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James Caan

Biography

Like so a great many other prominent stars from the 1970s, the versatile Adam Caan rose to achievement on the effectiveness of his riveting efficiency within the Godfather. Delivered March 26, 1939 within the Bronx, NY, Caan made a decision to pursue a profession in performing while attending university, and in 1960 was recognized by Sanford Meisner in to the Community Playhouse. After producing his debut off-Broadway in I Roam, he arrived within the Broadway creation of Mandingo, but exited after simply four performances due to artistic problems with superstar Franchot Shade. Caan then arrived in tv, where he became a occupied character acting professional; he produced his film debut within an unbilled overall performance in 1963’s Irma La Douce, accompanied by a meatier part in Lady inside a Cage the next 12 months. The 1965 Howard Hawks auto-racing episode Red Collection 7000 was his 1st starring part, followed 2 yrs later from the Hawks Traditional western Un Dorado, which cast him reverse John Wayne and Robert Mitchum; in 1968 Caan starred in Robert Altman’s Countdown, and in 1969 he made an appearance in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Rainfall People. Caan shot to popularity because of a poignant overall performance within the 1970 tv movie Brian’s Track, where he performed the ill-fated Chicago Bears celebrity Brian Piccolo; his change as the likewise ill-fated Sonny Corleone in Coppola’s 1972 masterpiece The Godfather solidified his stardom and gained an Academy Award nomination, but his following movies, including 1973’s Slither and another year’s Freebie as well as the Bean, didn’t surpass expectations. After getting a Golden World bet for his function in 1974’s The Gambler, Caan briefly made an appearance in 1974’s The Godfather, Pt. II before co-starring with Barbra Streisand within the strike Funny Lady, accompanied by Norman Jewison’s futuristic parable Rollerball. When both 1975’s Sam Peckinpah thriller The Killer Top notch and 1976’s Harry and Walter Head to New York fulfilled with failing, Caan’s career got a downward switch, and aside from cameo performances both in Mel Brooks’ Silent Film as well as the star-studded A Bridge TOO MUCH, he was generally absent from displays for a while. He also produced a variety of ill-considered decisions — he and Coppola were not able to come quickly to conditions for Apocalypse Today, and he also turned down roles in strikes including One Flew On the Cuckoo’s Nest, Superman, and Kramer vs. Kramer. By the finish of the 10 years, Caan’s career got strike the skids, as tasks like the 1978 European Shows up a Horseman (co-starring Jane Fonda) and the next year’s Neil Simon episode Section Two all didn’t surpass anticipations. His directorial debut in 1980’s Cover in Plain View fared no better, although Michael Mann’s thriller Thief garnered a cult pursuing; when 1982’s Kiss Me Goodbye bombed, Caan vanished from view for another five years, later on checking right into a rehab medical center to fight a longstanding cocaine dependency. He also produced headlines owning a reward fighter, and rejected so many film offers that quickly his phone merely stopped buzzing. Finally, in 1987, he resurfaced, starring in Coppola’s battle drama Backyards of Stone; another year’s science-fiction picture Alien Country was popular, as was his next main task, Rob Reiner’s 1990 feature Misery. After both 1991’s For the Guys failed to connect to viewers, Caan spent a lot of the 10 years in prominent helping jobs which showcased his clever, edgy persona; one of the even more high-profile had been 1992’s Honeymoon vacation in Vegas, 1996’s Eraser, and the beautiful indie strike Bottle Rocket.

Quick Facts


Full Name James Caan
Height 1.76 m
Profession Singer, Voice Actor
Education Harvard University, University of East London, Harvard Business School
Nationality American
Spouse Linda Stokes, Ingrid Hajek, Sheila Caan, Dee Jay Mathis
Children Scott Caan, Jacob Nicholas Caan, Tara A. Caan, James Arthur Caan, Alexander James Caan
Parents Arthur Caan, Sophie Caan
Siblings Ronnie Caan, Barbara Caan
Awards TV Land Blockbuster Movie of the Week Award
Nominations Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture – Drama, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Golden Globe Award for Best New Star of the Year – Actor, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role, VGX Award for Best Supporting Male Performance, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer In A Children/Youth/Family Special
Movies The Godfather, Misery, The Godfather Part II, Elf, Rollerball, El Dorado, Eraser, Brian's Song, Thief, Honeymoon in Vegas, Alien Nation, Funny Lady, The Gambler, Bottle Rocket, A Bridge Too Far, The Yards, Mickey Blue Eyes, Gardens of Stone, The Killer Elite, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, The Rain People, For the Boys, Dick Tracy, The Way of the Gun, Kiss Me Goodbye, The Program, Freebie and the Bean, Comes a Horseman, Journey to Shiloh, City of Ghosts, Cinderella Liberty, Dogville, Hide in Plain Sight, That's My Boy, Bulletproof, Harry and Walter Go to New York, Chapter Two, Flesh and Bone, Get Smart, Lady in a Cage, Middle Men, The Glory Guys, Red Line 7000, A Boy Called Hate, The Good Neighbor, New York, I Love You, This Is My Father, T.R. Baskin, Slither, Wisegal, Luckytown
TV Shows Back in the Game, Magic City, Las Vegas, The Wide Country, Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Godfather Saga, Channing


