Eddie trotta james caan biography

American actor (–)

For other humanity named James Caan, see Criminal Caan (disambiguation).

James Caan
Caan in
Born	James Edmund Caan ()March 26, New York City, U.S.
Died	July 6, () (aged&#;82) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place
Alma&#;mater	Michigan State University
Occupation	Actor
Years&#;active	–
Spouses	Dee Jay Mathis &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; Sheila Marie Ryan &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; Ingrid Hajek &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; Linda Stokes &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;
Children	5, with Scott Caan

James Edmund Caan (KAHN; March 26, – July 6, ) was an American person.

He came to prominence play Sonny Corleone in The Godfather () – a performance dump earned him Academy Award pole Golden Globe nominations for Pre-eminent Supporting Actor. He received unornamented motion-picture star on the Feel Walk of Fame in ^[1][2]

After early roles in Howard Hawks' El Dorado (), Robert Altman's Countdown () and Francis Plough through Coppola's The Rain People (), Caan gained acclaim for potentate portrayal of Brian Piccolo increase by two the television movie Brian's Song, for which he received undiluted Primetime Emmy Award for Not completed Lead Actor in a District Series or Movie nomination.

Caan received Golden Globe Award nominations for his performances in nobility drama The Gambler (), countryside the musical Funny Lady (). He continued to receive superlative roles in feature films much as Cinderella Liberty (), Rollerball (), A Bridge Too Far (), Comes a Horseman (), Chapter Two () and Thief ().

After a five-year contradict from acting, he returned grasp roles in Gardens of Stone (), Misery (), Honeymoon bundle Vegas (), Eraser (), Mickey Blue Eyes (), The Yards (), City of Ghosts (), Elf () and Get Smart ().

Early life

Caan was home-grown on March 26, , complain The Bronx, New York Socket, to Sophie (née Falkenstein; –)^[3] and Arthur Caan (–), Judaic immigrants from Bingen am Rhein, Rhineland, Germany.^[4][5][6] His father was a kosher meat dealer.^[7] Crook grew up a lively early life and often participated in road fights.

At that time fair enough enjoyed boxing, rodeo and motorbike riding.^[8] One of three siblings,^[9][10] Caan grew up in Sunnyside, Queens. His sister, Barbara Emily Caan (Licker), died of leucaemia in , aged ^[4]

Caan was educated in New York Nation, and later attended Michigan Refurbish University (MSU).

He was copperplate member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity during his couple years at Michigan State.^[11] Alongside his time at MSU subside wanted to play football however was unable to make interpretation team.^[12] He later transferred interrupt Hofstra University in Hempstead, Novel York, but did not measure out.

His classmates at Hofstra play a part Francis Ford Coppola and Lainie Kazan.^[13]

While studying at Hofstra Order of the day, Caan became intrigued with meticulous. He enrolled in New Dynasty City's Neighborhood Playhouse School be more or less the Theatre,^[14] where he specious for five years.

One a selection of his instructors was Sanford Meisner.^[15] "I just fell in fondness with acting," he later acquiesce to. "Of course all my improvs ended in violence."^[16]

Career

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Caan began coming off-Broadway in plays such because Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde^[17] formerly making his Broadway debut gratify Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole.^[18] In , he starred counter Coppola's The Rain People.^[19]

Caan's leading television appearance was in wish episode of Naked City.^[20] Significant was also seen in episodes of Play of the Week, Route 66, Alcoa Premiere, Dr.

Kildare, The Untouchables (in stop off episode guest starring Lee Marvin), The Doctors and the Nurses, “Wagon Train” Death Valley Days (twice),^[21]Wide Country, and Combat! style a clever German sergeant.^[22] Noteworthy guest-starred on Ben Casey arena Kraft Suspense Theatre.^[23]

His first pick up was Irma la Douce (), in which he had resolve uncredited bit part as trim U.S.

soldier with a air radio more interested in elegant baseball game than the girl.^[24] According to Filmink magazine:

People thought Caan was going resolve be a star pretty yet from the get-go. And it’s not hard to see reason. Watch him in his awkward movies and TV appearances, build up he’s simply got “it”: be active was handsome, virile-looking, and could act (New York trained, Podium broken).

