James Caan

For other people named James Caan, see James Caan (disambiguation).
James Caan

Caan in 1972.
Born March 26, 1940
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Residence Beverly Hills, California, U.S.[1]
Other names
  • Jimmy Caan
  • Jimmy Cahn
Occupation Actor
Years active 1961–present
Spouse(s) Dee Jay Mattis
(1960–1966; divorced)
Sheila Marie Ryan
(1976–1977; divorced)
Ingrid Hajek
(1990–1995; divorced)
Linda Stokes
(1995–2009; divorced)
Children 5, including Scott Caan

James Edmund Caan[2] (born March 26, 1940) is an American actor. He is best known for his starring roles in The Godfather, Thief, The Gambler, Misery, A Bridge Too Far, Brian's Song, Rollerball, Kiss Me Goodbye, El Dorado and Elf. He also starred as "Big Ed" Deline in the television series Las Vegas.

Early life

Caan was born in The Bronx, New York, the son of Sophie (née Falkenstein) and Arthur Caan, Jewish immigrants from Germany.[3] His father was a meat dealer and butcher.[4][5] One of three siblings,[6][7] Caan grew up in Sunnyside, Queens, New York City.[3] He was educated in New York City, and later attended Michigan State University. He later transferred to Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, but did not graduate. His classmates at Hofstra included Lainie Kazan and Francis Ford Coppola.

While studying at Hofstra University, however, he became intrigued by acting and was interviewed for, accepted to, and graduated from, New York City's Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. There, one of his instructors was Sanford Meisner.[5] He studied at the school for five years.

Career

1961–1969

Caan began appearing on off-Broadway before making his Broadway debut with Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole.[8]

He began appearing in such television series as The Untouchables, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Kraft Suspense Theatre, Combat!, Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, The Wide Country, Alcoa Premiere, Route 66, and Naked City. For example, in "The Hunt" on episode 9, season 1 for Suspense Theater, he was the young surfer being hunted by the sadistic sheriff played by Mickey Rooney.

Starring in Submarine X-1 (1969)

In 1964, he starred as Jewish athlete Jeff Brubaker in the episode "My Son, the All-American" of Channing, a drama about college life.

His first substantial film role was as a punk hoodlum in the 1964 thriller Lady in a Cage, which starred Olivia de Havilland.[5] In 1965, he landed his first starring role, in Howard Hawks' auto-racing drama Red Line 7000.[9]

In 1966, Caan appeared as Alan Bourdillion Traherne, aka Mississippi, in El Dorado, with John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. He had a starring role in Robert Altman's second feature film, Countdown, in 1968.

In 1969, his appearance on the spy sitcom Get Smart was uncredited, billed as "Rupert of Rathskeller as Himself"; in that same year he won praise for his role as a brain-damaged football player in The Rain People (1969) directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

1970–1981

In 1971, Caan won more acclaim, as dying football player Brian Piccolo, opposite Billy Dee Williams, in the television movie Brian's Song,[5] which was later released theatrically.

The following year, Coppola cast him as the short-tempered Sonny Corleone in The Godfather. Originally, Caan was cast as Michael Corleone (Sonny's youngest brother); both Coppola and Caan demanded that this role be played by Al Pacino, so Caan could play Sonny instead. Although another actor was already signed to play Sonny,[10] the studio insisted on having Caan, so he remained in the production.

Caan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film, competing with co-stars Robert Duvall and Pacino.[5] Caan was closely identified with the role for years afterward: "They called me a wiseguy. I won Italian of the Year twice in New York, and I'm not Italian.... I was denied in a country club once. Oh yeah, the guy sat in front of the board, and he says, 'No, no, he's a wiseguy, been downtown. He's a made guy.' I thought, What? Are you out of your mind?"[11]

Discussing role in A Bridge Too Far in 1976

From 1971 to 1982, Caan appeared in many films, playing a wide variety of roles. His films included T.R. Baskin, Cinderella Liberty, Freebie and the Bean, The Godfather Part II, Rollerball, a musical turn in Funny Lady, Harry And Walter Go To New York, A Bridge Too Far, Comes A Horseman, and Neil Simon's autobiographical Chapter Two.

In 1980, Caan directed Hide in Plain Sight, a film about a father searching for his children, who were lost in the Witness Protection Program.[5] Despite critical praise, the film was not a hit with the public.

