“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.
loved him, gonna miss him.” Robert De Niro also wrote that he was,
“very very sad to hear about Jimmy’s passing.”A football player at Michigan State University and a practical joker on production sets,
James Edmund Caan was born in the Bronx borough of New York City on March 26, 1940 to German Jewish immigrants.
One of three siblings, Caan began acting on television in 1961. He gained widespread acclaim for his role in the 1971 TV movie Brian's Song,
in which he played real-life Chicago Bears football player Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer at age 26. The role earned Caan an Emmy nomination.
One of three siblings, Caan began acting on television in 1961. He gained widespread acclaim for his role in the 1971 TV movie Brian's Song,
One of three siblings, Caan began acting on television in 1961. He gained widespread acclaim for his role in the 1971 TV movie Brian's Song,