James Caan, an actor who played Sonny Corleone, a gangster, in “The Godfather” and Paul Sheldon (the writer whose life was made miserable in “Misery”), has passed away at the age of82.
His Twitter account has received the news. A short statement can be read: “It’s with great sadness that I inform you about the death of Jimmy on July 6. The family thanks you for your love and deepest condolences. We ask that you respect Jimmy’s privacy during this difficult time.
Caan, the son of German Jewish immigrants, was born in New York’s Bronx in 1940. He was raised in a modest family, his father being a butcher. Caan soon began to work hard to break free from that small world that seemed so unified. He played football at University of Hosftra, and then he discovered acting. He graduated from Neighborhood Playhouse in his hometown.
His first jobs were on the boards of Broadway and the university theatre circuit. But it was on television that the actor’s name, a hardworking worker who was worth everything stood out. He was featured in series like ‘The Untouchables, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour’ or ’Route 66′. His feature film debut was with “A Trapped Woman” (Walter Grauman 1964). He played the role of one of the thugs that tormented the women of the title and then landed his first lead role in the charming “Danger…line 7700!” (Howard Hawks 1965), which tells the story of three race drivers and their long-suffering female friends.
Francis Ford Coppola claimed him after he participated in “El Dorado” alongside Robert Mitchum, John Wayne and John Wayne. It shouldn’t have taken too much effort as it gave life to an American footballer. He would be a part of the film for three years. He passed the test to make Michael Corleone his life, but Coppola chose Al Pacino. Caan was cast as the older brother who was shot to death in the first episode of ‘The Godfather. This role earned him his Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. In interviews, he stated that he didn’t need to transform into anyone or anything because Sonny was the character he had known all his life.
‘Rollerball” (Norman Jewison 1975), Funny Lady (Herbert Roos 1975) & ‘Thief (1981), a Michael Mann film. One of his most proud works was the films in which he took part between 1973 and 1982. He also launched his first directorial effort, “For Own Justice” (1980), which told the story about a father who searches for his daughter through an official protection program. It is likely that he did not enjoy the experience as he never returned to the set.
After the death of his sister, he was struck down by depression and had to leave the spotlight for five more years. He was reintroduced to the spotlight by Francis Ford Coppola, who directed his film ‘Stone Gardens’. In that film, he played an Army sergeant. But, it was his appearance in ‘Misery’ (Rob Reiner 1990), the film based upon the Stephen King novel. This movie marked the beginning of his acting career in the nineties. He played the role of a writer who is about to end his best-selling story. In his deranged life, Annie Wilkes, a nurse enthusiast of the books, becomes an interruption. This leads to a tension-filled feature film in which Kathy Bates won Oscar for best actress.
Caan, who was married four times and supported Donald Trump for his candidacy for the 2016 presidency election, also played Ed Deline in “Las Vegas”, the television series that aired from 2003 to 2007. He is the character the youngest will always remember.
