James Caan

Biography

James Caan was an American actor who trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse. He worked off-Broadway before reaching Broadway in Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole. Early films included El Dorado (1966), Countdown (1967), and The Rain People (1969). The television movie Brian's Song (1971) earned him an Emmy nomination for playing Brian Piccolo. He came to prominence as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972), earning Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for supporting actor. He followed with Funny Lady (1975), The Gambler (1974), Rollerball (1975), Thief (1981), and A Bridge Too Far (1977), and directed Hide in Plain Sight (1978). After a break from acting, he returned in Gardens of Stone (1987), Alien Nation (1988), and Misery (1990). Later roles included Eraser (1996), Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), The Yards (2000), Get Smart (2008), and Elf (2003). His final film role was in Fast Charlie (2023).

82years old at death

Born March 26, 1940The Bronx
Died July 6, 2022Westwood
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19

Movie Career

Films: 70
Career span: 59 years1964 to 2023

Genres

Drama60%, 42 films
Comedy39%, 27 films
Crime39%, 27 films
Action24%, 17 films
Romance19%, 13 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Early training
Caan studied acting for five years at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where one of his instructors was Sanford Meisner.

James Caan movies on Netflix

Fast Charlie2023IMDb rating 6.0as Stan Mullen
Queen Bees2021IMDb rating 6.4as Dan
JL Family Ranch: The Wedding Gift2020IMDb rating 5.9as Tap
It Takes a Lunatic2019IMDb rating 6.6as Himself
Con Man2018IMDb rating 4.8as Agent Gamble
Out of Blue2018IMDb rating 4.8as Colonel Tom Rockwell
Undercover Grandpa2017IMDb rating 5.3as Grandpa
J.L. Family Ranch2016IMDb rating 5.5as Tap
The Good Neighbor2016IMDb rating 6.3as Harold Grainey
The Outsider2015IMDb rating 4.7as Schuuster
The Throwaways2015IMDb rating 4.7as Holden
A Fighting Man2014IMDb rating 5.5as Mike 'Brother' Albright
Preggoland2014IMDb rating 5.6as Walter
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 22013IMDb rating 6.3as Tim Lockwood (voice)
Seduced and Abandoned2013IMDb rating 6.6as Himself
For the Love of Money2012IMDb rating 4.4as Micky
Small Apartments2012IMDb rating 6.1as Mr. Allspice
That's My Boy2012IMDb rating 5.6as Father McNally
The Godfather Legacy2012IMDb rating 8.0as Himself
