Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty, Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty, Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
“A great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend. I loved him, gonna miss him,” added Pacino, 82.
Robert De Nirosaid in a statement that he is “very very sad to hear about Jimmy’s passing,” whileTalia Shiresaid, “James was a good man, a kind man, a family man and a wildly gifted man — whose great talent will always be loved and remembered.”
“My prayers are with his family that he treasured so dearly,” added Shire, 76.
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Francis Ford Coppola and James Caan in 2010.Dominique Charriau/Getty Images
RELATED GALLERY:FromThe GodfathertoElf, Looking Back on James Caan’s Most Memorable Roles
Coppola, 83, remembered Caan in a statement provided to PEOPLE as “someone who stretched through my life longer and closer than any motion-picture figure I’ve ever known.”
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“From those earlier times working together onThe Rain Peopleand throughout all the milestones of my life, his films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten,” the filmmaker continued. “He will always be my old friend from Sunnyside, my collaborator and one of the funniest people I’ve ever known.”
Atweet from Caan’s official accountThursday read, “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,” the tweet added.
A cause of death was not made immediately available.
James Caan inThe Godfather(1972).CBS via Getty
PEOPLE recently spoke withDan Fogler, who played Coppola in Paramount+‘sThe Offer, about getting intel from Caan on what Coppola was like while makingThe Godfather.
“It was really awesome because [Caan has] known [Coppola] for a long, long time,” said Fogler, 45. “And hegave me some great little feedbacks. Like certain things, like he doesn’t suffer fools and stuff like that. And little tidbits, little gems like that were really helpful.”
Caan himself recently opened up about thelasting legacy ofThe Godfather— in which he played Vito Corleone’s (Marlon Brando) oldest son, Sonny — for the beloved crime epic’s 50th anniversary.
His anger at Coppola aside, “Otherwise, he gave me a great honor,” Caan said with a laugh.
source: people.com