  • Facts
  • Filmography
  • Awards
  • Salaries
  • Quotes
  • Trademarks
  • Pictures

#Fact
1 Two of his memorable scenes from The Godfather (1972) have been parodied on The Simpsons. The scene where Sonny beats up Carlo in the street was turned into a scene where Marge does the same to a man who mugged her. Sonny's death scene has actually been parodied twice. The first time involved Bart being ambushed with snowballs at school. The second actually involved Caan himself making a guest appearance, and being ambushed at a tollbooth again.
2 Although he played Morgana King's son in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974), he is only ten years her junior in real life.
3 He was considered for the role of Tom Hagen in The Godfather (1972) before Robert Duvall was cast. He eventually played Sonny Corleone in both that film and The Godfather: Part II (1974).
4 Although he played John Cazale's elder brother in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974), he is five years his junior in real life.
5 He appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners: The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974).
6 Turned down Jack Nicholson's role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). Not one to repeat that mistake, he accepted the lead role in Misery (1990) when Nicholson turned it down. Both films involved the lead character being at the mercy of a sadistic nurse.
7 Republican.
8 Frequent guest/player at celebrity golf events.
9 Avid golfer.
10 Has a daughter, Tara A. Caan (born November 5, 1964), with first wife Dee Jay Mattis.
11 His parents, Sophie (Falkenstein) and Arthur Caan, were both German Jews.
12 Lives in Beverly Hills, California.
13 During the making of Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), he nicknamed Hugh Grant "Whippy" after the Whippet, an English breed of dog that shivers a lot.
14 Tested for the role of Ted Henderson in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969).
15 Studied Economics in Michigan State University.
16 Studied in The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater in New York.
17 Studied in Rhodes High School in New York.
18 Has a son named Alexander James Caan (b. April 10th 1991) with Ingrid Hajek.
19 According to the British documentary The Godfather and the Mob (2006), Caan was regularly seen with Gambino family underboss Carmine Persico (aka "Junior") during the filming of The Godfather (1972). As Persico was under surveillance by the FBI at the time, Caan came under almost equal scrutiny.
20 His film contracts during his rodeo days had written in them that he could not compete in rodeos during filming. This was for fear he would injure or kill himself.
21 While on sabbatical from acting he coached a Little League baseball team, there was one incident where his team's weakest player hit a home run that won a game. This incident is claimed by Caan as one of the greatest moments of his life.
22 In his youth, his nicknames were "Shoulders" and "Killer Caan".
23 Grew up in Sunnyside, Queens, New York City.
24 In the Godfather trilogy, Andy Garcia plays the son of Caan's character, Sonny Corleone. In Ocean's Eleven (2001) and Ocean's Twelve (2004), Caan's son, Scott Caan, works with Garcia.
25 Appears in Misery (1990), which was directed by Rob Reiner. His son, Scott Caan, appeared in Ocean's Eleven (2001) and Ocean's Twelve (2004), opposite Reiner's father, Carl Reiner.
26 Two generations of his family and the Coppola family have worked together. He worked with Francis Ford Coppola most memorably in the first two Godfather films (The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974)) and in Gardens of Stone (1987). His son, Scott Caan, appeared in Sonny (2002), which was directed by Nicolas Cage and featured Cage and his brother, Marc Coppola. Sonny was also the name of Caan's "Godfather" character.
27 Was considered by George Lucas for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977).
28 After being turned down by Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino, Julia Phillips inquired of Caan's agent if he would be interested in taking the lead role of Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Caan's agent responded that he would read the script for a guarantee of $1 million plus 10% of the gross if he accepted the role. Phillips went with the original choice, Richard Dreyfuss.
29 Sons with Linda Stokes: James Arthur Caan (b. 6 November 1995) and Jacob Nicholas Caan (b. September 24th 1998).
30 Was a drama major at Hofstra University on Long Island, New York.
31 Is a 6th Dan in Karate.
32 Spent 9 years on the pro rodeo circuit.
33 Was originally tested for the role of Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972) (director Francis Ford Coppola had worked with him and Robert Duvall in The Rain People (1969) and wanted them in the movie), but then was slated to play Michael Corleone after Paramount's initial choices (which included Warren Beatty, Robert Redford and Ryan O'Neal) did not pan out. When Al Pacino came on board, Caan was switched back to Sonny.
34 Some sources give his birth year as 1939.
35 One brother, Ronnie Caan, and one sister, Barbara (deceased c. 1981--leukemia).
36 Briefly lived at the Playboy Mansion in the 1970s.
37 Turned down plum roles in MASH (1970) & Apocalypse Now (1979).
38 Son of Arthur & Sophie Caan. His father was a kosher butcher.
39 States that Thief (1981) is one of his favorite films.
40 In the 1990s, he kicked a cocaine habit of some 20 years.
41 Was offered the role of McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).
42 Father (with Sheila Ryan) of actor Scott Caan.
43 Born at 10:31pm-EST.
44 Played football for Michigan State University.


