The Godfather actor James Caan passes away at 82

James Caan, the American actor who was best known for playing Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, passed away at 82. The announcement was made by the actor’s family on Twitter. 

The post read, “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.”

Meanwhile, it is to be noted that the world is celebrating the golden jubilee of The Godfather, the 1972 crime film directed by  Francis Ford Coppola. According to reports, James first auditioned for the role of Michael, the college-educated war-hero son who would ultimately become Don and the studio, Paramount, supported this casting for a time but Al Pacino, as we all know, was cast as Michael and James as Sonny "as part of a complex compromise between Paramount and Coppola".

The veteran actor was nominated for several awards, including four Golden Globes, an Emmy, and an Oscar. James was a recipient of a motion pictures star award on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978. 

James played pivotal roles in films like Brian's Song (1971), Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Gambler (1974), Rollerball (1975), A Bridge Too Far (1977), and Comes a Horseman (1978), Thief (1981), Gardens of Stone (1987), Misery (1990), Dick Tracy (1990), Bottle Rocket (1996), The Yards (2000), Dogville (2003), and Elf (2003).

After playing Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, the actor reprised his role in the sequel of Godfather (1974). James, who was working till 2013, even lent his voice to 'The Godfather' video games.