Detachment2011IMDb rating 7.7as Mr. Charles Seaboldt
Henry's Crime2010IMDb rating 5.9as Max Saltzman
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs2009IMDb rating 6.9as Tim Lockwood (voice)
Family Guy Presents: Something, Something, Something, Dark Side2009IMDb rating 7.7as James Caan
Middle Men2009IMDb rating 6.8as Jerry Haggerty
Get Smart2008IMDb rating 6.5as The President
New York, I Love You2008IMDb rating 6.2as Mr. Riccoli (segment "Brett Ratner")
Wisegal2008IMDb rating 6.1as Salvatore Palmeri
Santa's Slay2005IMDb rating 5.4as Darren Mason
Elf2003IMDb rating 7.1as Walter
City of Ghosts2002IMDb rating 5.9as Marvin
Lathe of Heaven2002IMDb rating 5.8as Dr. William Haber
The Way of the Gun2000IMDb rating 6.6as Joe Sarno
The Yards2000IMDb rating 6.4as Frank Olchin
Mickey Blue Eyes1999IMDb rating 5.9as Frank Vitale
Poodle Springs1998IMDb rating 6.0as Philip Marlowe
Bottle Rocket1996IMDb rating 6.9as Mr. Abe Henry
Bulletproof1996IMDb rating 5.8as Colton
Eraser1996IMDb rating 6.2as U.S. Marshal Robert DeGuerin
North Star1996IMDb rating 4.9as Sean McLennon
Flesh and Bone1993IMDb rating 6.3as Roy Sweeney
The Program1993IMDb rating 6.5as Sam Winters
Honeymoon in Vegas1992IMDb rating 5.9as Tommy Korman
For the Boys1991IMDb rating 6.4as Eddie Sparks
The Dark Backward1991IMDb rating 5.7as Doctor Scurvy
Dick Tracy1990IMDb rating 6.2as Spaldoni
Misery1990IMDb rating 7.8as Paul Sheldon
Alien Nation1988IMDb rating 6.3as Det. Sgt. Matthew Sykes
Gardens of Stone1987IMDb rating 6.3as Sgt. Clell Hazard
Kiss Me Goodbye1982IMDb rating 6.0as Jolly
Thief1981IMDb rating 7.4as Frank
Comes a Horseman1978IMDb rating 6.3as Frank 'Buck' Athearn
A Bridge Too Far1977IMDb rating 7.4as SSgt. Eddie Dohun
Harry and Walter Go to New York1976IMDb rating 5.4as Harry Digby
Funny Lady1975IMDb rating 6.2as Billy Rose
Rollerball1975IMDb rating 6.5as Jonathan E.
The Killer Elite1975IMDb rating 5.9as Mike Locken
Freebie and the Bean1974IMDb rating 6.6as Freebie
The Gambler1974IMDb rating 7.1as Axel
Cinderella Liberty1973IMDb rating 6.7as John Baggs Jr.
Slither1973IMDb rating 6.2as Dick Kanipsia
The Godfather1972IMDb rating 9.2as Sonny Corleone
Brian's Song1971IMDb rating 7.5as Brian Piccolo
The Rain People1969IMDb rating 6.8as Kilgannon
Journey to Shiloh1968IMDb rating 5.6as Buck Burnett
Countdown1967IMDb rating 5.9as Lee Stegler
Games1967IMDb rating 6.4as Paul Montgomery
El Dorado1966IMDb rating 7.5as Mississippi
Red Line 70001965IMDb rating 5.6as Mike
The Glory Guys1965IMDb rating 6.1as Pvt. Anthony Dugan
Lady in a Cage1964IMDb rating 6.7as Randall Simpson O'Connell

