American actor James Caan, who notably played mafia boss Sonny Corleone in The Godfather in 1972, died on Wednesday at the age of 82, his family announced on Thursday July 7 in a press release posted on Twitter.
” It is with great sadness that we inform you of Jimmy’s passing on the evening of July 6th. his family said in a tweet posted on Caan’s account. His manager, Matt DelPiano, confirmed the news to AFP.
Born in New York, in the Bronx district, in 1940, into a family of Jewish immigrants from Germany, James Caan had started his career with small roles in Hollywood in the 1960s, notably in Irma the sweet by Billy Wilder (1963), or rain peopleby Francis Ford Coppola (1969).
Three years later, the great American director will give him one of his most famous roles, in the first part of the trilogy The Godfatheran epic saga about the Italian-American mafia that marked the history of cinema and celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.
James Caan plays Sonny Corleone, the eldest son of “don” Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), and his brutal assassination in a hail of bullets at a toll booth has become one of the film’s most defining moments. The role earned him an Oscar nomination.
For one of his other great roles, in Misery, adapted from Stephen King’s book, he played a writer kidnapped by an evil woman played by Kathy Bates. ” Jimmy was one of the greats. Not only was he one of the best actors our industry has ever seen, but he was funny, loyal, caring and loved. “said his manager Matt DelPiano.
James Caan had also had roles in the films The solitary and roller ball.
“ His films were the best of the best “, paid tribute to him in a tweet the actor and New York screenwriter Adam Sandler. ” I loved him so much. I always wanted to be like him. I am so happy to have known him. I never stopped laughing when I was with this man “, he added.
James Caan. Loved him very much. Always wanted to be like him. So happy I got to know him. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. His movies were best of the best. We all will miss him terribly. Thinking of his family and sending my love. pic.twitter.com/a0q8rCP1Yl
— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) July 7, 2022
A prolific actor, who had starred in dozens of films over six decades, including The Yards by James Gray (2000), City of Ghosts by Matt Dillon (2002), or who lent his voice in Cloudy with a chance of meatballs (2009), James Caan had been married four times and had five children.
(With AFP)