American actor James Caan, known for his role in ‘The Godfather’, has died at the age of 82.
–
His family has reported the death on Twitter. “The family appreciates the outpouring of love and condolences and asks everyone to respect our privacy,” the actor’s official account read.
Here is inserted content from a social media network that wants to write or read cookies. You have not given permission for this.
–
Jimmy, as his family calls him, started his career in the 1960s and had his definitive breakthrough with his role of Sonny Corleone in the mob movie ‘The Godfather . In it he played alongside Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, among others.
Caan was born in 1940 in the Bronx, New York City, to a kosher butcher. Not wanting to follow his father into the meat trade, Caan initially pursued a career as a football player, but became interested in acting after studying at Hofstra University in upstate New York.
After a string of small film and TV appearances, he rose to fame in 1965 for ‘Red Line 7000’, followed by a role alongside John Wayne and Robert Mitchum in the 1966 western ‘El Dorado’.
But the big break came with ‘The Godfather’ (1972), a role that earned him an Oscar nomination. He also played the part briefly in a flashback scene in ‘The Godfather II’, reportedly asking for and getting paid as much as he did for his major role in the first film.
Then followed dozens of roles in major films. In ‘Thief’, released in 1981 and directed by Michael Mann, he played a bank robber, but he also played war films and comedic roles in lighter films like “Eleven” (2003). He also starred in the “Las Vegas” series, which was also shown with us.
Caan has been married four times, had five children and was known as a real party animal.
—