Actor

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Acre Beyond the Rye 2016 post-production Sheriff Doyle
Good Enough 2016/I post-production Roger Flynn
Undercover Grandpa 2016 completed Grandpa
Minkow 2015 post-production Agent Paul Vinsant
Redemption announced Marc Benton
Stark Raving Normal announced LeJeune (rumored)
The Red Maple Leaf 2016 George Lawrence Secord
JL Ranch 2016 Tap
The Good Neighbor 2016 Harold Grainey
Sicilian Vampire 2015 Professor Bernard Issaacs
The Wrong Boyfriend 2015 TV Movie Mr. Earnshaw
The Throwaways 2015 Holden
The Outsider 2014 Schuuster
Preggoland 2014 Walter
A Fighting Man 2014 Brother Albright
Back in the Game 2013-2014 TV Series Terry 'The Cannon' Gannon, Sr.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya 2013 The Bamboo Cutter (English version, voice)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 2013 Tim Lockwood (voice)
Magic City 2013 TV Series Sy Berman
Blood Ties 2013/I Leon
For the Love of Money 2012 Micky
That's My Boy 2012 Father McNally
Small Apartments 2012 Mr. Allspice
Hawaii Five-0 2012 TV Series Tony Archer
Detachment 2011 Mr. Charles Seaboldt
The Annoying Orange 2010 TV Series Jalapeno
Henry's Crime 2010 Max Saltzman
Family Guy 2009 TV Series James Caan
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2009 Tim Lockwood (voice)
Mercy 2009/I Gerry Ryan
Middle Men 2009 Jerry Haggerty
New York, I Love You 2008 Mr. Riccoli (segment "Brett Ratner")
Get Smart 2008 The President
Wisegal 2008 TV Movie Salvatore Palmeri
Las Vegas 2003-2007 TV Series Ed Deline
The Godfather: Blackhand Edition 2007 Video Game Sonny Corleone (voice)
The Godfather: The Don's Edition 2007 Video Game Sonny Corleone (voice)
The Godfather: Mob Wars 2006 Video Game Sonny Corleone (voice)
The Godfather 2006 Video Game Sonny Corleone (voice)
Santa's Slay 2005 Darren Mason (uncredited)
Crossing Jordan 2004 TV Series Ed Deline
Elf 2003 Walter
Jericho Mansions 2003 Leonard Grey
This Thing of Ours 2003 Jimmy
The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie 2003 TV Movie Mr. Harry Dewitt
Dogville 2003 The Big Man
Blood Crime 2002 TV Movie Sheriff Morgan McKenna
City of Ghosts 2002 Marvin
Lathe of Heaven 2002 TV Movie Dr. William Haber
Untitled Eric Gilliland Project 2002 TV Movie
Night at the Golden Eagle 2001 Prison Warden (uncredited)
In the Shadows 2001 Lance Huston
Viva Las Nowhere 2001 Roy Baker
A Glimpse of Hell 2001 TV Movie Capt. Fred Moosally
Warden of Red Rock 2001 TV Movie John Flinders
The Way of the Gun 2000 Joe Sarno
Luckytown 2000 Charlie Doyles
The Yards 2000 Frank Olchin
Mickey Blue Eyes 1999 Frank Vitale
Poodle Springs 1998 TV Movie Philip Marlowe
This Is My Father 1998/I Kieran Johnson
Bulletproof 1996 Colton
Eraser 1996 U.S. Marshal Robert DeGuerin
Bottle Rocket 1996 Mr. Henry
North Star 1996 Sean McLennon
A Boy Called Hate 1995 Jim
Flesh and Bone 1993 Roy Sweeney
The Program 1993 Sam Winters
Honeymoon in Vegas 1992 Tommy Korman
For the Boys 1991 Eddie Sparks
The Dark Backward 1991 Doctor Scurvy
Misery 1990 Paul Sheldon
Dick Tracy 1990 Spaldoni
Alien Nation 1988 Det. Sgt. Matthew Sykes
Gardens of Stone 1987 Sgt. Clell Hazard
Kiss Me Goodbye 1982 Jolly
Bolero 1981 Jack Glenn / Jason Glenn
Les uns et les autres 1981 TV Mini-Series Glenn Sr. / Glenn Jr.
Thief 1981 Frank
Hide in Plain Sight 1980 Thomas Hacklin, Jr.
Chapter Two 1979 George Schneider
1941 1979 Sailor in Fight (uncredited)
Comes a Horseman 1978 Frank 'Buck' Athearn
The Godfather: A Novel for Television 1977 TV Mini-Series Sonny Corleone
Another Man, Another Chance 1977 David Williams / Photographer
A Bridge Too Far 1977 Staff Sergeant Eddie Dohun
Harry and Walter Go to New York 1976 Harry Dighby
Silent Movie 1976 James Caan
The Killer Elite 1975 Mike Locken
Gone with the West 1975 Jebediah Kelsey
Rollerball 1975 Jonathan E.
Funny Lady 1975 Billy Rose
The Godfather: Part II 1974 Sonny Corleone
The Gambler 1974 Axel Freed
Freebie and the Bean 1974 Freebie
Cinderella Liberty 1973 John Baggs Jr.
Slither 1973 Dick Kanipsia
The Godfather 1972 Sonny Corleone
Brian's Song 1971 TV Movie Brian Piccolo
T.R. Baskin 1971 Larry Moore
Rabbit, Run 1970 Rabbit Angstrom
The Rain People 1969 Jimmy Kilgannon - Killer
Get Smart 1969 TV Series Rupert of Rathskeller
The F.B.I. 1969 TV Series Eugene David Holt
Journey to Shiloh 1968 Buck Burnett
Submarine X-1 1968 Commander Bolton
Games 1967 Paul Montgomery
Countdown 1967 Lee Stegler
El Dorado 1967 Mississippi
Red Line 7000 1965 Mike
The Glory Guys 1965 Pvt. Anthony Dugan
Wagon Train 1965 TV Series Paul
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour 1964 TV Series Jay Shaw / Phil Beldone
Lady in a Cage 1964 Randall Simpson O'Connell
Channing 1964 TV Series Jeff Brubaker
Kraft Suspense Theatre 1963 TV Series Rick Peterson
Combat! 1963 TV Series Sgt. Beckman
Death Valley Days 1963 TV Series Jim McKinney / Bob
Ben Casey 1963 TV Series Dr. Keith Gregory
Irma la Douce 1963 Soldier with Radio (uncredited)
Dr. Kildare 1963 TV Series Charley Johnson
Wide Country 1963 TV Series Buddie Simpson
The Doctors and the Nurses 1962 TV Series Dr. Dick Harris
The Untouchables 1962 TV Series Keir Brannon
Alcoa Premiere 1962 TV Series Arch Williams
Route 66 1961 TV Series Johnny Berenson
Play of the Week 1961 TV Series
Naked City 1961 TV Series Marty Feketi