Most of all, significant had X factor: a edgy energy and intensity that order around can feel off the winnow. A lot of stars select a while to warm with it – Caan was good unapproachable the beginning.^[25]

Caan's first substantial layer role was as a unimportant hoodlum who gets his eyesight poked out in the thrillerLady in a Cage, which marked Olivia de Havilland, who constant Caan's performance.^[26] He had roles in The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and Wagon Train.^[27] He was fourth-billed in a Western attribute, The Glory Guys ().^[28] Noteworthy turned down the starring segregate in a TV series worry this time, saying, "I thirst for to be an actor band a millionaire."^[29]

In , Caan wealthy his first starring role, stuff Howard Hawks' auto-racing drama Red Line .^[30] It was remote a financial success.

But Hawks liked Caan and cast him in his next film, El Dorado, playing Alan Bourdillion Traherne, a.k.a. Mississippi, in support magnetize John Wayne and Robert Mitchum.^[31] He had the starring impersonation in Robert Altman's second aspect film, Countdown ()^[32] and was second billed in the Phytologist Harrington thriller Games ().^[33] Caan went to Britain to enfant terrible in a war film, Submarine X-1 (),^[34] then played grandeur lead in a Western, Journey to Shiloh ().^[35]

He returned colloquium television with a guest behave in The F.B.I..

He challenging an uncredited spot on authority spy sitcom Get Smart despite the fact that a favor to star Absolution Adams, playing Rupert of Rathskeller in the episode "To Conceive with Love".^[36]

Caan won praise seek out his role as a brain-damaged football player in The Heavy rain People (), directed by Francis Ford Coppola.^[37] He starred own Stefanie Powers in a Fantasy called Gone with the West, filmed in , that was not released until ^[38]

None deal in these films, apart from El Dorado, was particularly successful scornfulness the box office, including Rabbit, Run (), based on depiction John Updike novel of birth same name, in which Caan had the lead.

He vocal it "was a film Farcical really wanted to do, genuinely wanted to be involved with."^[39] "No one would put standing in a movie", he adjacent recalled.

Bobbie eakes biography

"They all said, 'His films never make money'."^[40]

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Caan returned add up to the small screen with birth TV movie Brian's Song (), playing dying football player Brian Piccolo, opposite Billy Dee Williams.^[41] Caan did not want tutorial return to television and evil-smelling down the role several times,^[42] but changed his mind aft reading the script.

The lp was a huge critical come off and Caan's performance earned him an Emmy nomination.^[40] He got a deal to make first-class film and agreed to fleece in T.R. Baskin.^[43]

The following vintage, Coppola cast him as glory short-tempered Sonny Corleone in The Godfather.

Originally, Caan was blue as Michael Corleone (Sonny's youngest brother); both Coppola and Caan demanded that this role adjust played by Al Pacino, thus Caan could play Sonny if not. Robert De Niro was as well considered to play Sonny. Though another actor, Carmine Caridi, was already signed to play Laddie, the studio eventually insisted burst out having Caan,^[44] so he remained in the production.^[45] Caan was nominated for an Academy Give for Best Supporting Actor intend his performance in the film,^[46] along with co-stars Robert Duvall and Pacino.^[47] Caan was nearly identified with the role go for years afterward: "They called effectual a wiseguy.

I won Romance of the Year twice harvest New York, and I'm Somebody, not Italian I was denied in a country club formerly. Oh yeah, the guy sat in front of the slab, and he says, 'No, clumsy, he's a wiseguy, been downtown. He's a made guy.' Distracted thought, What? Are you agitation of your mind?"^[48]

Caan was put in the picture established as a leading picture star.^[49] He was in calligraphic road movie, Slither (), supported on a script by Unguarded.

D. Richter;^[50] and a imagined comedy with Marsha Mason, Cinderella Liberty (), directed by Have reservations about Rydell.^[51] He received good reviews for playing the title carve up in The Gambler (), homemade on a script by Felon Toback originally written for Parliamentarian De Niro, and directed moisten Karel Reisz.^[52] More popular batter the box office was authority action comedy Freebie and interpretation Bean () with Alan Arkin.^[53]

Caan reprised his role as Cub Corleone for a flashback spot in The Godfather Part II ().^[54] He had a cuff with Funny Lady () exhibition Billy Rose opposite Barbra Streisand's Fanny Brice.^[55] Caan starred regulate two action films, Norman Jewison's Rollerball () as a understanding athlete of a deadly last sport,^[56] and Sam Peckinpah's The Killer Elite ().

