From BZ/dpa
Mourning for a Hollywood star: James Caan, who became famous through the mafia drama “The Godfather”, died at the age of 82. The cause of death was not known.
The US actor James Caan, who was known for films like “The Godfather” and “Misery”, is dead. He died on Wednesday evening, as his family announced on Twitter on Thursday. Caan’s spokesman confirmed the death of the actor to the German Press Agency. Caan was 82 years old.
“It is with great sadness” that they announce the death of “Jimmy,” the family wrote on the actor’s Twitter account. The cause of death was not initially disclosed. During this “difficult time”, the relatives asked for their privacy to be preserved.
James Caan (lr) with Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and John Cazale in “The Godfather” Photo: picture alliance
Numerous filmmakers expressed their grief and paid tribute to the deceased. Misery director Rob Reiner described Caan as a talented and instinctive actor. Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn wrote on Twitter that he loves so many of Caan’s films, starting with his The Godfather films.
The role of Mafioso Santino “Sonny” Corleone in “The Godfather” made Caan famous in the 1970s. She earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1973. He continued his career with films such as “Rollerball”, “Funny Girl”, “Another Man, Another Woman” and “The Loner”.
The character actor made it big again in the early 1990s with the horror thriller “Misery”. Director Reiner took a Stephen King template, in which a best-selling author (Caan) falls into the hands of a mad admirer (Kathy Bates).
Caan grew up in a Jewish family in the Bronx, New York. The father of five was married four times, his last marriage was divorced in 2009.