Soundtrack

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 2013 performer: "Pickle Shanty"
Elf 2003 performer: "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" 1934, "Auld Lang Syne" 1788 uncredited
City of Ghosts 2002 performer: "Bong Srilang"
Mickey Blue Eyes 1999 performer: "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You"
For the Boys 1991 performer: "Dixie's Dream", "I Remember You", "Baby, It's Cold Outside"
The Killer Elite 1975 performer: "Ramona" 1928 - uncredited
Funny Lady 1975 performer: "It's Only a Paper Moon/I Like Her", "Me and My Shadow" - uncredited

Director

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Hide in Plain Sight 1980

Thanks

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Making of 'Heat' 2005 Video documentary special thanks
Dogville Confessions 2003 Documentary thanks
Dallas 362 2003 special thanks
Independent's Day 1998 TV Movie documentary thank you - as Jimmy Caan
The Godfather Family: A Look Inside 1990 TV Movie documentary thanks
The Godfather: Part II 1974 the producers would like to thank: for his special participation in this film

Self

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Cinema 1974 TV Series documentary Himself
The 46th Annual Academy Awards 1974 TV Special Himself - Presenter: Best Documentary Feature & Best Documentary Short
The 45th Annual Academy Awards 1973 TV Special Himself - Nominated: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Laugh-In 1972 TV Series Himself
The David Steinberg Show 1972 TV Series Himself - Guest
The Merv Griffin Show 1972 TV Series Himself - Guest
The 44th Annual Academy Awards 1972 TV Special Himself - Co-Presenter: Documentary Awards
The David Frost Show 1971-1972 TV Series Himself - Guest
The Godfather: Behind the Scenes 1971 Documentary short Himself
Filmmaker 1968 Documentary short Himself (uncredited)
The American West 2016 TV Mini-Series Himself / Actor / El Dorado
Weekend Today 2015 TV Series Himself
An American Tragedy 2015 Documentary Himself
Chabad Telethon 2015 TV Movie Himself
Unsung Hollywood 2015 TV Series documentary Himself
Thief: Stolen Dreams with James Caan 2015 Video short Himself
Chabad Telethon 2014 TV Movie Himself
Altman 2014 Documentary Himself
Thief: Making Something Real - James Caan on 'Thief' 2014 Video documentary short Himself
Larry King Now 2013 TV Series Himself - Guest
Good Day L.A. 2013 TV Series Himself - Guest
Rencontres de cinéma 2013 TV Series Himself
The Arsenio Hall Show 2013 TV Series Himself - Guest
Good Morning America 1976-2013 TV Series Himself - Guest
The View 2013 TV Series Himself - Guest
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 2004-2013 TV Series Himself - Guest
Teens Wanna Know 2013 TV Series Himself - Guest
Chabad Telethon 2013 TV Movie Himself
Seduced and Abandoned 2013 Documentary Himself
The Godfather Legacy 2012 TV Movie documentary Himself
Thalians 55th Anniversary Gala 2012 Video Himself
CenterStage 2011 TV Series documentary Special Guest
JacK Waltzer: On the Craft of Acting 2011 Documentary Himself - Comedian
His Way 2011 TV Movie documentary Himself
A Recipe for Success: The Making of 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' 2010 Video short Himself
Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel 2009 Documentary Himself
Hollywood Gangster 2008 TV Movie documentary Himself
Chabad: To Life Telethon 2008 TV Movie Himself - Video Guest
The Making of Bottle Rocket 2008 Documentary short Himself
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project 2007 Documentary Himself
Brando 2007 TV Movie documentary Himself
Lightfield's Home Videos 2006 Video Himself
Don Adams' 75th Birthday Roast at the Playboy Mansion 2006 Video documentary Himself
Rachael Ray 2006 TV Series Himself - Guest
CMT Greatest Moments: Willie Nelson 2006 TV Special Himself
Hollywood Greats 2006 TV Series documentary Himself
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show 2004-2006 TV Series Himself - Guest
Bullets Over Hollywood 2005 TV Movie documentary Himself
The Girls Next Door 2005 TV Series Himself
El Magacine 2005 TV Series Himself
