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James Caan

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For the British entrepreneur, see James Caan (entrepreneur).

James Caan
Caan in 1976.
Born
James Edmund Caan

(1940-03-26) March 26, 1940 (age 84)
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Other names
  • Jimmy Caan
OccupationActor
Years active1961–present
Spouse(s)Dee Jay Mattis
(1960–66; divorced)
Sheila Marie Ryan
(1976–77; divorced)
Ingrid Hajek
(1990–95; divorced)
Linda Stokes (1995–2009; divorced)
Children5, including Scott Caan

James Edmund Caan[2] (born March 26, 1940) is an American actor. After early roles in The Glory Guys (1965) and El Dorado (1966), he came to prominence in the 1970s with significant roles in films such as Brian's Song (1971), The Gambler (1974), Funny Lady (1975), and A Bridge Too Far (1977). For his signature role in The Godfather (1972), that of hot-tempered Sonny Corleone, Caan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the corresponding Golden Globe.

Caan's subsequent notable performances include roles in Thief (1981), Misery (1990), For the Boys (1991), Bottle Rocket (1996) and Elf (2003), as well as the role of "Big Ed" Deline in the television series Las Vegas (2003-08). He also prominently lent his voice to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013) as Tim Lockwood, father of Bill Hader's protagonist Flint Lockwood.

Early life

Caan was born on March 26, 1940 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, where he studied for five years; one of his instructors was Sanford Meisner.[5]

Career

1961–1969

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

He appeared 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.

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, he had an uncredited role as "Rupert of Rathskeller" on the spy sitcom Get Smart. 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.[10]

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,[11] the studio insisted on having Caan, so he remained in the production.

Caan in 1972

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?"[12]

From 1971-82, 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.[13]

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. Although the film was not successful at the time, Caan's performance was widely lauded and the movie has acquired something of a cult following. Caan always praised Mann's script and direction and has often said that next to The Godfather, Thief is the movie of which he is proudest. [5]

Caan rejected a series of starring roles that proved to be successes for other actors, including The French Connection, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Kramer vs. Kramer, Apocalypse Now, Blade Runner, Love Story and Superman.[14][15]

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).[16] He also liked his performances in The Rain People and Thief.[17]

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,"[citation needed] and did not act in any films. In a 1991 interview, Caan claimed that making the 1982 film Kiss Me Goodbye was another factor in this self-imposed exile. Caan called it one of the worst experiences of his life and professed that director Robert Mulligan was the most incompetent filmmaker he had ever worked with. [5] He walked off the set of The Holcroft Covenant and was replaced by Michael Caine. Caan devoted much of his time during these years to coaching children's sports.[citation needed]

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.[18]

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.[citation needed]

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.[19]

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

Recent years

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.[citation needed]

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.[20]

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.[citation needed]

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[21] The film had its US premiere on January 28, 2015 at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Crackle premiered The Throwaways on January 30, 2015. Caan plays Lt. Col. Christopher Holden, who leads a team fighting a cyberterrorist.[22]

On March 13, 2016, Caan appeared with his co-stars at the South by Southwest premiere of The Waiting (2016); the film was picked up for theatrical distribution by Vertical Entertainment in May 2016.[23]

Other work

Caan is a practicing martial artist. He has trained with Takayuki Kubota for nearly thirty years, earning various ranks.[24] 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,[25] he married Dee Jay Mathis; they divorced in 1966. They had a daughter, Tara (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.[26] 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.[citation needed]

Caan has described his political views as "ultra conservative".[27]

In 1994 he was arrested after being accused by a Los Angeles rap artist of pulling a gun on him.[28]

According to a Fortune Magazine profile of Barry Minkow, during the production of the biopic based on the investor's life, 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.[29]

Children

James Caan has five children and four grandchildren, three from his eldest daughter Tara and one from his son Scott.[30]

Filmography

See also: List of actors who have appeared in multiple Best Picture Academy Award winners

