James Caan death updates — Fans also mourn mobster movie stars Ray Liotta and Tony Sirico as all three pass away in 2022
HEARTFELT tributes to James Caan are pouring out from fans and old friends alike following his death at the age of 82.
The late actor's passing comes as two other legends from gangster genre movies have died this year: Ray Liotta and Tony Sirico.
Al Jean, a producer of The Simpsons, tweeted a on Saturday that the three actors would now be "having a sitdown up in heaven."
Goodfellas star Ray died in his sleep on May 26 at the age of 67. He was in the Dominican Republic shooting for an upcoming film titled Dangerous Waters.
Tony, who played the iconic Paulie Walnuts on The Sopranos, died at the age of 79 on Friday, just one day after James' family announced his passing in a on Thursday afternoon.
Authorities have not yet revealed the causes of death for both James and Tony.
Read our James Caan blog for updates on his death...
'2 legends gone in the space of a week'
Both James Caan and Tony Sirico died this week, only two days apart from each other.
A fan posted a tribute to both iconic actors, writing: "2 legends gone in the space of a week.
"RIP James Caan & Tony Sirico."
Godfather co-star calls James Caan rude, continued
Russo claimed Caan wasn't amicable to him since the pair attended the first Godfather rehearsal.
He told : "The biggest thorn in his side was, 'Who’s Gianni Russo?’ This guy, he studied with Stella Adler, you name it.
"He was never nice to me from day one. But I’m thinking he was in character cause he’s a thespian."
Godfather co-star Gianni Russo calls James Caan rude
Gianni Russo, the 78-year-old actor who played Carlo Rizzu in The Godfather, recounted a time when James Caan's agent called him as "Any Given Sunday was being produced.
Russo, who was help producing the drama, told the : "He said, ‘You know, Jimmy would be great in this movie. He’s a great sports buff.'
"I said, ‘Do you think I would hire James Caan? I wouldn’t give Jimmy Caan a part in anything.’ He was so rude to me."
The Godfather pays tribute
The crime film paid tribute to James Caan in a tweet, which features a photo of the late actor.
Who was Ray Liotta?
Born on December 18, 1954, most of Ray Liotta's early life was centered in Newark, New Jersey.
In 1978, he graduated with a degree in acting from the University of Miami and moved to New York City afterward.
While living in New York, Liotta landed one of his first acting gigs on the soap opera, Another World.
After appearing in the daytime program from 1978 to 1981, he moved to Los Angeles, California in favor of a motion picture career.
One of his most noteworthy big-screen gigs was in Martin Scorsese's crime movie Goodfellas.
He portrayed real-life New York mobster and crime figure, Henry Hill.
Who was Tony Sirico?
Tony Sirico was an American actor born in New York City on July 29, 1942.
Over the years, Sirco appeared in several projects, including The Sopranos, Goodfellas, Mighty Aphrodite, and Café Society.
He also lent his voice to animated shows like Family Guy and American Dad.
Sirico's death was first announced by his Sopranos co-star, Michael Imperioli, in a touching Instagram tribute.
Despite being confirmed, a cause of death was not released.
‘One helluva mobster movie’
Stand-up comedian Johnny Taylor, Jr, tweeted a joke that Ray Liotta and James Caan must be up in heaven together “making one helluva a mobster movie.”
Never retired
Just last year, James did an interview with where he shared that he was still looking forward to working in his old age.
“I can’t take it easy,” Jimmy said.
“I enjoy working. I love to work with good people. I have more fun when I’m working, because I get to know new people, and mostly good people, you know?
“Really good – always in some, you know, some things there’s a couple of people you meet, and there’s a lot – I have a lot of laughs and I get respect, too, sometimes.”
Rob Reiner saved Jimmy
James Caan’s friend, director Rob Reiner, offered him a role in the psychological thriller film, Misery, in 1989.
At the time, the actor was struggling financially due to his drug addiction battle.
“I had some wonderful people, like Rob Reiner and those guys, God bless them. That was a big-time winner for me,” Caan said.
Mario Lopez honored James Caan
The Saved By the Bell star announced that his son, Santino Rafael, is named after Caan’s character in The Godfather in an Instagram post on Thursday.
He wrote: “I named my son after Santino Corleone in the Godfather and the man who infamously played him passed away today on my son‘s birthday.
“From one Sonny to another… God bless you James Caan & Happy Birthday Sonny!”
Health concerns
James struggled with various mental and physical health complications over the years, including depression, severe chest pain, and back problems.
The talented star was diagnosed with clinical depression in 1981 after his sister died of Leukemia.
In 2015, James was rushed to the hospital with extreme chest pain, and despite concerns of a heart attack, medics attributed it to infection.
The actor has been seen in a wheelchair in more recent years as his health has declined since the incident.
Multiple marriages
The award-winning star has been married four times, the first to Dee Jay Mathis with whom he shares a daughter named Tara.
After their divorce in 1966, James married a former girlfriend of Elvis Presley, Sheila Marie Ryan, but their relationship was short-lived and only lasted a year.