The WIN Awards 2005 TV Special Himself
Shootout 2005 TV Series Himself
The Contender 2005 TV Series Himself
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '05 2005 TV Movie documentary Himself
Biography 2003-2005 TV Series documentary Himself
Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope 2005 TV Special Himself
Imagine 2004 TV Series documentary Himself
The Simpsons 2004 TV Series Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 1992-2004 TV Series Himself - Guest
Film School for Kids 2004 Video documentary short Himself
That's a Wrap 2004 Video documentary short Himself
Nicole Kidman: An American Cinematheque Tribute 2003 TV Movie documentary Himself
Howard Stern 1999-2003 TV Series Himself - Guest
Late Night with Conan O'Brien 2000-2003 TV Series Himself - Guest
Dinner for Five 2003 TV Series Himself - Special Guest
Intimate Portrait 2003 TV Series documentary Himself
Gomorron 2003 TV Series Himself
Gala Paramount Pictures Celebrates 90th Anniversary with 90 Stars for 90 Years 2002 TV Movie Himself
Playboy: Inside the Playboy Mansion 2002 TV Movie documentary Himself
Misery Loves Company 2002 Video documentary short Himself
ESPN SportsCentury 2001 TV Series documentary Himself
Playboy Exposed: Playboy Mansion Parties Uncensored 2001 Video documentary Himself
ESPY Awards 2000 TV Special
Playboy: The Party Continues 2000 TV Movie documentary Himself
Inside the Actors Studio 2000 TV Series Himself - Guest
Late Show with David Letterman 1994-2000 TV Series Himself / Himself - Guest
Unzipped 1999 TV Series documentary Himself
Making of Mickey Blue Eyes 1999 TV Movie documentary
The Making of a Mobster: 'Mickey Blue Eyes' 1999 TV Short documentary Himself
The Howard Stern Radio Show 1999 TV Series Himself - Guest
Come Get Some: The Women of the WWF 1999 Video documentary Himself
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars: America's Greatest Screen Legends 1999 TV Special documentary Himself
Playboy: Playmate Pajama Party 1999 Video documentary Himself
The Directors 1999 TV Series documentary Himself
The 1999 Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards Gala 1999 TV Special Himself
Howard Hawks: American Artist 1997 TV Movie documentary Himself
NewsRadio 1996 TV Series Himself
The Rosie O'Donnell Show 1996 TV Series Himself - Guest
HBO First Look 1996 TV Series documentary Himself
Hollywood Waterloo 1994 Documentary Himself
Harley-Davidson: The American Motorcycle 1993 Documentary Himself
Earth and the American Dream 1992 Documentary Reader (voice)
The Please Watch the Jon Lovitz Special 1992 TV Movie Himself (uncredited)
Naked Hollywood 1991 TV Mini-Series Himself
The Godfather Family: A Look Inside 1990 TV Movie documentary Himself / Sonny Corleone / Michael Corleone
All-Star Tribute to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1989 TV Movie Himself
The Arsenio Hall Show 1989 TV Series Himself - Guest
The 1986 Jewish National Funds Annual Tree of Life Awards 1986 TV Special Himself
Dorothy Stratten: The Untold Story 1985 Video documentary Himself
All-Star Party for 'Dutch' Reagan 1985 TV Special Himself
All-Star Party for Lucille Ball 1984 TV Special Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1971-1984 TV Series Himself - Guest
Night of 100 Stars 1982 TV Special Himself
Ciné regards 1981 TV Series documentary Himself
Sports Illustrated: The First 25 Years 1981 TV Movie Himself - Host
Tomorrow Coast to Coast 1981 TV Series Himself
Clapper Board 1980 TV Series Himself
Les nouveaux rendez-vous 1980 TV Series Himself
The Mike Douglas Show 1971-1980 TV Series Himself - Actor
Playboy's Roller Disco & Pajama Party 1979 TV Special Himself (uncredited)
Donahue 1977 TV Series Himself - Guest
Superstunt 1977 TV Special
Celebration: The American Spirit 1976 TV Movie Himself
Don Rickles: Buy This Tape You Hockey Puck 1975 Video documentary Himself
From Rome to Rollerball: The Full Circle 1975 Short Himself
Rickles 1975 TV Movie Himself
Sammy and Company 1975 TV Series Himself
Don Adams' Screen Test 1975 TV Series Himself
Funny Girl to Funny Lady 1975 TV Special documentary Himself / Billy Rose