Film

Title Year Role Notes
Irma la Douce 1963 Soldier with radio (uncredited)[citation needed]
Lady in a Cage 1964 Randall Simpson O'Connell
The Glory Guys 1965 Pvt. Anthony Dugan Nominated – Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor
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
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 (uncredited cameo)
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
Another Man, Another Chance 1977 David Williams aka Un autre homme, une autre chance
Comes a Horseman 1978 Frank 'Buck' Athearn
1941 1979 Sailor in fight (uncredited)[citation needed]
Chapter Two 1979 George Schneider
Hide in Plain Sight 1980 Thomas Hacklin Also directed
Thief 1981 Frank
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
Mickey Blue Eyes 1999 Frank Vitale
The Yards 2000 Frank Olchin
Luckytown 2000 Charlie Doyles
The Way of the Gun 2000 Joe Sarno
Viva Las Nowhere 2001 Roy Baker
In the Shadows 2001 Lance Huston
Night at the Golden Eagle 2002 Prison Warden (uncredited)[citation needed]
City of Ghosts 2002 Marvin
Jericho Mansions 2003 Leonard Grey
Dogville 2003 The Big Man
This Thing of Ours 2003 Jimmy 'the con'
Elf 2003 Walter Hobbs
Santa's Slay 2005 Darren Mason (uncredited)[citation needed]
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
Detachment 2011 Mr. Seaboldt
Small Apartments 2012 Mr. Allspice
That's My Boy 2012 Father McNally
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
A Fighting Man 2014 Brother Albright
The Outsider 2014 Schuuster
Preggoland 2014 Walter
The Throwaways 2014 Lt. Col. Christopher Holden
Sicilian Vampire 2015 Professor Bernard Isaacs
Wuthering High 2015 Earnshaw
The Good Neighbor 2016 Harold Grainey (screened at SXSW)

Television

Title Year Role Notes
Combat! 1964 Sgt. Beckman 1 episode
Brian's Song 1971 Brian Piccolo TV movie
Nominated – Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or a Movie
Les Uns et les Autres 1981 Jack Glenn/Jason Glenn aka Dance of Life
TV miniseries
Poodle Springs 1998 Philip Marlowe TV movie
Warden of Red Rock 2001 John Flinders TV movie
A Glimpse of Hell 2001 Capt. Fred Moosally TV movie
Blood Crime 2002 Sheriff Morgan McKenna TV movie
Las Vegas 2003–2008 Ed Deline 88 episodes
The Annoying Orange 2010 Jalepeño (voice, web-based series)
Hawaii Five-0 2012 Tony Archer 1 episode
Magic City 2013 Sy Berman 5 episodes
Back in the Game 2013 Terry "The Cannon" Gannon 13 episodes
JL Ranch 2016 Tap Peterson TV movie

References

  1. ^ Mirbagheri, Ben. "Gilded Estates: James Caan Home". Gilded Estates. Variety. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  2. ^ "James Caan". TV Guide. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Model, Betsy. "The Ultimate Caan". Cigar Aficionado. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
  4. ^ James Caan profile, FilmReference.com; accessed April 17, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. ^ Haber, Joyce, "James Caan: Hollywood's Jock of All Trades", Los Angeles Times, May 27, 1973.
  9. ^ Harford, Margaret (September 30, 1965). "Career's the Thing for James Caan". Los Angeles Times. p. A10.
  10. ^ Robbins, Caryn (October 2, 2013). "BWW Interviews - James Caan, Maggie Lawson Chat New ABC Comedy BACK IN THE GAME". Broadway World.
  11. ^ Maggie Van Ostrand. "'Leave the Gun. Take the Cannoli,' and Other Godfather Stories". Film School Rejects.
  12. ^ Mark Seal. "The Godfather Wars". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  13. ^ "James Caan Filmography". TCM.
  14. ^ "Caan Rues The Bad Choices That Prompted Him To Turn Down Movies". Contactmusic.com. September 12, 2005. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  15. ^ 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. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  16. ^ Siskel, Gene (November 27, 1977). "James Caan's career hitting tough times". Chicago Tribune. p. e6.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Siskel, Gene (May 3, 1987). "Film: A star is reborn James Caan acts his way out of a deep slump". Chicago Tribune. p. L6.
  19. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (May 17, 2004). "James Caan Takes a Gamble 'On Las Vegas,' and Scores". The New York Times. p. E1. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  20. ^ "Website offers filmmakers aid". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  21. ^ "TIFF 14 - Preggoland". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  22. ^ Elavksy, Cindy (November 10, 2014). "Q and A: Week of Nov. 10". King Features. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  23. ^ SXSW genre films “THE WAITING” and “I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER” land distribution
  24. ^ "The History of Karate in America", usadojo.com; retrieved November 1, 2006.
  25. ^ "James Caan profile". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  26. ^ "Upi Entertainment News" 27 January 2015
  27. ^ "James Caan Refuses to Be the Typical 'Hollywood Liberal'". Fox News. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  28. ^ "James Caan Arrested, Released After Alleged Gun Incident". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  29. ^ "Barry Minkow: All-American con man". Features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com. Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  30. ^ Scott Caan daughter, dailymail.co.uk; accessed April 17, 2016.
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