Actor
James Caan
Born 26 March 1940 · The Bronx, New York, USA — died 6 July 2022
James Caan (1940–2022) was an American actor from the Bronx, best remembered as the hot-headed Sonny Corleone in The Godfather. A versatile leading man and character player, he later gained new audiences with Misery and Elf. His work spanned five decades of American film.
Key films
The Godfather (1972)On Cinespective
His signature role as Sonny Corleone brought him an Oscar nomination and lasting fame.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
He returned as Sonny in a brief appearance, extending his link to the saga.
Rollerball (1975)
He led this dystopian sports thriller, confirming his status as a 1970s leading man.
Thief (1981)
His acclaimed turn as a professional safecracker in Michael Mann's stylish debut feature.
Misery (1990)
He starred as the novelist held captive by an obsessed fan in this Stephen King adaptation.
Key awards
- 1973 Academy Award nomination, Best Supporting Actor (The Godfather)
- 1973 Golden Globe nomination, Best Supporting Actor (The Godfather)
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 141
- 1963Irma la Douce · as Soldier with Radio (uncredited)Actor
- 1964Lady in a Cage · as Randall Simpson O'ConnellActor
- 1965Red Line 7000 · as MikeActor
- 1965The Glory Guys · as Pvt. Anthony DuganActor
- 1966El Dorado · as MississippiActor
- 1967Countdown · as Lee SteglerActor
- 1967Games · as Paul MontgomeryActor
- 1968Journey to Shiloh · as Buck BurnettActor
- 1968Submarine X-1 · as Cmdr. Richard Bolton, RNVRActor
- 1968Filmmaker · as Self (uncredited)Actor
- 1969The Rain People · as Jimmy KilgannonActor
- 1970Rabbit, Run · as Harry "Rabbit" AngstromActor
- 1971Brian's Song · as Brian PiccoloActor
- 1971T.R. Baskin · as Larry MooreActor
- 1971The Godfather: Behind the Scenes · as SelfActor
- 1972The Godfather · as Sonny CorleoneActor
- 1973Cinderella Liberty · as John Baggs Jr.Actor
- 1973Slither · as Dick KanipsiaActor
- 1974The Godfather Part II · as Sonny Corleone (uncredited)Actor
- 1974The Gambler · as AxelActor
- 1974Freebie and the Bean · as FreebieActor
- 1975Rollerball · as Jonathan E.Actor
- 1975The Killer Elite · as Mike LockenActor
- 1975Funny Lady · as Billy RoseActor
- 1975Gone with the West · as Jud McGrawActor
- 1975Funny Girl to Funny Lady · as SelfActor
- 1975From Rome to Rollerball: The Full CircleActor
- 1975RicklesActor
- 1976Silent Movie · as James CaanActor
- 1976Harry and Walter Go to New York · as Harry DigbyActor
- 1977A Bridge Too Far · as SSgt. Eddie DohunActor
- 1977Another Man, Another Chance · as David WilliamsActor
- 1977Playboy's Playmate PartyActor
- 1977Superstunt · as SelfActor
- 1978Comes a Horseman · as Frank 'Buck' AthearnActor
- 19791941 · as Sailor in Fight (uncredited)Actor
- 1979Chapter Two · as George SchneiderActor
- 1979Playboy's Roller Disco & Pajama Party · as Self (uncredited)Actor
- 1979Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration · as SelfActor
- 1980Hide in Plain Sight · as Thomas Hacklin, Jr.Actor
- 1980Hide in Plain SightDirector
- 1981Thief · as FrankActor
- 1981Bolero · as Jack Glenn / Jason GlennActor
- 1982Kiss Me Goodbye · as JollyActor
- 1982Night of 100 Stars · as SelfActor
- 1985Dorothy Stratten: The Untold StoryActor
- 1987Gardens of Stone · as Sgt. Clell HazardActor
- 1988Alien Nation · as Matthew SykesActor
- 1990Misery · as Paul SheldonActor
- 1990Dick Tracy · as SpaldoniActor
- 1990The Godfather Family: A Look Inside · as Self / Sonny Corleone / Michael CorleoneActor
- 1991For the Boys · as Eddie SparksActor
- 1991The Dark Backward · as Dr. ScurvyActor
- 1992Honeymoon in Vegas · as Tommy KormanActor
- 1992The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 · as Sonny CorleoneActor
- 1992Earth and the American Dream · as Reader (voice)Actor
- 1992The Please Watch the Jon Lovitz Special, Live! · as Self (uncredited)Actor
- 1993The Program · as Sam WintersActor
- 1993Flesh and Bone · as Roy SweeneyActor
- 1993Harley-Davidson: The American MotorcycleActor
