Actor James Caan, star of films such as The Godfather and Elf, has died at the age of 82.
His family said in a statement on Twitter: “It is with great sadness that we inform you of Jimmy’s passing on the afternoon of July 6th.
“The family appreciates the desire for love and the deepest condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. End of the tweet.”
Caan was born in 1940 in the Bronx, New York, the son of Jewish immigrants from Germany.
Image: Image: AP
Eager to avoid following his father in the meat trade, he initially looked at a career in American football, but became interested in acting during college.
His big break came in 1972 when he played the hectic and turbulent Sonny in The Godfather, a role that saw him nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, as well as a Golden Globe.
He reprized the role in Godfather II.
Caan also received an Emmy nomination as the star of the Chicago Bears, affected by cancer, Brian Piccolo in ABC’s Brian’s Song.
Image: James Caan (center right) as Sonny Corleone with his starring partners in The Godfather – Al Pacino (l), Marlon Brando and John Cazale (r) Image: James Caan (left) with Will Ferrell in Elf
Other appearances include Honeymoon In Vegas, Bulletproof, Mickey Blue Eyes, Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead and the Christmas comedy Elf, in which he played the father of Will Ferrell’s businessman.
Caan married four times, the last time with Linda Stokes between 1995 and 2017.
He had five children, one of whom, Scott, followed him to act, appearing in Ocean’s Eleven, Gone In 60 Seconds and the reboot of Hawaii Five-0.