Archive Footage

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Inside Edition 2015 TV Series documentary Himself
A Football Life 2014 TV Series Brian Piccolo
The O'Reilly Factor 2012 TV Series Himself / Mississippi in 'El Dorado'
America's Book of Secrets 2012 TV Series Himself
D'un film 2011 Documentary Himself
House of Harrington 2008 Documentary short
On the Lot 2007 TV Series
The Girls Next Door 2006 TV Series Himself
The Godfather and the Mob 2006 TV Movie documentary
El Magacine 2005 TV Series
Francis Coppola's Notebook 2001 Video documentary short
Biography 2000 TV Series documentary Paul Sheldon
Tough Guise: Violence, Media & the Crisis in Masculinity 1999 Video documentary Himself
The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 1992 Video Sonny Corleone
The 64th Annual Academy Awards 1992 TV Special Eddie Sparks
Hollywood Mavericks 1990 Documentary Jimmy Kilgannon (uncredited)

Won awards

Won awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovieAward shared with
2016 Action on Film Award Action on Film International Film Festival, USA Outstanding Cast Performance - Feature The Red Maple Leaf (2016) · Frank D'Angelo (producer)
· Robert Loggia
· Martin Landau
· Michael Paré
· Paul Sorvino
· Mira Sorvino
· Kris Kristofferson
· Marina Anderson
· Armand Assante
· Daniel Baldwin
· Marc Blucas
· Alex Caan
· Rain Clews-Fehr
· Ellen Dubin
· Laurie Fortier
· Addison Holley
· Margot Kidder
· Robert Mangiardi
· Tony Nardi
· Doris Roberts
· Eric Roberts
· Romy Weltman
2006 TV Land Award TV Land Awards Blockbuster Movie of the Week Brian's Song (1971) · Billy Dee Williams
2005 Golden Boot Golden Boot Awards
2003 Lifetime Achievement Award Florida Film Festival
1999 Hollywood Film Award Hollywood Film Awards Outstanding Achievement in Acting
1978 Star on the Walk of Fame Walk of Fame Motion Picture On 19 July 1978. At 6648 Hollywood Blvd.
1976 Golden Scroll Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA Best Actor Rollerball (1975)

