Hollywood pays tribute to movie great James Caan

Following news of James Caan's death this week, aged 82, many of his Hollywood collaborators and friends continue to post touching tributes to the star.

A statement on his Twitter account confirmed the news yesterday: “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.”

Best known for his role as hotheaded tough guy Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, Caan was one of Hollywood's busiest actors. He was also one of its most-loved.

Al Pacino wrote, “Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend. 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.”

Robert De Niro said that he was, “very very sad to hear about Jimmy’s passing.”

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

Adam Sandler, who acted alongside Caan in Bulletproof and That’s My Boy tweeted that he, “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.”

Before landing the role of Sonny in The Godfather, Caan was already a star on television, finding fame and a best actor Emmy nomination in the 1971 TV movie, Brian’s Song.

He went on to have a prolific movie career, starring in Hide in Plain Sight (which he also directed), acting alongside Barbra Streisand in Funny Lady, a brief appearance in The Godfather, Part II, and the 1981 heist film, Thief.

After the devastating death of his sister, Barabara, in 1981, Caan told an interviewer that “The fun of it was taken away." He took a hiatus from acting for much of the '80s.

However, he later made a comeback, going on to star in the likes of Misery, For the Boys, Honeymoon in Vegas, Flesh and Bone, and Mickey Blue Eyes. He even introduced himself to a new generation playing Walter, the stone-faced father of Buddy in Elf.

James Caan was a true delight. My favorite memory of him was shooting part of a montage for the end of Elf and he started playing piano — he played beautifully — I sang and he played and I was just astonished by his talent! pic.twitter.com/dnzryK81Fd

— zooey deschanel (@ZooeyDeschanel) July 7, 2022

Born March 26, 1939, in New York City, Caan was the son of a kosher meat wholesaler. He was class president at Rhodes High School and, after attending Michigan State and Hofstra University, he studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater.

Married and divorced four times, Caan had a daughter, Tara, and sons Scott, Alexander, James and Jacob.

No cause of death has been given and Caan’s family, who requests privacy, said that no further details will be released at this time.