In the early 90s, James married Ingrid Hajek and they had a son together, Alexander James Caan.
The actor tied the knot for the final time in 1995 to a woman named Linda Stokes, and the couple welcomed two sons, James Arthur Caan and Jacob Nicholas Caan.
After 22 years of marriage, the pair divorced citing irreconcilable differences.
Who is James survived by?
The legendary actor is survived by one daughter, Tara Caan.
He is also survived by multiple sons: Scott, Ryan, Alexander James, James Arthur, and Jacob Nicholas.
His son Scott Caan followed in his father’s footsteps and became an actor.
James was not married at the time of his death.
Jimmy on the loss of his sister
After the death of his sister, Barbara in 1981 from leukemia, Caan fell into a deep depression that plagued him for most of his life.
“When I lost her, I couldn’t, I couldn’t handle it, I didn’t know what to do,” he told Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz last July.
The siblings lived close to each other as Barbara even ran his production company.
He told the in 1991 that after his sister’s death: “I realized passion is such an important thing to have in life because it ends so soon, and my passion was to grow up with my son.”
Director pays tribute to old friend
Francis Ford Coppola, James’ longtime friend and director in The Rain People and The Godfather, shared an emotional statement about the late actor.
“Jimmy was someone who stretched through my life longer and closer than any motion picture figure I’ve ever known,” the director told .
“From those earlier times working together on The Rain People, and throughout all the milestones of my life, his films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten.
“He will always be my old friend from Sunnyside, my collaborator and one of the funniest people I’ve ever known.”
Baldwin says health was 'not great'
The late actor's friend Alec Baldwin shared on Instagram that Caan's personal assistant was "one of a handful of people who kept Jimmy alive the last five years because Jimmy's health was not great."
Alec also said that Jimmy taught him how to swear.
"It's an inflection, it's an emphasis."
Over 50 years in the limelight
James’ career began when he played Brian Piccolo in Brian’s Song.
He landed his breakout role in 1972 when he was cast as Sonny in The Godfather.
The film star received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor as well as a Golden Globe for his performance.
He later reprised the role when he returned for Godfather II.
James acted for decades in numerous blockbuster movies, including “Misery,” “Dick Tracy” and most endearingly, “Elf.”
Rocky legend pays tribute
James Caan's former costar Sylvester Stallone honored his friend by sharing a of photos.
Sly captioned the tribute: "I will miss my good friend and great actor, James Caan!
"Tough, Smart, a man’s man. One of a kind!"
Caan on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, continued
The producer's post continued: "Once he said a line in his low gravelly voice & we said 'try one with a little more projection, you and Flint will be outside on opposite ends of the backyard'
"So he said 'Flint c’mere I don’t wanna yell' and then the rest of the line at the same volume. Absolute king."
James Caan on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Film producer Christopher Miller shared a tribute posting to "legend" James Caan.
He wrote: "We were lucky enough to work with James Caan on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.
"He brought a pathos and authenticity to the role of Tim Lockwood that held the film together. RIP to a legend"
Scott Caan has 'no resentment' towards his father
Back in 2010, Scott told he had "no resentment towards his father."
He added: "He made mistakes that affected him — and me — but he's always been there for me no matter what."
James Caan's son on 'dysfunctional' relationship with dad
Scoot Caan, also an actor like his dad, opened up to back in 2010 about their relationship.
The 45-year-old told the news outlet: "To say our relationship wasn't dysfunctional would be a lie."
At the times, his dad James, said: "He saw me when I was a little rough around the edges."
He added: "We're really best buddies. ... I'm proud that he's grown up so well."
James Caan on fatherhood
About 20 years ago, James Caan spoke with about being a dad.
He told the magazine in 2003: "I never saw my dad cry. My son saw me cry.
"My dad never told me he loved me, and consequently I told Scott I loved him every other minute.
"The point is, I'll make less mistakes than my dad, my sons hopefully will make less mistakes than me, and their sons will make less mistakes than their dads."
He added, jokingly: And one of these days, maybe we'll raise a perfect Caan."
Who is Pierce Brosnan?
Pierce Brosnan is a film producer and actor from Ireland. He starred in four films — GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day — from 1995 to 2002, as well as several video games.
He is most known for being the fifth actor to portray secret agent James Bond in the Bond film series.
Brosnan stars in the upcoming film Fast Charlie with Caan.
'You were an inspiration to me'
Actor Pierce Brosnan shared a carousel of photos on Instagram to pay tribute to James Caan.
The two of them appear in the upcoming film Fast Charlie together.
Brosnan wrote: "On the set of the movie 'Fast Charlie' with the great man himself James Caan. Farewell Jimmy. We had many laughs together over those five days in New Orleans.
"You were an inspiration to me as young actor starting out and an even greater one as a man watching you work each day against great physical pain and discomfort.
"You gave of yourself to the art of acting and performance to the very end. My heart has a deep sorrow this day for your passing. I shall cherish the memory of you always. My heart felt condolences to your family. May you Rest In Peace forever in the light."