- 1996Eraser · as DeGuerinActor
- 1996Bottle Rocket · as Mr. Abe HenryActor
- 1996Bulletproof · as Frank ColtonActor
- 1996North Star · as Sean McLennonActor
- 1996A Boy Called Hate · as JimActor
- 1997Howard Hawks: American Artist · as SelfActor
- 1998Poodle Springs · as Philip MarloweActor
- 1999Mickey Blue Eyes · as Frank VitaleActor
- 1999This Is My Father · as Kieran JohnsonActor
- 1999Tough Guise: Violence, Media & the Crisis in Masculinity · as SelfActor
- 1999Playmate Pajama Party · as selfActor
- 1999The Making of a Mobster: 'Mickey Blue Eyes' · as SelfActor
- 1999Playboy: Playmate Pajama PartyActor
- 2000The Yards · as Frank OlchinActor
- 2000The Way of the Gun · as Joe SarnoActor
- 2000Luckytown · as Charlie DoylesActor
- 2001In the Shadows · as Lance HustonActor
- 2001A Glimpse of Hell · as Capt. Fred MoosallyActor
- 2001Playboy Mansion Parties Uncensored · as SelfActor
- 2001Warden of Red Rock · as John FlindersActor
- 2001Dead Simple · as Roy BakerActor
- 2002City of Ghosts · as MarvinActor
- 2002Night at the Golden Eagle · as Prison WardenActor
- 2002Lathe of Heaven · as Dr. William HaberActor
- 2002Blood Crime · as Sheriff Morgan McKennaActor
- 2002This Thing of Ours · as JimmyActor
- 2003Elf · as WalterActor
- 2003Dogville · as The Big ManActor
- 2003Jericho Mansions · as Leonard GreyActor
- 2003Misery Loves Company · as SelfActor
- 2004The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie · as Mr. Harry DewittActor
- 2004Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & AngelsActor
- 2004Elf: Film School for Kids · as SelfActor
- 2004Elf: That's a Wrap · as SelfActor
- 2005Santa's Slay · as Darren MasonActor
- 2005Gangland: Bullets over HollywoodActor
- 2006The Godfather and the Mob · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2006The Phillie Phanatic Goes Hollywood · as Self (uncredited)Actor
- 2007Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project · as SelfActor
- 2007Brando · as SelfActor
- 2008Get Smart · as The PresidentActor
- 2008New York, I Love You · as Mr. Riccoli, the PharmacistActor
- 2008Wisegal · as Salvatore PalmeriActor
- 2008The Making of 'Bottle Rocket' · as SelfActor
- 2008Hollywood Gangster · as SelfActor
- 2009Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs · as Tim Lockwood (voice)Actor
- 2009Middle Men · as Jerry HaggertyActor
- 2009Family Guy Presents: Something, Something, Something, Dark Side · as Self (voice)Actor
- 2009Mercy · as Gerry RyanActor
- 2010Henry's Crime · as Max SaltzmanActor
- 2011Detachment · as Mr. Charles SeaboldtActor
- 2011His Way · as SelfActor
- 2012That's My Boy · as Father McNallyActor
- 2012Small Apartments · as Mr. AllspiceActor
- 2012For the Love of Money · as MickyActor
- 2012The Godfather Legacy · as SelfActor
- 2013Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 · as Tim Lockwood (voice)Actor
- 2013Blood Ties · as LeonActor
- 2013Seduced and Abandoned · as SelfActor
- 2014Preggoland · as WalterActor
- 2014A Fighting Man · as Mike 'Brother' AlbrightActor
- 2014Altman · as SelfActor
- 2014Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire · as Self - Actor (archive footage)Actor
- 2015The Throwaways · as Lt. Col. Christopher HoldenActor
- 2015The Outsider · as SchuusterActor
- 2015Wuthering High · as EarnshawActor
- 2015Sicilian Vampire · as Professor Bernard IssaacsActor
- 2016The Good Neighbor · as Harold GraineyActor
- 2016J.L. Family Ranch · as TapActor
- 2017Undercover Grandpa · as GrandpaActor
- 2017The Red Maple Leaf · as Senator George Lawrence SecordActor
- 2017Good Enough · as Roger FlynnActor
- 2018Con Man · as Agent GambleActor
- 2019Out of Blue · as Col. Tom RockwellActor
- 2019Holy Lands · as HarryActor
- 2019It Takes a Lunatic · as SelfActor
- 2020JL Family Ranch: The Wedding Gift · as TapActor
- 2021Queen Bees · as DanActor
- 2023Fast Charlie · as Stan MullenActor
- 2023King on Screen · as SelfActor
- 2024Chuck Zito: An American Story · as SelfActor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.