Celebrated actor James Caan died on July 6th of this year. Since his death, social media has seen an outpouring of tributes celebrating the man’s life and his lustrous acting career. One of the most touching came from his occasional co-star and long-time friend Sylvester Stallone. The Rocky actor paid tribute to Caan on his Instagram account.
Sylvester Stallone Pays Tribute To James Caan
James Caan, who received critical acclaim and awards for his work on The Godfather, died earlier this month at the age of 82. His family announced the news on Caan’s personal Twitter account. Following the announcement, many notable people in Hollywood paid tributes to the actor, one of which was Caan’s long-time friend Sylvestor Stallone. (1)
Stallone posted a carousel of three photos of himself and Caan over the years. In the caption, he wrote:
“I will miss my good friend and great actor, James Caan! Tough, Smart, a man’s man. One of a kind”
Though they had been friends for many years, Sylvester Stallone and James Caan first worked together in 2005 on season 2 of NBC’s Las Vegas. Caan played the role of Ed Deline. The pair of friends also recently appeared together in the documentary Chuck Zito: An American Story.
As already mentioned, Caan’s family made the announcement via a tweet from Caan’s personal account. The tweet is as follows:
“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. End of tweet.”
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6.
— James Caan (@James_Caan) July 7, 2022
The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.
End of tweet
Not The Only Celebrity Tribute
Other celebrity tributes include his The Godfather co-star Al Pacino. Caan played Pacino’s character’s brother in the films. Pacino referred to him as his “fictional brother and real life friend”.
“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. I’m gonna miss him.”
The director of The Godfather films Francis Ford Coppola also paid tribute to Caan. They worked together on several films, including The Rain People.
“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,” Coppola wrote. “He will always be my old friend from Sunnyside, my collaborator and one of the funniest people I’ve ever known.”
Caan’s most recent co-star, Pierce Brosnan also posted about Caan on his Instagram. The pair had just finished filming an upcoming film Fast Charlie, a gangster thriller. During the month that they worked together, Caan spent most of that time in a wheelchair due to his failing health.
“On the set of the movie Fast Charlie with the great man himself James Cann, farewell Jimmy. We had many laughs together over those five days in New Orleans…” Brosnan wrote. “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 very end. My heart has a deep sorrow this day for your passing. I shall cherish the memory of you always. My heartfelt condolences to your family. May you Rest In Peace, forever in the light.
A Brilliant Career
Born in Brooklyn, New York, James Caan led a very successful Hollywood career. He starred in favorites such as The Godfather, Mystery, and Elf. He won four Golden Globes and had many Oscar and Emmy nominations. Hollywood honored him in 1978 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. More than anything, people knew him for his love for the career.
“I really want to work. I taught an acting class for a couple of years here, which was fun and rewarding, but it’s not as much fun as doing it. I just want the opportunity, while I’m still walking, to do something that will have you calling me and saying, ‘Jimmy, that was really good.’ ” he said in one of his last interviews. (2)
Our hearts go out to Caan’s family and loved ones. May he rest in peace.
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