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James Caan died yesterday at the age of 82.\u00a0 No cause of death was given.\u00a0 Mr. Caan’s family\u00a0 released the following statement:<\/p>\n
\n“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6.\u00a0 The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
James Caan attended Michigan State University for two years where he played football.\u00a0 He then transferred to Hofstra University in New York.\u00a0 This is where he developed his interest in acting.\u00a0 Mr. Caan’s first roles were in off-Broadway plays.\u00a0 Soon he was getting guest appearances on television.\u00a0 Some of James Caan’s roles included parts on Naked City, Route 66, The Untouchables, Dr. Kildare, Combat!, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour<\/em> and Get Smart<\/em>.<\/p>\n
James Caan’s first feature film appearance was in Lady in a Cage<\/em>.\u00a0 More film roles followed.\u00a0 A few of his appearances include Red Line 7000, El Dorado, Countdown<\/em> and The Rain People<\/em>.<\/p>\n
In 1971, James Caan starred as Brian Piccolo in Brian’s Song<\/em>.\u00a0 Brian’s Song<\/em> was a tv movie that co-starred Billy Dee Williams as Gayle Sayers.\u00a0 Piccolo and Sayers played for the Chicago Bears and became good friends before Piccolo tragically died from cancer.\u00a0 The movie was a huge success.<\/p>\n
The following year Mr. Caan appeared as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather<\/em>.\u00a0 After that there was no looking back.\u00a0 James Caan racked up over 135 credits on his resume including films such as The Gambler, Rollerball, The Killer Elite, Thief, Alien Nation, Misery, Eraser, Poodle Springs, The Way of the Gun<\/em> and Elf<\/em>.\u00a0 James Caan also starred in the television series Las Vegas<\/em> from 2003 – 2007.<\/p>\n
I probably first saw James Caan on one of his many television appearances since he appeared on many shows that I watched.\u00a0 But it was his role as Brian Piccolo that got my attention.\u00a0 Everyone was talking about the movie the next day at school.\u00a0 James Caan was cool!\u00a0 Then he followed that role up as Sonny Corleone, the hothead brother in The Godfather<\/em>!\u00a0 What a one-two punch.<\/p>\n
Many people are listing their favorite James Caan roles in films such as Misery, Thief<\/em> and The Godfather<\/em>.\u00a0 Those were all great Jimmy Caan roles, but I wish more folks were recognizing his part as Joe Sarno in The Way of the Gun<\/em>.\u00a0 Sarno was my favorite character in the film and Caan was perfect as the tough, old guy, (years before Jonathan Banks became a fan favorite as Mike Ehrmantraut on Breaking Bad<\/em> and Better Call Saul<\/em>).\u00a0 Caan as Sarno had the perfect delivery on lines such as, “The only thing you can guess about a broken down old man is that he is a survivor” and “I promise you a day of reckoning that you won’t live long enough to never forget.”<\/p>\n
I was glad to see Sly Stallone and James Caan acting together in two episodes of Caan’s series Las\u00a0 Vegas<\/em>.<\/p>\n
James Caan was not only an excellent actor, he was a legit tough guy and athlete.\u00a0 He did many of his own stunts. As a young man he participated in rodeos.\u00a0 He played college football.\u00a0 And perhaps the thing I admired most about James Caan was that what you saw is what you got.\u00a0 He came across the same in all his interviews as a guy who enjoyed life.<\/p>\n