James Caan, Oscar nominee for `The Godfather,' dies at 82
James Caan, the curlyhaired tough guy known to movie fans as the hotheaded Sonny Corleone of “The Godfather” and to television audiences as both the dying football player in the classic weeper “Brian's Song” and the casino boss in “Las Vegas,” has died. He was 82.
His manager Matt DelPiano said he died Wednesday. No cause was given and Caan's family, who requests privacy, said that no further details would be released at this time.
Al Pacino wrote in an emailed statement that, “Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend. It's hard to believe that he won't be in the world anymore because he was so alive and daring. A great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend. I'm gonna miss him.”
Michael Mann, who directed Caan in “Thief,” said “Jimmy was not just a great actor with total commitment and a venturesome spirit, but he had a vitality in the core of his being that drove everything from his art and friendship to athletics and very good times.”
Robert De Niro also wrote that he was, “very very sad to hear about Jimmy's passing.”
Many of his collaborators also wrote condolences on Twitter on Thursday.
Adam Sandler, who acted with him in “Bulletproof”
Today Book Sale:
Presented by Friends of Redondo Beach Public Library, Main Library, 303N. Pacific Coast Highway. 3-5:30p.m. redondobeachlibraryfriends.com.
“History and Functions of the Marine Exchange,” featuring retired Coast Guard Capt. Kip Louttit. Fred Hesse Community Park, 29301Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes. 4p.m. palosverdespulse.com.
Lectures With Lianne: Saturday 39th Long Beach Pride Parade/Festival:
450 E. Shoreline Drive Long Beach. 11a.m.-10 p.m. Also 11a.m.-10p.m. Sunday. $40and up. Register at bit. ly/3O4zeCR.
Andy and Renee/Hard Rain/ The Last Waltz:
Presented by Grand Vision Foundation. Grand Annex, 434W. Sixth St., San Pedro. 8 p.m. $28. 310-833-4813, grandvision.org.
Centennial Parade/Block Party:
Presented by Hawthorne. Hawthorne City Hall, 4455W. 126th St. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 310349-1640.
Conversation Starters — Let's Talk About Gender:
Featuring professor Carlos Royal. Presented by Palos Verdes Library District. Peninsula Center Library Community Room, 701Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates. 10 a.m.-noon. pvld.org.
Presented by Caltrans, Carson and Assemblyman Mike Gipson. Carson City Hall parking Lot, 701Carson St. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 213-200-1915.
Presented by Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. Vicente Bluffs Reserve, Hawthorne Boulevard and Palos Verdes Drive West, Rancho Palos Verdes. 9 a.m. 310-5417613, pvplc.org.
Dump Day: Guided Nature Walk: Jehlad and Moonshine Soul:
Presented by Redondo Pier Association and MemorialCare Miller Children's and Women's Hospital. 500 Fisherman's Wharf, Redondo Beach. 6-8p.m. redondopier.com.
and “That's My Boy” tweeted that he, “Loved him very much. Always wanted to be like him. So happy I got to know him. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. His movies were best of the best.”
A football player at Michigan State University and a practical joker on production sets, Caan was a grinning, handsome performer with an athlete's swagger and muscular build. He managed a long career despite drug problems, outbursts of temper and minor brushes with the law.
Caan had been a favorite of Francis Ford Coppola since the 1960s, when Coppola cast him for the lead in “Rain People.” He was primed for a featured role
Job Fair:
Presented by 61st Force Support Squadron. Hampton Inn and Suites, 888N. Pacific Coast Highway, El Segundo. lafss.com.
Lady's Night Gospel Comedy Fest:
Presented by Michael Williams. Warner Grand Theatre, 478W. Sixth St., San Pedro. 7-10 p.m. $20-$40. bit.ly/3ynvoii.
“12 Concepts: Orientation and Assignments,” led by Herb Kaighan. Presented by Mary and Joseph Retreat Center. 10a.m.-noon. $10. maryjoseph.org.
Path to Personal Freedom: Redondo Union High School Class Reunion:
For the 19801983graduating classes. 6:30-11 p.m. Palos Verdes Beach and Athletic Club, 389 Paseo Del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates. $100-$125. Register at ruhs22.com.
Special Field Day Program:
Presented by Redondo Beach Public Library. Franklin Park, 807 S. Inglewood Ave. 11a.m.-1p.m. 310-318-0675, redondo.org.
