Francis Ford Coppola, who first worked with James Caan in the 1969 film The Rain People and reunited with him three years later for the Hollywood masterpiece The Godfather, recalled in a statement given to the US film & entertainment magazine “Deadline” to his old screen buddy. His credo: “(He) Will Never Be Forgotten”. Caan died on Wednesday (06 July) at the age of 82.
“Jimmy was someone who has been in my life longer and more closely than any other actor,” said Coppola. “From the early days of our work together on ‘The Rain People’ to all of the milestones in my life, these films and the many great roles he has played will never be forgotten. He’ll always be my old friend from Sunnyside (in the state of Washington, the ed.) be a valued employee and one of the funniest people I have ever known.”
The two main actors of the legendary mafia epic Al Pacino and Robert De Niro also commemorated their colleague James Caan, who is known to have played the eldest and hot-headed son Sonny Corleone.
“Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend,” Pacino said. “Hard to believe he won’t be around anymore. He was so alive and brave. A great actor, a brilliant director and a dear friend. I will miss him very much.”
Briefly, succinctly and visibly moved, De Niro stated: “I am very, very sad to hear about Jimmy’s death.”
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