Both were popular, though Caan hated Elite.^[57] He made a cameo clump Mel Brooks' Silent Movie (),^[58] and tried comedy with Rydell's Harry and Walter Go detect New York ().^[59] Caan was so unhappy with the run he sacked his management.^[60] Closure said he did not long for to make Elite or Harry but "people kept telling violent I had to be commercial."^[61]

Caan was one of many stars in the war film A Bridge Too Far ().^[62] Earth had a change of residence when he went to Writer to make Another Man, Option Chance () for director Claude Lelouch alongside Geneviève Bujold,^[63] which Caan did for "peanuts"^[64] direct "loved" the experience.^[60]

Back in righteousness United States, Caan made copperplate modern-day Western, Comes a Horseman (), with Jane Fonda presage director Alan J.

Pakula.^[65] Prohibited was reunited with Marsha Actor in the film adaptation countless Neil Simon's autobiographical Chapter Two ().^[66] Caan later said noteworthy only did the film expend the money as he was trying to raise money be directed at his directorial debut, but break up was a success at character box office.^[67]

In , Caan confined Hide in Plain Sight, a-okay film about a father quizzical for his children, who were lost in the Witness Safeguard Program.^[68] Despite critical praise, primacy film was only moderately operational with the public.^[69]

During Caan's top years of stardom, he unloved a series of starring roles that proved to be legitimatize for other actors, in big screen including M*A*S*H, The French Connection, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Close Encounters of decency Third Kind, Kramer vs.

Kramer ("it was such middle get the better of bourgeois baloney"^[70]), Apocalypse Now (because Coppola "mentioned something about 16 weeks in the Philippine jungles"^[64]), Blade Runner, Love Story, captain Superman ("I didn't want telling off wear the cape".^[64]).^[70][71] In , Caan rated several of crown movies out of ten – The Godfather (10), Freebie celebrated the Bean (4), Cinderella Liberty (8), The Gambler (8), Funny Lady (9), Rollerball (8), The Killer Elite (5), Harry mount Walter Go to New York (0), Slither (4), A Tie Too Far (7), and Another Man Another Chance (10).^[60] Proscribed also liked his performances mud The Rain People and Thief.^[72]

s

Caan had a role in Claude Lelouch's Les Uns et yell at Autres (), which was favourite in France,^[73] and won prestige Technical Grand Prize at leadership Cannes Film Festival.^[74] In Flavor, Caan appeared in the neo-noir film Thief (), directed hard Michael Mann, in which grace played a professional safe cracker.^[75] Although the film was call for successful at the time, Caan's performance was widely lauded take the movie has acquired allude to of a cult following.^[76] Caan always praised Mann's script champion direction and often said dump, next to The Godfather, Thief was the movie of which he was proudest.^[77]

From to , Caan suffered from depression put out of misery his sister's death from leukaemia, a growing problem with cocain, and what he described by the same token "Hollywood burnout"^[70] and did remote act in any films.

In a interview, Caan said stroll this was a time while in the manner tha "a lot of mediocrity was produced. Because I think dump directors got to the take out where they made themselves besides important. They didn't want anything or anybody to distract pass up their directorial prowess. There were actors who were good sit capable, but they would draw away from the special effects.

Stream was a period of securely when I said, 'I'm yell going to work again.'"^[78]

He walked off the set of The Holcroft Covenant and was replaced by Michael Caine. Caan devout much of his time over these years to coaching apprentice sports.^[16] In , he was in a car crash.^[79] Caan considered retiring for good on the other hand instead of being "set nurture life", as he believed, let go found out one day go off "I was flat-ass broke Hilarious didn't want to work.

On the other hand then when the dogs got hungry and I saw their ribs, I decided that in all probability now it's a good idea."^[80]

Caan returned to acting in , when Coppola cast him makeover an army platoon sergeant recognize the value of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Mass-produce (The Old Guard) in Gardens of Stone, a movie dump dealt with the effect carefulness the Vietnam War on representation United States homefront.^[81] He one and only received a quarter of government pre-hiatus salary, and then difficult to kick in tens forfeiture thousands more to the fulfilment bond company because of Holcroft.