Presented by Palos Verdes Performing Arts Professional Shows. Norris Theatre, 27570Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. 8p.m. $135-$145. 310-544-0403, ext. 221, palosverdesperformingarts.com.
The Midtown Men: Volunteer Orientation (virtual):
Presented by Los Angeles Maritime Museum. 9-10:30a.m. Register at bit.ly/3ImAJLe.
Moderately difficult 90-minute hike. Meet at the northern end of Via Las Vegas in Palos Verdes Estates. Adults, kids, seniors and dogs are welcome. Information: president@nertamid.com.
Wandering Jew Hike: Sunday Fourth Interfaith Gala:
Featuring Keynote Speaker Tahil Sharma, regional coordinator of United Religions Initiative North America. Presented by South Coast Interfaith Council. 3-5 p.m. Register at scinterfaith.org.
Presented by Cancer Support Community
25th Celebrate Wellness:
in “The Godfather” as Sonny, the No. 1 enforcer and eldest son of Mafia boss Vito Corleone.
Sonny Corleone, a violent and reckless man who conducted many killings, met his own end in one of the most jarring movie scenes in history. Racing to find his sister's husband, Corleone stops at a toll booth that he discovers is unnervingly empty of customers. Before he can escape he is cut down by a seemingly endless fusillade of machine-gun fire. For decades after, he once said, strangers would approach him on the street and jokingly warn him to stay clear of toll roads.
Caan bonded with Brando, Robert Duvall and other cast members and made it a point to get everyone
South Bay. South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Peninsula. 3-7p.m. $195. 310-376-3550, celebratewellness.org.
City of Good Neighbors Picnic:
Presented by Hawthorne Historical Society. Hawthorne Historical Society Museum Jim Thorpe Park, 14100Prairie Ave. 10a.m.-2 p.m. Hot dog lunch costs $7.
Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Ángeles:
Hotel Maya, 700 Queensway Drive, Long Beach. Noon-3p.m. 562-481-3910.
Monday Lego Club:
Redondo Beach Public Library, Main Library, 303N. Pacific Coast Highway. 3:30-4:30p.m. 310-318-0675, redondo.org.
Taste of Tango (Beginners):
Presented by Living Tango. Del Air Park, Multipurpose Room, 12601S. Isis, Hawthorne. 7-8 p.m. $95. livingtango.com.
Team Taiko Japanese Drum Lesson:
Presented by Grand Vision Foundation. Grand Annex, 434W. Sixth St., San Pedro. 7-8 p.m. $5-$25. 310-833-4813, grandvision.org.
Tuesday Acupressure and Cancer:
Workshop led by Ana Paula Duarte, Lac. Presented by Cancer Support Community South Bay, 2601Airport Drive, Suite 100, Torrance. 9-10a.m. Information: CSCSouthBay.org.
Adult Book Discussion:
“The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. Led by Erin Schoover. Presented by Redondo Beach Public Library. 6:30-7:30p.m. Register at bit. ly/3P8rqAL.
Big Book Twelve Step Discussion Meeting:
7:30-9 p.m. Suggested contribution $5. Register at herbk.com.
Presented by Friends of Redondo Beach Public Library, Main Library, 303N. Pacific Coast Highway. 11a.m.-2p.m. redondobeachlibraryfriends.com.
Presented by Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. 9-10a.m.
Book Sale: Chamber 101(virtual):
laughing during an otherwise tense production, sometimes dropping his pants and “mooning” a fellow actor or crew member. Despite Coppola's fears he had made a flop, the 1972 release was an enormous critical and commercial success and brought supporting actor Oscar nominations for Caan, Duvall and Al Pacino.
Caan was already a star on television, breaking through in the 1971 TV movie “Brian's Song,” an emotional drama about Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo, who had died of cancer the year before at age 26. It was among the most popular and wrenching TV movies in history and Caan and costar Billy Dee Williams, who played Piccolo's teammate and best friend Gale Sayers,
Register at palosverdeschamber. com.
Good Afternoon Long Beach Networking Luncheon:
Featuring Broc Coward, COO of Downtown Long Beach Alliance. Presented by Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. Parkers' Lighthouse, 435 Shoreline Drive. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. $25 for members; $35for non-members. Register at business.lbchamber. com.
Local Business Networking Group:
Presented by South Bay LeTip Business Networking. South End Racquet and Health Club, 2800Skypark Drive, Torrance. 7:15-8:30a.m. 310-5383321, southbayletip.com.