Nominated awards

Nominated awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovieAward shared with
2016 Action on Film Award Action on Film International Film Festival, USA Best Supporting Actor The Red Maple Leaf (2016)
2015 BTVA Anime Dub Movies/Special Voice Acting Award Behind the Voice Actors Awards Best Male Vocal Performance in an Anime Feature Film/Special in a Supporting Role Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013)
2015 BTVA Anime Dub Movies/Special Voice Acting Award Behind the Voice Actors Awards Best Vocal Ensemble in an Anime Feature Film/Special Kaguyahime no monogatari (2013) · Chloë Grace Moretz
· Mary Steenburgen
· Darren Criss
· Lucy Liu
· Hynden Walch
· George Segal
· Dean Cain
· James Marsden
· Daniel Dae Kim
2014 BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award Behind the Voice Actors Awards Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013) · Bill Hader
· Anna Faris
· Will Forte
· Andy Samberg
· Terry Crews
· Benjamin Bratt
· Neil Patrick Harris
· Kristen Schaal
2005 WIN Award Women's Image Network Awards Actor in Drama Series Las Vegas (2003)
2004 Daytime Emmy Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Performer in a Children/Youth/Family Special The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie (2003)
2001 Video Premiere Award DVD Exclusive Awards Best Supporting Actor Luckytown (2000)
1996 Stinker Award The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards Worst Supporting Actor Bulletproof (1996)
1992 Saturn Award Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA Best Actor Misery (1990)
1981 Stinker Award The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards Worst Actor Thief (1981)
1981 Stinker Award The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards Worst On-Screen Couple Thief (1981) · Tuesday Weld
1981 Stinker Award The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards Most Annoying Fake Accent: Male Thief (1981)
1976 Golden Globe Golden Globes, USA Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical Funny Lady (1975)
1975 Golden Globe Golden Globes, USA Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama The Gambler (1974)
1973 Oscar Academy Awards, USA Best Actor in a Supporting Role The Godfather (1972)
1973 Golden Globe Golden Globes, USA Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture The Godfather (1972)
1972 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Brian's Song (1971)
1968 Golden Laurel Laurel Awards Male New Face 5th place.
1966 Golden Globe Golden Globes, USA Most Promising Newcomer - Male The Glory Guys (1965)

TitleSalary
Back in the Game (2013) $75,000 per episode (2013)
The Godfather: Part II (1974) $35,000
The Godfather (1972) $35,000

