James Caan, best known for playing Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, dies at 82

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The family of James Caan, a prolific actor best recognized for his parts in “The Godfather” movies, announced his passing on Thursday.

Caan’s family posted on Twitter that he had passed away at the age of 82.

“The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.” They did not mention a cause of death.

Caan may be best known for his role as Sonny Corleone in the 1972 classic “The Godfather,” which earned him an Oscar nomination for best-supporting actor and the Golden Globe for best-supporting actor. He reprised the role in “The Godfather Part II” in 1974.

Caan, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and John Cazale in The Godfather

His decadeslong film career began in the 1960s, with starring roles in the Howard Hawks’ films “Red Line 7000” and “El Dorado.”

In the 1971 television movie “Brian’s Song,” Caan played a dying football player, earning him an Emmy nomination. Throughout the 1970s, he continued to work consistently in the movie industry, appearing in titles including “A Bridge Too Far,” “The Gambler,” and “Funny Lady,” the latter two of which led to Golden Globe nominations.

In the 1990 thriller “Misery,” Caan made a noteworthy appearance as a bedridden writer opposite Kathy Bates’s obsessive admirer after taking a hiatus from acting for several years in the 1980s.

Additionally, Caan gave noteworthy performances in “The Yards,” “Dogville,” and “Elf.” He most recently had an appearance in the love story “Queen Bees” from 2021.

Tributes to the legendary actor immediately followed news of his death.

“Was lucky enough, after a lifetime of loving his work, to get to work with him and I loved him as a person even more,” comedian Andy Richter said. “Funny, warm, self-deprecating, and effortlessly talented. They say never meet your heroes, but he proved that to be very very wrong.”

Adam Sandler was also among many other celebrities that took to Twitter to express his grief.

Caan was married four times and is survived by five children, including the actor Scott Caan.