Legendary actor James Caan passed away at the age of 82. His long career included two films set on the gridiron, including “Brian’s Song.”
Legendary actor James Caan passed away on the evening of July 6, 2022. His family announced the news of his passing on social media Thursday afternoon:
Caan’s legendary career began in the 1960s. with a stage turn off-Broadway before making it to Broadway itself in Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole. Prior to turning to acting, he attended Hofstra University and while he did not graduate, he was classmates with Francis Ford Coppola, a relationship that would continue during his acting days.
Caan’s star turn came on the silver screen, as his former Hofstra classmate cast him as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather. For his portrayal of the ill-tempered Corleone brother, Caan earned an Academy Award nomination.
Among his many roles over the years, football fans might recognize him from two sports productions. In 1970 he was cast as Brian Piccolo in the television movie Brian’s Song, playing the Chicago Bears running back who passed away at the age of 26 due to an aggressive form of cancer.
Over 20 years later, Caan portrayed Coach Sam Winters in The Program, a film following a fictional college football team, the ESU Timberwolves, that had an striking similarity to the Florida State Seminoles. Caan played the head coach of the Timberwolves, trying to balance NCAA rules alongside the pressure of getting a once-proud program back to a bowl game.
Caan was 82 years old.