The following year, Caan appeared in the neo-noir movie Thief, directed by Michael Mann, in which he played a professional safe cracker.[5]

Caan rejected a series of starring roles that proved to be successes for other actors, including One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, ' Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Kramer vs. Kramer, Apocalypse Now, Blade Runner, and Superman.[12][13]

1982–1986

From 1982 to 1987, Caan suffered from depression over his sister's death from leukemia, a growing problem with cocaine, and what he described as "Hollywood burnout," and did not act in any films.[5] He walked off the set of The Holcroft Covenant and was replaced by Michael Caine.[14]

Comeback

He returned to acting in 1987, when Coppola cast him as an army platoon sergeant for the 3rd US Infantry Regiment ("The Old Guard") in Gardens of Stone, a film that dealt with the effect of the Vietnam War on the United States homefront.[15] In 1988 and 1990, Caan starred in the films Alien Nation, Dick Tracy, and Misery, a hit film that marked a comeback for Caan.[5] Since the script for Misery called for Caan's character, Paul Sheldon, to spend most of his time lying in bed, the role was turned down by many of Hollywood's leading actors before Caan accepted.

In 1992, Caan appeared in Honeymoon in Vegas, and in 1993, he played Coach Winters in The Program, alongside Halle Berry. In 1996, he appeared in Bottle Rocket, and with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Eraser, and later starred as kingpin Frank Colton in Bulletproof with Adam Sandler and Damon Wayans. In 1998, Caan portrayed Philip Marlowe in the HBO film Poodle Springs.

Some of his more recent appearances have been in Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), The Way of the Gun (2000), The Yards (2000),[5] City of Ghosts (2002), Night at the Golden Eagle (2002), Dogville (2003), and Elf (2003).

Las Vegas

In 2003, Caan auditioned for and won the role of Montecito Hotel/Casino president "Big Ed" Deline in Las Vegas.[14]

On February 27, 2007, Caan announced that he would not return to the show for its fifth season in order to return to film work; he was replaced by Tom Selleck.

Recent years

Caan at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

Caan played the President of the United States in the 2008 film Get Smart, and had a part in the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs as the voice of the father of the lead character, Flint.

In 2012, Caan was a guest-star on the re-imagined Hawaii Five-0, playing opposite his son, Scott Caan who plays Danny "Danno" Williams. As of 2010 Caan is the chairman of an Internet company, Openfilm, intended to help upcoming filmmakers.[16]

In 2013, Caan portrayed Chicago mob kingpin Sy Berman in the Starz TV drama Magic City. The series was not renewed for a third season, and Caan's character was apparently killed by "the Butcher" Ben Diamond, his erstwhile protege, portrayed by Danny Huston.

In 2014, Caan appeared in the dramatic-comedy Preggoland, playing a father who is disappointed with his daughter's lack of ambition, but who becomes overjoyed when she (falsely) announces that she is pregnant. The film premiered in the Special Presentations section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival[17] and is scheduled to be released in the United States in May 2015.

In December 2014, Crackle plans to air The Throwaways, where Caan plays Lt. Col. Christopher Holden, who leads a team fighting a cyberterrorist.[18]

Other work

Caan is a practicing martial artist. He has trained with Takayuki Kubota for nearly thirty years, earning various ranks.[19] He is a Master (Rank = 6 Dan) of Gosoku Ryu Karate and was granted the title of Soke Dai by the International Karate Association. Caan trained the Culver City Police Department in martial arts use.[3]

Personal life

Caan has been married four times. In 1961,[20] he married Dee Jay Mathis; they divorced in 1966. They had a daughter, Tara A. Caan, born 1964. Caan's second marriage to Sheila Marie Ryan (a former girlfriend of Elvis Presley) in 1976 was short-lived; they divorced the following year. Their son, Scott Caan, who also is an actor, was born August 23, 1976.

Caan was married to Ingrid Hajek from September 1990 to March 1994; they had a son, Alexander James Caan, born 1991. He married Linda Stokes on October 7, 1995, they have two sons, James Arthur Caan (born 1995) and Jacob Nicholas Caan (born 1998). Caan filed for divorce on November 20, 2009, citing irreconcilable differences.

