James Caan famous for his role as the hot-headed Sonny Corleone in The Godfather has died aged 82.
The tragic news was released through the actor’s Twitter account on Thursday.
A statement read: “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6.
“The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.
They finished the message with the Oscar-nominated actor’s trademark sign-off: “End of Tweet”.
The Hollywood legend also won acclaim for his role as trapped author Paul Sheldon opposite Kathy Bates in Misery, Thief and later in his career the family favourite Christmas film Elf.
Rob Reiner director of 1990’s Misery was one of the first to pay tribute to the icon.
He wrote on Twitter: “So sorry to hear the news. I loved working with him. And the only Jew I knew who could calf rope with the best of them. Love to the family.”
Director of The Godfather films Francis Ford Coppola said: “Jimmy was someone who stretched through my life longer and closer than any motion picture figure I’ve ever known.
“From those earlier times working together on The Rain People and throughout all the milestones of my life, his films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten.
“He will always be my old friend from Sunnyside, my collaborator and one of the funniest people I’ve ever known.”
"You're marking time is what you are. You're backing off. You're hiding out. You're waiting for a bus that you hope never comes because you don't wanna get on it anyway because you don't wanna go anywhere." Rest in peace, James Caan. pic.twitter.com/j2J0FD7kWG
— Bilge Ebiri (@BilgeEbiri) July 7, 2022
Rest In Peace James Caan. There are so many movies of his I love, The Godfather films of course being at the very top, but here are a few more I adore (Thief in particular was a Gunn family classic - I had the poster on my wall in high school). 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/mhrtGMzB0S
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 7, 2022
Forrest Gump actor Gary Sinise tweeted: “Very sad to hear the news that James Caan has died. Heartbroken for his family & his friends. Wonderful to know him & call him a pal. Jimmy was so supportive of Gary Sinise Foundation & my work w/ our veterans. He will be missed. Thank you my friend. Rest In Peace. God bless you.”
Grosse Pointe Blank star John Cusack simply wrote “wonderful actor” while Star Trek actor Robert Picardo tweeted: “RIP James Caan. An unforgettable Sonny. A great career.”
British filmmaker Edgar Wright tweeted: “RIP to a genuine megawatt movie star, Mr Jimmy Caan, star of not just The Godfather, but also Thief, Misery, Freebie And The Bean, Slither, Rollerball, Bottle Rocket, Gardens Of Stone, The Way Of The Gun, Honeymoon In Vegas, Elf & many more.”
Caan originally auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather but the director Francis Ford Coppola eventually went for Al Pacino, despite Caan being favoured by the studio executives.
He ended up taking the career-defining role of Michael’s older brother Sonny.
Caan received his only Oscar nomination, for best supporting actor, for the film. His gruesome and over-the-top death- in the Coppola classic has gone down in cinematic history for which Caan said he was fitted with over 140 squibs to simulate the gunshot wounds.
Caan reprised his role as Sonny Corleone for a flashback scene in The Godfather Part II.
