while a rave review from Publishers Weekly calls it a "knockout.". I said you havent got enough money to make me go to work every day with a director I dont like.. And if youre my girl and someones smart to you, Ill slap him in the mouth. He also told Rolling Stone: The one thing that gets me most is having my intelligence underestimated. Following a brief stage career, he moved to Hollywood. "The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. A football player at Michigan State University and a practical joker on production sets, Caan was a grinning, handsome performer with an athletes swagger and muscular build. His first role was as a young thug terrorising Olivia de Havilland in Lady in a Cage (1964). Natalie Daniels-Read more. Caan may have been a great actor and his roles may be long-remembered. Perhaps, though, he was saying no a bit too often when he turned down the lead roles in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Kramer vs. Kramer," "Superman," and "Apocalypse Now" for one reason or another. 5 James Caan looked weak and needed a walker before his death Credit: BackGrid 5 The Oscar winning actor was 82 Credit: Getty Images - Getty GODFATHER star James Caan had long battles with drug addiction and depression before his death at the age of 82 and even lived in the Playboy Mansion for a time. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. James Caan as Billy Rose, the gambling, philandering husband of Barbra Streisands Fanny Brice in Funny Lady (1975). James Caan, whose indelible, Oscar-nominated performance as Sonny Corleone, the recklessly hotheaded son of Marlon Brando's Mafia don in " The Godfather ," is sure to be remembered as long as. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Caans comeback became entrenched with a difficult role in Rob Reiners Misery (1990) he spends most of the movie bedridden and doped as a seriously injured writer kept captive by his No 1 fan (Kathy Bates, who won the best actress Oscar). The Chicago in Thief is the Chicago of the Green Mill Lounge and Wise Fools Pub, of the alleys behind Wabash Avenue in the Loop, of the intersection of Ashland and Webster, of diners and finished basements and used car lots but its also almost surreal in its beauty, from the consistent use of neon to the sparkling, rain-soaked streets. Feminist Writing. James Caan. Im a thief James Caans Frank, coming clean about his profession in Thief., If Im compiling a list of my favorite heist movies, it wont be long before I get to Thief.. But 12 years later, when oldest sister Jessica sees a woman in a raunchy reality show she thinks might be Ruthy, the Ramirez women go on a road trip to investigate. As the actor said in an interview with Bright Lights Film, he did have a good few reservations about accepting a role on a TV show at first. Always wanted to be like him. After undergoing serious back surgery in 2020, he was hospitalized for months and has only recently begun to walk again. Caan was asleep when this happened . However, his rough language betrayed violent thoughts. Its a thriller with plausible people in it. "The thing I most cherish, as far as my whole career was the respect I felt from these young kids, really good actors," he said. The women he abused will remember a different man than the one widely praised by Hollywood for "being a legend." On July 6, 82-year-old American actor, James Caan, best known for his roles in The Godfather, Misery, and Elf, died from causes that have not yet been made public. His manager, Matt Del Piano, confirmed Caan's death to Fox News Digital. He was born in the Bronx, New York, and raised in Queens, where his father was a kosher butcher. Theres no isnt or wasnt with this guy. Thief is right up there. Based on the supposed true account of a former safecracker, Caan plays Frank, a stoic, principled thief (cash and diamonds only) who dreams of a straight life and a family with his girlfriend (Tuesday Weld). She was the only person I was afraid of. Then he had a motorcycle accident and his house was nearly destroyed by a landslide. And yet, a recurring adjective used to describe Caan in articles is intimidating. In a 1994 appearance on Late Show, David Letterman mentioned that Caan gave him the finger from the wings and made several comments about fearing the actor, giving viewers the impression Caan was wild, unpredictable, and possibly dangerous. Let's put it that way. Throughout his career, Caan faced a parade of allegations of other instances of assault. There was something really strange and enticing about the script for Thief, James Caan now recalls. Before he can escape he is cut down by a seemingly endless fusillade of machine-gun fire. Fourth Wave. And the violent, anti-woman propaganda appearing in its place. As for himself, though, Caan said he was fine seeing himself on screen. or redistributed. Racing to find his sisters husband, Corleone stops at a toll booth that he discovers is unnervingly empty of customers. Caan was asleep when this happened, and though the police initially questioned him as a person of interest, he was eventually cleared of all suspicion. Our relationship was always friendship before business. Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines of the week, Olivia Newton-John's daughter Chloe reveals 'promise' she made to mother before her death, Emma Stones 'And' co-star Willem Dafoe had her slap him 20 times to get scene right, Prince Harry's 'attacks' on 'villain' Camilla led to Frogmore Cottage eviction: expert, Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend', Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck'. After just a year at Michigan State, James Caan returned to New York City and enrolled at Hofstra University on Long Island. I would kill. On being perceived as a macho he said, If macho means I wear the pants, then Im macho. reality series "The Girls Next Door," attending the mansion's annual Halloween party. Market data provided by Factset. The actor's official Twitter account announced the news on Thursday:. The men, 23, were exiting a building about 2 a.m. in the 100 block of West Kinzie Street when a fight broke out between them and three other people. He was 82. At the film's premiere, Caan approached Ferrell and said, "Every day on set, I thought you were way too over the top. Despite Coppolas fears he had made a flop, the 1972 release was an enormous critical and commercial success and brought supporting actor Oscar nominations for Caan, Duvall and Pacino.

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