James Caan, who was nominated for an Oscar for his performance as mob boss Sonny Corleone in The Godfather and an Emmy for his portrayal of NFL running back Brian Piccolo in Brian’s Song, among many other notable roles in movies and television, including Elf and Las Vegas, passed away on Wednesday night.
He was 82. The news was confirmed by his family on Caan’s Twitter page.
James Caan cause of death: How did James Caan die?
Caan gained notoriety in the early 1970s after ten years in the industry thanks to back-to-back iconic roles.
Along with Billy Dee Williams, who played fellow Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers, he received an Emmy nomination for his role as cancer-stricken running back Brian Piccolo in the ABC drama Brian’s Song.
With a 32.9 rating/48 share, it was the most watched TV movie ever at the time.
It also went on to win five Emmys, including Outstanding Single Program – Drama or Comedy.
