Newsman :Actor James Caan best known for his roles as Sonny Corleone in “The Godfather” and Paul Sheldon in “Misery,” died at 82 on Wednesday, his family said Thursday.
The actor’s official Twitter account shared in a statement Thursday-
“The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
His decades long film career began in the 1960s, with starring roles in the Howard Hawks’ films “Red Line 7000” and “El Dorado.” After a break from acting for several years in the 1980s, Caan had a memorable turn as a bedridden writer opposite Kathy Bates’ obsessed fan in the 1990 thriller, “Misery.”
He most recently appeared in the 2021 romantic comedy, “Queen Bees.”
Caan was married four times and is survived by five children, including the actor Scott Caan.
The impact of Oscar-nominated actor James Caan graced the silver screen he for more than 60 years.
Many of Caan’s Hollywood comrades, including his “Godfather” co-star Al Pacino, shared their condolences and celebrated the iconic actor.
“Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend,” said Pacino in a statement to The Associated Press. “It’s hard to believe that he won’t be in the world anymore because he was so alive and daring. A great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend. I’m gonna miss him.”
“I’m very very sad to hear about Jimmy’s passing,” said Robert De Niro in a statement to The Associated Press.
The Oscar-winning actor played Don Vito Corleone in “The Godfather: Part II” in 1974.
“Loved him very much,” Adam Sandler tweeted. “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.”
Streisand and Caan co-starred in the 1975 biopic dramedy “Funny Lady.”
“I’m so sorry to hear about Jimmy. He was so talented,” Barbra Streisand tweeted alongside a black-and-white photo of the two.
Andy Richter, who co-starred with Caan in the 2003 Will Ferrell comedy “Elf,” paid tribute to the actor on Twitter.
“Was lucky enough, after a lifetime of loving his work, to get to work with him and I loved him as a person even more. Funny, warm, self-deprecating, and effortlessly talented,” Richter wrote. “They say never meet your heroes, but he proved that to be very very wrong.”