“It is with great sadness that we inform you of Jimmy’s passing on the evening of July 6,” said a statement posted on the late actor’s Twitter page. “The family appreciates the outpouring of love and sincere condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy at this difficult time.” It is with great sadness that we inform you of Jimmy’s passing on the evening of July 6th. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and sincere condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy at this difficult time. End of tweet — James Caan (@James_Caan) July 7, 2022 Born in 1940 in Queens, New York, Caan worked in Hollywood for more than 60 years. He got his start in his 20s after transferring from Michigan State University to Hofstra University, when he began landing guest roles on TV dramas such as “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.” When he was 26, Caan appeared in the 1966 western “El Dorado,” alongside legends John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. The role launched his career, leading to additional projects such as “Brian’s Song,” a TV movie about a terminally ill football player. Caan eventually landed the role of a lifetime: Sonny Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 film The Godfather. His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The making of “The Godfather” 08:54 After the success of “The Godfather”, Caan starred in films such as “The Gambler”, “Rollerball”, “Thief” and “Misery”. He also reprized his role as Sonny in a flashback scene in “The Godfather II.” In the 1980s, Caan said he fell into depression and drug addiction while dealing with the loss of his sister to leukemia. “I had a bad time with cocaine for a while,” he told CBS’ “Sunday Morning” in a 2021 interview. “I lost my sister when it happened. And it was like, I don’t know, when I lost her, I couldn’t, I couldn’t I can handle it, I didn’t know what to do.” Actor James Caan arrives for the ‘The Godfather’ 50th Anniversary Premiere Event at the Paramount Theater in Hollywood, California, February 22, 2022. CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images Caan won a new generation of fans when he starred in the 2003 Christmas movie “Elf,” as Walter Hobbs, the biological father of Buddy the Elf who must learn the true meaning of Christmas and family. She said she initially said no to Will Ferrell’s request to star in the film, but eventually changed her mind. He also won acclaim for his portrayal of a casino boss in the TV series “Las Vegas.” “I’ve always fought to never be the same person,” Caan told CBS’ “Sunday Morning.” “I mean, the fun of being an actor is being someone else for three months, you know?” Direct speech by James Caan 08:22 He had no intention of slowing down and was still invested in continuing his work in Hollywood, including hopefully playing a “real character.” “I can’t take it easy,” he said. “I like to work. I like to work with good people. I have more fun when I’m working, because I meet new people and mostly good people, you know? Very good – always in some, you know, in some things there are some people you meet, and there are a lot — I get a lot of laughs and respect, sometimes.” Celebrities who starred alongside Caan shared tributes to the star on Thursday. “Jimmy was my fantastic brother and lifelong friend,” Al Pacino, who starred in “The Godfather,” said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. “It’s hard to believe he will be gone because he was so vibrant and bold. A great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend. I loved him, he will be missed.” Robert De Niro, who starred in “The Godfather: Part II,” said he was “deeply saddened to hear of Jimmy’s passing” in a statement. “Teams and teammates to the end. RIP Jimmy,” Billy Dee Williams of “Brian’s Song” tweeted. Colleagues and friends until the end. RIP Jimmy 💔#jamescaan pic.twitter.com/s7lfMzMlh3 — Billy Dee Williams (@realbdw) July 7, 2022 Andy Richter, who appeared in “Elf,” said he was “shocked” by Caan’s death. “I was lucky enough, after a lifetime of loving his work, to work with him and love him even more as a person,” he tweeted. “Funny, warm, understated and effortlessly talented. They say you never meet your heroes, but he proved them very wrong.” Caan’s “Funny Lady” co-star Barbra Streisand tweeted that he was “so talented.” So sorry to hear about Jimmy. He was so talented. #JamesCaan pic.twitter.com/5CB1NKTYa9 — Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) July 7, 2022
