James Caan, who portrayed Sonny Corleone in “The Godfather” and Paul Sheldon in “Misery,” has died. He was 82.
The actor’s official Twitter on Thursday shared the news, writing in a statement he died Wednesday.
“The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time,” the tweet read.
Caan collected many accolades across his acting career, spanning nearly five decades. One of his most memorable roles was as the hotheaded Sonny Corleone, brother of Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone, in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather.” He was nominated in the best supporting actor categories at the 1972 Academy Awards and the Golden Globes that same year.
He reprised his role in “The Godfather Part II” with a cameo appearance at the end of the film. Caan previously worked with Coppola in 1969’s “The Rain People.”
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Caan reunited with the cast in 2017 at Tribeca Film Festival.
In 1990 he starred in director Rob Reiner’s “Misery,” taking over after actor Warren Beatty exited the production. Reiner said in a 2021 USA TODAY interview that Caan did a “great job” in the role.
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“We wound up with Jimmy Caan. And Jimmy did a great job,” said Reiner.
Reiner said on the first day of “Misery” shooting, the “Godfather” actor had trouble with a scene due to his energy-filled movements lighting up a cigarette. Even with Reiner telling his actor to just relax, Caan could not do the scene with the needed fluid serenity.
“He’s very fidgety. He’s a very physical guy. He keeps moving,” said Reiner. “Take after take after take, he keeps moving. It’s like ‘Jimmy!’ Finally after 10 or 15 takes he finally does it. And we had to break for lunch.”
More recently, the actor starred in 2003’s “Elf” alongside Will Ferrell, 2008’s “Get Smart” and 2021’s “Queen Bees.”
Contributing: Bryan Alexander
