Cinema legend James Caan has passed away. He was 82. The incredibly versatile and charismatic actor’s career has spanned nearly 60 years. His filmography is filled with memorable appearances from early performances in movies like Howard Hawks’ “El Dorado” and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Rain People” to his most well-known performance playing Sonny Corleone in “The Godfather”. He continued to do great work in the 70’s all the way through last year – “A Bridge Too Far”, “Thief”, “Misery”, “The Program” (an underrated performance), and of course the perennial Christmas classic “Elf” among many others.
Caan always had a magnetic screen presence and an inherent toughness that really came out in a number of eccentric yet entertaining movies. But he wasn’t restricted to tough-guy roles. He also had a sly sense of humor and was more than capable of handling more dramatic roles.
James Caan leaves behind quite a legacy and is sure to be missed by fans around the world.
Keith & the Movies 
I was re-watching Coming to America when I got an email notification on my phone and it was from your notification is when I got the news. This one really hurts. James Caan is someone I grew up on because my dad loved The Godfather as well as Brian’s Song and I’m not ashamed to admit that I cry in the latter.
What I love about him is that he is this embodiment of what a man should be. He is tough but he also has feelings. He was also really funny. He also transcended generations which is something many actors of his caliber don’t get to do often. He had this great run in the 70s and then a lull in the 80s and then comes back in the 1990s and then attract new audiences in the early 2000s. Not many with that kind of skill as an actor can do that.
It’s tough to say what is his best performance as he’s just good in them. Even in bad movies like that one he did as a priest in an awful Adam Sandler movie where he was the only thing in that film that was good and made me laugh.
I’m glad you mentioned The Program as I love that film and that was a film my dad loved. He will be missed and he is truly a god in cinema. Some comedian said with this and Ray Liotta’s passing. God is probably making a mob movie right now and he needed some of the best. Well, with Liotta and Cann in one film. It can’t go wrong.
Really well said. When I first heard news I just flipped my phone across the table and sat there for a few. It really does sting, just like Liotta’s passing. I still haven’t fully digested that one yet.
I’m not over that either.