Caan describes his political views as "ultra conservative".[21]

In 1994 he was arrested after being accused by a Los Angeles rap artist of pulling a gun on him.[22]

According to Fortune magazine's profile of Barry Minkow, during the production of the biopic based on the investor's life, James Caan socialized with Minkow and was made aware by him that the financing of the film involved illegally obtained funds. However, nothing suggests Caan had any involvement with any illegalities.[23]

James Caan has five children and four grandchildren, three from his eldest daughter Tara and one from his son Scott.[24]

Self-appraisal

In 1977, Caan rated several of his movies out of ten – The Godfather (10), Freebie and the Bean (4), Cinderella Liberty (8), The Gambler (8), Funny Lady (9), Rollerball (8), The Killer Elite (5), Harry and Walter Go to New York (0), Slither (4), A Bridge Too Far (7), Another Man Another Chance (10) and Kiss Me Goodbye (0). [25] He also liked his performances in The Rain People and Thief.[26]

Filmography

Title Year Role Notes
Irma la Douce 1963 Soldier with radio (uncredited)
Combat! 1964 Sgt. Beckman
Lady in a Cage 1964 Randall Simpson O'Connell
The Glory Guys 1965 Pvt. Anthony Dugan
Red Line 7000 1965 Mike
El Dorado 1966 Alan Bourdillion Traherne ('Mississippi')
Games 1967 Paul Montgomery
Submarine X-1 1968 Cmdr. Richard Bolton, RNVR
Countdown 1968 Lee Stegler
Journey to Shiloh 1968 Buck Burnett
The Rain People 1969 Jimmy Kilgannon (Killer)
Rabbit, Run 1970 Rabbit Angstrom
T.R. Baskin 1971 Larry Moore
Brian's Song 1971 Brian Piccolo Nominated – Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or a Movie
The Godfather 1972 Santino 'Sonny' Corleone Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Slither 1973 Dick Kanipsia
Cinderella Liberty 1973 John Baggs Jr.
The Gambler 1974 Axel Freed Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
The Godfather Part II 1974 Sonny Corleone
Freebie and the Bean 1974 Freebie
Funny Lady 1975 Billy Rose Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Rollerball 1975 Jonathan E. Saturn Award for Best Actor tied with Don Johnson for A Boy and His Dog
Gone with the West 1975 Jud McGraw
The Killer Elite 1975 Mike Locken
Harry and Walter Go to New York 1976 Harry Dighby
Silent Movie 1976 Himself
A Bridge Too Far 1977 Sgt. Eddie Dohun
Un autre homme, une autre chance 1977 David Williams aka Another Man, Another Chance
Comes a Horseman 1978 Frank 'Buck' Athearn
1941 1979 Sailor in fight (uncredited)
Chapter Two 1979 George Schneider
Hide in Plain Sight 1980 Thomas Hacklin Also directed
Thief 1981 Frank
Les Uns et les Autres 1981 Jack Glenn/Jason Glenn aka Dance of Life
Kiss Me Goodbye 1982 Jolly Villano
Gardens of Stone 1987 SFC Clell Hazard
Alien Nation 1988 Det. Sgt. Matthew Sykes
Dick Tracy 1990 Spud Spaldoni
Misery 1990 Paul Sheldon Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actor
The Dark Backward 1991 Doctor Scurvy
For the Boys 1991 Eddie Sparks
Honeymoon in Vegas 1992 Tommy Korman
The Program 1993 Coach Sam Winters
Flesh and Bone 1993 Roy Sweeney
A Boy Called Hate 1995 Jim
North Star 1996 Sean McLennon
Bottle Rocket 1996 Mr. Henry
Eraser 1996 U.S. Marshal Robert Deguerin
Bulletproof 1996 Frank Colton
This Is My Father 1998 Kieran Johnson
Poodle Springs 1998 Philip Marlowe
Mickey Blue Eyes 1999 Frank Vitale
The Yards 2000 Frank Olchin
Luckytown 2000 Charlie Doyles
The Way of the Gun 2000 Joe Sarno
Warden of Red Rock 2001 John Flinders
Viva Las Nowhere 2001 Roy Baker
A Glimpse of Hell 2001 Capt. Fred Moosally
In the Shadows 2001 Lance Huston
Night at the Golden Eagle 2002 Prison Warden (uncredited)
City of Ghosts 2002 Marvin
Blood Crime 2002 Sheriff Morgan McKenna
Jericho Mansions 2003 Leonard Grey
Dogville 2003 The Big Man
This Thing of Ours 2003 Jimmy 'the con'
Elf 2003 Walter Hobbs
Las Vegas 2003–2008 Ed Deline
Santa's Slay 2005 Darren Mason (uncredited)
Wisegal 2008 Salvatore Palmeri
Get Smart 2008 The President
Mercy 2009 Gerry Ryan
Something, Something, Something, Darkside 2009 Himself (voice, one line)
New York, I Love You 2009 Mr. Riccoli (segment "Brett Ratner")
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2009 Tim Lockwood (Flint's father) (voice)
Middle Men 2010 Jerry Haggerty
Henry's Crime 2010 Max
Minkow 2010 Paul Vinsant
The Annoying Orange 2010 Jalepeño (voice, web-based series)
Detachment 2011 Mr. Seaboldt
Small Apartments 2012 Mr. Allspice
That's My Boy 2012 Father McNally
Hawaii Five-0 2012 Tony Archer Season 2 Episode 18 "Lekio" (Radio)
Blood Ties 2013 Leon Pierzynski
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 2013 Tim Lockwood (Flint's father) (voice)
Anyone's Son 2013 John Hanna
Back in the Game 2013 Terry "The Cannon" Gannon
A Fighting Man 2014 Brother Albright
The Outsider 2014 Schuuster
Preggoland 2014 Walter
The Throwaways 2014 Lt. Col. Christopher Holden
Wuthering High 2015 Earnshaw