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Godfather1972 Crime, Dramaas Sonny Corleone
IMDb rating 9.22.3M votes
Elf2003 Comedy, Family, Fantasyas Walter
IMDb rating 7.1349K votes
Misery1990as Paul Sheldon
IMDb rating 7.8269K votes
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs2009as Tim Lockwoodvoice
IMDb rating 6.9290K votes
Eraser1996as U.S. Marshal Robert DeGuerin
IMDb rating 6.2125K votes
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 22013as Tim Lockwoodvoice
IMDb rating 6.3128K votes
Detachment2011as Mr. Charles Seaboldt
IMDb rating 7.7114K votes
Get Smart2008as The President
IMDb rating 6.5240K votes

Most often with

Francis Ford Coppola directed three of these films, Mark Rydell three and Howard Hawks two. Burt Young appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Burt Young

Robert Duvall

Al Pacino

Paul Sorvino

Terry Crews

Will Forte

Francis Ford CoppolaDirector, 3 films

Mark RydellDirector, 3 films

Howard HawksDirector, 2 films

Films together

Burt Young6 films together, 1973 to 1999
Burt Young's page
- Mickey Blue Eyes1999IMDb rating 5.9Caan as Frank VitaleYoung as Vito Graziosi
- North Star1996IMDb rating 4.9Caan as Sean McLennonYoung as Reno
- Harry and Walter Go to New York1976IMDb rating 5.4Caan as Harry DigbyYoung as Warden Durgom
- The Killer Elite1975IMDb rating 5.9Caan as Mike LockenYoung as Mac
- The Gambler1974IMDb rating 7.1Caan as AxelYoung as Carmine
- Cinderella Liberty1973IMDb rating 6.7Caan as John Baggs Jr.Young as Master at Arms
Robert Duvall4 films together, 1967 to 1975
Robert Duvall's page
- The Killer Elite1975IMDb rating 5.9Caan as Mike LockenDuvall as George Hansen
- The Godfather1972IMDb rating 9.2Caan as Sonny CorleoneDuvall as Tom Hagen
- The Rain People1969IMDb rating 6.8Caan as KilgannonDuvall as Gordon
- Countdown1967IMDb rating 5.9Caan as Lee SteglerDuvall as Chiz
Al Pacino3 films together, 1972 to 2012
Al Pacino's page
- The Godfather Legacy2012IMDb rating 8.0Caan as HimselfPacino as Himself
- Dick Tracy1990IMDb rating 6.2Caan as SpaldoniPacino as Big Boy Caprice
- The Godfather1972IMDb rating 9.2Caan as Sonny CorleonePacino as Michael Corleone
Paul Sorvino3 films together, 1974 to 2017
Paul Sorvino's page
- Undercover Grandpa2017IMDb rating 5.3Caan as GrandpaSorvino as Giovanni
- For the Love of Money2012IMDb rating 4.4Caan as MickySorvino as Red
- The Gambler1974IMDb rating 7.1Caan as AxelSorvino as Hips
Terry Crews3 films together, 2008 to 2013
Terry Crews's page
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 22013IMDb rating 6.3Caan as Tim LockwoodvoiceCrews as Earl Devereauxvoice
- Middle Men2009IMDb rating 6.8Caan as Jerry HaggertyCrews as James
- Get Smart2008IMDb rating 6.5Caan as The PresidentCrews as Agent 91
Will Forte3 films together, 2009 to 2013
Will Forte's page
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 22013IMDb rating 6.3Caan as Tim LockwoodvoiceForte as Chester Vvoice
- That's My Boy2012IMDb rating 5.6Caan as Father McNallyForte as Phil
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs2009IMDb rating 6.9Caan as Tim LockwoodvoiceForte as Joe Townevoice
Francis Ford CoppolaDirector, 3 films, 1969 to 1987
All films by Francis Ford Coppola
- Gardens of Stone1987IMDb rating 6.3Caan as Sgt. Clell Hazard
- The Godfather1972IMDb rating 9.2Caan as Sonny Corleone
- The Rain People1969IMDb rating 6.8Caan as Kilgannon
Mark RydellDirector, 3 films, 1973 to 1991
All films by Mark Rydell
- For the Boys1991IMDb rating 6.4Caan as Eddie Sparks
- Harry and Walter Go to New York1976IMDb rating 5.4Caan as Harry Digby
- Cinderella Liberty1973IMDb rating 6.7Caan as John Baggs Jr.
Howard HawksDirector, 2 films, 1965 to 1966
All films by Howard Hawks
- El Dorado1966IMDb rating 7.5Caan as Mississippi
- Red Line 70001965IMDb rating 5.6Caan as Mike
Also three films together2 more actors
- Andy SambergCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013), That's My Boy (2012) and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
- Talia ShireCon Man (2018), The Godfather Legacy (2012) and The Godfather (1972)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What James Caan's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$2.1 billion

36 of the 70 films have a worldwide figure.

36Worldwide figure
4US gross only
8Never in cinemas
1Streaming, short cinema run
21Figure not found

Top grosser

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 22013Tim Lockwood$248 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 77% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 22013as Tim Lockwood (voice)
$248M12.0% of the total
2
The Godfather1972as Sonny Corleone
$245M11.8% of the total
3
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs2009as Tim Lockwood (voice)
$243M11.7% of the total
4
Eraser1996as U.S. Marshal Robert DeGuerin
$242M11.7% of the total
5
Get Smart2008as The President
$231M11.1% of the total
6
Elf2003as Walter
$229M11.0% of the total
7
Dick Tracy1990as Spaldoni
$104M5.0% of the total
8
Misery1990as Paul Sheldon
$61M3.0% of the total