James Caan: The Godfather director, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro pay tribute with Elf stars
JAMES CAAN, who died this week aged 82, has received touching tributes from The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Elf co-stars Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel.
James Caan had a film career spanning 60 years, getting his big break opposite John Wayne in 1966’s El Dorado. Today he’s best known for his Oscar-nominated role of Sonny Corleone in The Godfather movies and as Buddy’s father in Will Ferrell’s much-loved Christmas movie Elf. Stars of both have been paying tribute to the late Hollywood actor.
Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Caan in 1969’s The Rain People and the first two Godfather movies, told Deadline: “Jimmy was someone who stretched through my life longer and closer than any motion picture figure I’ve ever known. From those earlier times working together on The Rain People, and throughout all the milestones of my life, his films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten. He will always be my old friend from Sunnyside, my collaborator and one of the funniest people I’ve ever known.”
Al Pacino, who played Sonny’s brother Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy shared: “Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend. It’s hard to believe that he won’t be in the world anymore because he was so alive and daring. A great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend. I’m gonna miss him.”
Robert De Niro, who portrayed a younger version of Marlon Brando’s Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II, which Caan cameoed in for a flashback, added: “I’m very very sad to hear about Jimmy’s passing.”