References

  1. ↑ Mirbagheri, Ben. "Gilded Estates: James Caan Home". Gilded Estates. Variety. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "James Caan". TV Guide. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Model, Betsy. "The Ultimate Caan". Cigar Aficionado. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
  4. ↑ James Caan profile at Film Reference.com
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2000
  6. ↑ "James Caan biography". Notablebiographies.com. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Overview for James Caan". Tcm.com. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  8. ↑ James Caan: Hollywood's Jock of All Trades Haber, Joyce. Los Angeles Times (1923–Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] May 27, 1973: o11.
  9. ↑ Harford, Margaret (September 30, 1965). "Career's the Thing for James Caan". Los Angeles Times. p. A10.
  10. ↑ Maggie Van Ostrand. "‘Leave the Gun. Take the Cannoli,’ and Other Godfather Stories". Film School Rejects.
  11. ↑ Mark Seal. "The Godfather Wars". Vanity Fair.
  12. ↑ "James Caan | Caan Rues The Bad Choices That Prompted Him To Turn Down Movies". Contactmusic.com. September 12, 2005. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  13. ↑ Bernard Weinraub (November 17, 1991). "James Caan Rises From the Ashes of His Career". The New York Times. p. H13. It wasn't that I did bad pictures. I just banished myself for a while.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Weinraub, Bernard (May 17, 2004). "James Caan Takes a Gamble 'On Las Vegas,' and Scores". The New York Times. p. E1.
  15. ↑ Siskel, Gene (May 3, 1987). "Film: A star is reborn James Caan acts his way out of a deep slump". Chicago Tribune. p. L6.
  16. ↑ "Website offers filmmakers aid". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  17. ↑ "TIFF 14 - Preggoland". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  18. ↑ Elavksy, Cindy (November 10, 2014). "Q and A: Week of Nov. 10". King Features. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  19. ↑ "The History of Karate in America" The American Black Belt Society, Retrieved November 1, 2006
  20. ↑ Encyclopedia.com. "James Caan". http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/James_Caan.aspx''.
  21. ↑ "James Caan Refuses to Be the Typical 'Hollywood Liberal'". Fox News. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  22. ↑ "James Caan Arrested, Released After Alleged Gun Incident". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Barry Minkow: All-American con man – Fortune Features". Features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  24. ↑ Scott Caan daughter
  25. ↑ Siskel, Gene (November 27, 1977). "James Caan's career hitting tough times". Chicago Tribune. p. e6.
  26. ↑ Siskel, Gene (May 11, 1980). "Movies: James Caan: Frustrated star talks tough about his career Tough talk from a frustrated star". Chicago Tribune. p. d2.

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