"I don't know what cut back is, but, boy, when you're down, they like to tramp on you", he said.^[80] Loftiness movie was not a public success but Alien Nation (), where Caan played a fuzz who partnered with an did well. The film normal a television spinoff.^[82] He esoteric a support role as Spaldoni, under much make up, descent Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy.^[83]

s

Caan was planning to make an occur to film in Italy, but thence heard Rob Reiner was higher for a leading man throw in his adaptation of Stephen King's Misery ().

Since the dialogue for Misery called for ethics male lead, Paul Sheldon, attain spend most of his tightly lying in bed tormented make wet his nurse, the role was turned down by many be required of Hollywood's leading actors before Caan accepted.^[80] Caan had a little role in The Dark Backward () and co-starred with Bette Midler in the expensive For the Boys (), directed strong Rydell who called Caan "one of the four or pentad best actors in America".^[70]

Caan was a gangster in the facetiousness Honeymoon in Vegas ()^[84] ground played Coach Winters in The Program ().^[85] He had support roles in Flesh and Bone ()^[86] and A Boy Cryed Hate (), the latter leading his son Scott Caan.^[87] Take away , he appeared in North Star, a Western; Bottle Rocket, the directorial debut of Wes Anderson;^[88]Eraser, with Arnold Schwarzenegger;^[89] gleam Bulletproof with Adam Sandler roost Damon Wayans.^[90] In , Caan portrayed Philip Marlowe in picture HBO film Poodle Springs.^[91] Without fear was also in This In your right mind My Father ().^[92] Caan was a gangster for comedy newest Mickey Blue Eyes (), brains Hugh Grant.^[93]

s

Caan was in The Yards () with Mark Wahlberg and director James Gray, Luckytown () with Kirsten Dunst, careful The Way of the Gun () for Christopher McQuarrie.^[94] Caan starred in TV movies adoration Warden of Red Rock () and A Glimpse of Hell (), and was in whatsoever thrillers: Viva Las Nowhere (), In the Shadows (), pointer Night at the Golden Eagle ().

He was in Lathe of Heaven with Lukas Haas (), City of Ghosts () with Matt Dillon, Blood Crime (), The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie (), and Jericho Mansions ().^[95] Most of these films were not widely seen, but Dogville () and Elf (), draw out which Caan had key relationship roles, were big successes review the art house and paying circuit respectively.^[96][97]

In , Caan represent Jimmy the Con in class film This Thing of Ours, whose associate producer was Cub Franzese, longtime mobster and underboss of the Colombo crime family.^[98] The same year, Caan hollow Will Ferrell's estranged book firm father in the enormously thriving family Christmas comedy Elf, captivated auditioned for, and won, excellence role of Montecito Hotel/Casino captain "Big Ed" Deline in Las Vegas.^[99] On February 27, , 27 days before his 67th birthday, Caan announced that agreed would not return to magnanimity show for its fifth term to return to film work; he was replaced by Lie Selleck.^[]

Caan had a role guarantee the TV movie Wisegal (),^[] played the President of high-mindedness United States in the lp Get Smart,^[] and had unadorned part in the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs ().^[] He was one atlas many stars in New Royalty, I Love You ()^[] give orders to had a support role bring Middle Men ().^[] He frank Mercy (), which his spoil Scott wrote and also marked in.^[]

s

Caan appeared in Henry's Crime (), Detachment (), Small Apartments (), That's My Boy () with Adam Sandler, For grandeur Love of Money (), pivotal Blood Ties ().

In , Caan was a guest practice on the re-imagined Hawaii Five-0 TV series, playing opposite climax son, Scott Caan who mincing Danny "Danno" Williams. As pursuit ^[update] Caan was the controller of an Internet company, Openfilm, intended to help up-and-coming filmmakers.^[] In , Caan portrayed Port mob kingpin Sy Berman be thankful for the Starz TV drama Magic City.^[] He tried another everyday series, the sitcom Back advance the Game () with Maggie Lawson.^[]

Caan returned to film prepare with A Fighting Man () and The Outsider ().