#Quote
1 (On turning down Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)) I was first, Dustin [Hoffman] was last on the list of five guys they wanted. The director [Robert Benton] kept it up with me for three months. I said, 'This is middle-class, bourgeois horseshit.' I mean, 'Cut to kid crying.' Oh, please. Fuck you!
2 (On turning down One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)) Four or five different directors came to me with that at different times. I go, 'It's not a movie. Who wants to look at four institution walls?' Milos Forman made it great. Jack was great in it. I made a flat-out, fucking mistake.
3 I won't mention names, but in my career, the most talented people invariably are the easiest and nicest to get along with. The ones that are difficult try to camouflage the fact that they haven't got shit to offer. So they complain about frilly things that really don't mean a shit, like their dressing rooms, makeup.
4 [on figuring out how to play Sonny Corleone] I didn't have to work on an accent or anything, but I couldn't quite get a grasp. I was shaving to go to dinner or something, and for some reason I started thinking of Don Rickles. Because I knew Rickles. Somebody was watching over me and gave me this thing: being Rickles, kind of say-anything, do-anything.
5 [His advice to younger actors] The main pearl of wisdom I give these young kids is that you shouldn't make your career your whole life. No matter what heights you achieve, even if you're Brad Pitt, the slide is coming, sure as death and taxes. So if you put everything into that one basket - acting - you'll wind up hurting yourself, either with drugs or any other self-destructive thing you can think of.
6 I went through some bad times, some very self-destructive stuff, you know, when I was on top. I'd got involved in partying and doing all that and I lost my sister and, basically, I got all screwed up in my head. She was like my best friend and I lost her to leukemia and I was just a mess. I had a lot of money because I'd worked a lot and saved it. I had it in a pension plan and then I lost all my money. My accountant. I just woke up one morning and I didn't have a dime. We're talking about tons . . . I mean, a lot of money, and I was flat broke.
7 I did this picture last year with Nicole Kidman and Lars von Trier, Dogville (2003), and it's supposed to be a trilogy, but now that she's walked away from it, I'm walking from it. He is very anti-American, so screw him. I'm very pro-America. I'm a conservative, basically.
8 [on fans confusing him with his characters] Look, you only pray when you start in this business that you get to the point where people recognize you or quote you. I mean, I've got a lot of people who are like, "Hey, your ankle OK?" from Misery (1990). I get that a lot. It's harmless. Or they'll say, "Hey, don't go through that toll booth again" or "Have the right change". That's great! First of all, it means that they remember the picture. There's nothing not to like about it . . . No, I hope they never stop.
9 You know those actors who say, "I want to be alone" or they're walking around with their friggin' bodyguards? A bodyguard! I'd never have a bodyguard. I mean, who wants to hurt me? But the point is that they have the bodyguard so that they can say, "Leave me alone!" It's this revolving door thing. If somebody didn't recognize them, they'd have a heart attack, the bastards.
10 A "Godfather Four"? Not by Francis [Francis Ford Coppola], anyway. Who cares? There shouldn't have been a The Godfather: Part III (1990).
11 [on being confused with his character from The Godfather (1972)] I'll bump into a guy in a bar, and he'll say, "I'm sorry, Sonny!" It's surreal.
12 There's a big difference between wanting to work and having to work. And I had to learn that the hard way. Now money is very important to me, because I ain't got it.
13 I had great, great times as a Little League coach. People were talking about me quitting acting, and they would say, "What about your creative juices?" Coaching is creative, because you could take a kid who thought he wasn't any good and, within four minutes, change his mind. And I didn't have to wait six months for them to put music to it. How good a Little League coach was I? I was a little hyper. One thing I learned was that talent comes from everywhere; it doesn't have to come just from the ghetto. But in Beverly Hills, because Daddy has a grocery store, the kids lack a lot of try.
14 I'll see a beautiful girl walking up to me and I'll think, "Oh, my God, I can't believe my good luck". But then she'll say, "Where's your son?" or "My mother loves you."
15 [about living at the Playboy mansion] Actually, it was for medicinal purposes - I was just getting divorced. This doctor wrote me a prescription to live there because he thought it would help me get over the pain of my divorce. My God, it worked. I got over it pretty quickly.
16 If it was up to them, I'd be playing Sonny Corleone my entire life. Usually, if there weren't eight people dead by page 11, they wouldn't send me the script. People say, "Gee, you do a lot of mafia movies". I think I've done two, out of 60.
17 [on actors taking themselves too seriously] The truth is . . . myself, De Niro [Robert De Niro], Pacino [Al Pacino], Hoffman [Dustin Hoffman], we were arrogant, pompous asses.
18 [on Zabriskie Point (1970)] It was the worst fucking - and I have to curse because there is no other way that I can express myself - picture that I ever saw. I got so angry about it. I was in love with a girl. We went to the movie and it ended the whole affair. He [Michelangelo Antonioni] hired cardboard, the worst actors, and it was a conscious effort - that's what pissed me off.
19 [on recent big-budget Hollywood films] [They] absolutely stink. All those pictures, those big extravaganzas - you can't remember any characters. Either they had an animal head on them or walked funny . . . If they want me to work, I'll go, "Sure". Basically, I'm a whore.
20 I loved Funny Lady (1975) for whatever reason. People say they didn't know I could sing and dance. Well, nobody ever asks me - it's always "Punch this guy".
21 Quite often I'm misunderstood when I say, 'It's not my life, it's my job.' People think that means I don't give a shit. Sure, I want to be the best actor in the world. But my life is my family, my son, my friends. I don't know how anyone can find fault with that. For some reason when you say, 'It's my job' it sounds like 'Who gives a shit?' Well, that's not it at all. What I do quite honestly and seriously and not in any way being humble is not as important as what the garbage collector does. People make actors important. I go to the movies, I stand on line minding my own business and the manager goes, 'Mr. Caan, Mr. Caan.' And I say, 'No, no, no, I'm OK. I'll stand on the line.' 'Oh, you can't.' So, finally they take you through the line and the other 40 people go, 'Hey, Mr. Bigshot.' And I was just minding my own business, I just wanted to stand there. But other people make it very important that I'm an actor.
22 I never did anything else. In college I switched majors every two weeks and acting was the only thing that held my interest. The reason I started was to stay away from the meat market. That's where I was headed -- to be with the guys who lug beef all day long.
23 My acting technique is to look up at God just before the camera rolls and say, 'Give me a break.'
24 Anyone of my generation who tells you he hasn't "done" Brando [Marlon Brando] is lying.
25 I'd rather get sloshed than stoned.
26 I have an agent I trust professionally more than anybody else, but with the best intentions he could put me in the shithouse just as fast as somebody who wanted to ruin me.
27 [on being voted "Italian of the Year" in New York twice, after his role as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972)]: I'm a Jew from the Bronx. I feel guilty about accepting these awards, but they wouldn't let me turn them down.


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