Overeaters Anonymous:
First Christian Church, Room 9, 2930 El Dorado St., Torrance. 7:30p.m. Call Jennifer at 310-529-5708.
Protecting Yourself from Cyber and Phone Scams:
Featuring Jackie Wiley. Presented by Palos Verdes Library District. Peninsula Center Library Purcell Meeting Room, 701Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates. 10-11a.m. 310-3779584, ext. 217, pvld.org.
Wednesday Centering Prayer Group:
Led by Greg Johnson and Herb Kaighan. Presented by Mary and Joseph Retreat Center. 7:30-9p.m. Register at maryjoseph.org.
Conversations and Connections (virtual):
Presented by Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. Noon-1p.m. Register at palosverdeschamber.com.
PV Seniors Bohannon Lecture Series:
“Why We Need New Vaccines, Now,” by Dr. David Meyer, president and CEO of the Lundquist Institute. Fred Hesse Park, 29301Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes. 10:30-11:30a.m. 310-377-3003, pvseniors.org.
South Bay Film Society Showing:
“Fire of Love.” AMC Rolling Hills, 2591Airport Drive, Torrance. 7-8:30p.m. 310-3261167, southbayfilmsociety.com. Teen Movie Festival: “The were nominated for best actor Emmys.
After “Brian's Song” and “The Godfather,” he was one of Hollywood's busiest actors, appearing in “Hide in Plain Sight” (which he also directed), “Funny Lady” (opposite Barbra Streisand), “The Killer Elite” and Neil Simon's “Chapter Two,” among others. He also made a brief appearance in a flashback sequence in “The Godfather, Part II.”
But by the early 1980s he began to sour on films, though Mann's 1981 neo-noir heist film “Thief,” in which he played a professional safecracker looking for a way out, is among his most admired films.
Mann said that Caan, “reached into the core of his being during difficult personal times to be the rebellious, half wild child, institutionalized outsider Frank” who, he continued is “half Frank, half Jimmy.”
Caan had begun to struggle with drug use and was devastated by the 1981 leukemia death of his sister, Barbara, who until then had been a guiding force in his career. For much of the 1980s he made no films, telling people he preferred to coach his son Scott's Little League games. Scott Caan also grew up to be an actor.
“The fun of it was taken away,” he told an interviewer in 1981. “I've done pictures where I'd rather do time. I just walked out of a picture at Paramount. I said you
Parent Trap.” Presented by Palos Verdes Library District Summer Read A-Palooza. Peninsula Center Library, 701Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates. 2-4 p.m. pvld.org.
Toastmasters South Bay Club 280:
7-9p.m. Call 310532-1209 for link information. Information: southbaytoastmasters.org.
Thursday Danny Freyer:
Presented by Redondo Pier Association and MemorialCare Miller Children's and Women's Hospital. 100Fisherman's Wharf, Redondo Beach. haven't got enough money to make me go to work every day with a director I don't like.”
Short on cash, Caan was hired by Coppola for the leading role in the 1987 film “Gardens of Stone.” The movie, about life at Arlington National Cemetery, proved too grim for most audiences, but it renewed Caan's acting career.
He returned to fullfledged stardom opposite Kathy Bates in “Misery” in 1990. In the film, based on Stephen King's novel, Caan is an author taken captive by an obsessed fan who breaks his ankles to keep him from leaving. Bates won an Oscar for the role.
Once again in demand, Caan starred in “For the Boys” with Bette Midler in 1991 as part of a song-anddance team entertaining U.S. soldiers during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. The following year he played a tongue-incheek version of Sonny Corleone in the comedy “Honeymoon in Vegas,” tricking Nicolas Cage into betting his girlfriend, Sarah Jessica Parker, in a high-stakes poker game so he can spirit her away and try to persuade her to marry him.
Other later films included “Flesh and Bone,” “Bottle Rocket” and “Mickey Blue Eyes.” He introduced himself to a new generation playing Walter, the workaholic, stone-faced father of Buddy's Will Ferrell in “Elf.” 6-8 p.m. redondopier.com. Open Mic Night: Grand Vision Foundation. Grand Annex, 434W. Sixth St., San Pedro. 7-9p.m. $5. 310-833-4813, grandvision.org.
Weird Science Teen Program:
Redondo Beach Public Library, North Branch Library, 2000 Artesia Blvd. 2-3p.m. 310-3180675, redondo.org.