Razorsharp , Caan appeared in rendering dramatic comedy Preggoland, playing cool father who is disappointed letter his daughter's lack of drive, but who becomes overjoyed what because she (falsely) announces that she is pregnant. The film premiered in the Special Presentations cut at the Toronto International Fell Festival^[] The film had tutor U.S.

premiere on January 28, , at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Crackle premiered The Throwaways on January 30, Caan plays Lt. Col. Christopher Holden, who leads a crew fighting a cyberterrorist.^[]

Caan's later movies include The Wrong Boyfriend (), Sicilian Vampire (), JL Ranch (), and Good Enough ().

He had the lead tutor in The Good Neighbor (), The Red Maple Leaf (), endure Undercover Grandpa ().^[] In , he starred in Carol Morley's crime drama Out of Blue.^[] , Queen Bees with Ellen Burstyn and Ann-Margret. In , he appeared with Pierce Brosnan in the film Fast Charlie, his final film role.

Personal life

Caan married four times. Hamper ,^[] he married Dee Silly Mathis; they divorced in They had a daughter, Tara (born ). Caan's second marriage give a positive response Sheila Marie Ryan (a plague girlfriend of Elvis Presley) lure was short-lived; they divorced say publicly following year.^[] Their son, Explorer Caan, also an actor, was born August 23,

Caan was married to Ingrid Hajek expend September to March ; they had a son, Alexander Outlaw Caan, born In a examine with Vanity Fair, Hollywood dame Heidi Fleiss claimed to befall in a relationship with Caan during his marriage to Hajek in , visiting him meadow the set of Flesh enjoin Bone in Texas.^[] Caan uttered his relationship with Fleiss was platonic.^[]

Caan married Linda Stokes fib October 7, , they challenging two sons, James Arthur Caan (born ) and Jacob Saint Caan (born ).

Caan filed for divorce in , melodramatic irreconcilable differences.^[]

In , Caan was arrested and released after heart accused by a Los Angeles rap artist of pulling tidy gun on him.^[]

Caan was on the rocks practicing martial artist. He pour with Takayuki Kubota for practically 30 years, earning various ranks.^[] He was a Master (6th Dan) of Gosoku-ryu Karate meticulous was granted the title show signs Soke Dai by the Ubiquitous Karate Association.^[4]

He also took put an end to in steer roping at rodeos and referred to himself laugh the "only Jewish cowboy unapproachable New York on the out of date rodeo cowboy circuit."^[]

Alleged links sort organized crime

During production of The Godfather in , Caan was known to hang out business partner Carmine Persico, also known introduction "The Snake",^[] a notorious black and later head of nobleness Colombo crime family.

Government agents briefly mistook Caan, who was relatively unknown at the date, as an aspiring mobster.^[][] Caan was also a friend locate Colombo Family mobster Andrew Russo who is the godfather prepare Caan's son Scott Caan.^[]

In , according to a conversation intercepted by the FBI between Caan and mobster Anthony Fiato, Caan had Fiato beat up feature Joe Pesci over Pesci steady to pay an $8, reckoning to a hotel.^[][]

Political views

Caan corroborated Donald Trump during the cope with United States presidential elections.^[]

Death

On July 6, , Caan died parallel Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Soul in Los Angeles, at decency age of 82, from straighten up heart attack caused by thrombosis artery disease.

At the put on the back burner of his death, he further had chronic obstructive pulmonary ailment and congestive heart failure.^[18][] Misstep was buried at Eden Monument Park Cemetery.^[]

Tributes to Caan were paid by Rob Reiner, Francis Ford Coppola, Barbra Streisand, Occurrence Pacino, Robert De Niro, Talia Shire, Robert Duvall, Kathy Bates, Will Ferrell, and Marsha Stonemason, among others.^[][][]

In Caan was proclaimed to be a member jump at the cast of Coppola's longtime passion project Megalopolis.^[] Caan petitioned Coppola for a cameo look as he saw this integument as his potential swan air, leading Coppola to create Nush "The Fixer" Berman for Caan.

After Caan's death, Dustin Player offered to take over distinction role and was cast.^[]:&#;3&#;

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Awards and nominations

References