By Wonderwall.com Editors
2:38pm PDT, Jul 25, 2022
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James Caan, who starred in "The Godfather," "Brian's Song," "Elf" and a host of other films and TV shows, died from a heart attack and coronary artery disease, his death certificate revealed. He also suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD, and congestive heart failure, TMZ reported on July 23. The actor, who died at 82 on July 6, 2022, was buried at Eden Memorial Park in Los Angeles. After news of his passing was announced, many in Hollywood publicly paid their respects to the "Misery" star.
Keep reading to see how the entertainment world reacted to the death of the legendary actor…
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"On the set of the movie 'Fast Charlie' with the great man himself James Cann, farewell Jimmy. We had many laughs together over those five days in New Orleans …you were an inspiration to me as young actor starting out, and an even greater one as a man watching you work each day against great physical pain and discomfort. You gave of yourself to the art of acting and performance to the very end. My heart has a deep sorrow this day for your passing. I shall cherish the memory of you always. My heart felt condolences to your family. May you Rest In Peace, forever in the light." —Pierce Brosnan
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"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." –Al Pacino
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"I will always treasure my time spent on and off camera with James Caan. He always had great stories and advice. Without him, a movie like Elf doesn't work." –Will Ferrell
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"James Caan was a true delight. My favorite memory of him was shooting part of a montage for the end of Elf and he started playing piano — he played beautifully — I sang and he played and I was just astonished by his talent! I think he was just capable of so many things and that's what made him such a wonderful actor. I was so honored to have worked with him." –Zooey Deschanel
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"Jimmy Caan, he taught me how to swear. It's an inflection, it's an emphasis," Alec Baldwin said in a seven-minute Instagram video dedicated to the late actor. "He was a sweetie. He was a sweet guy. Very kind to me. And I loved him. He was a good guy."
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"I'm heartbroken to hear of Jimmy's passing. Shocked. No words. Thank you, Jimmy. Love you, your 'Kat' @James_Caan" –Kathy Bates
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"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." –Francis Ford Coppola
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"Sad to hear of James Caan's passing…it was an honor and pleasure to know and work with a true legend like Jimmy. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. RIP." –Mark Wahlberg
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"I'm very, very sad to hear about Jimmy's passing." –Robert De Niro
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"James Caan was an icon – a legend. He inspired everyone who has ever been in front of a camera. I was lucky to work with him and see his talent and his fantastic sense of humor firsthand. He was a great training partner in the gym and a true friend, and I'll miss him." —Arnold Schwarzenegger
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"James Caan. Loved him very much. Always wanted to be like him. So happy I got to know him. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. His movies were best of the best. We all will miss him terribly. Thinking of his family and sending my love." –Adam Sandler
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"I'm so sorry to hear about Jimmy. He was so talented. #JamesCaan" –Barbra Streisand
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"Very sad to hear the news that James Caan has died. Heartbroken for his family & his friends. Wonderful to know him & call him a pal. Jimmy was so supportive of Gary Sinise Foundation & my work w/ our veterans. He will be missed. Thank you my friend. Rest In Peace. God bless you" –Gary Sinise
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"A great actor has left us. Deepest condolences to all of his family and loved ones. RIP @James_Caan" –Antonio Banderas
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"Well, this just sucks about James Caan. I was lucky enough to work with him & be friends. Always a fun guy to be around. He was always supportive of my career. He even did a cameo in my tv special and got Robert Duvall to be in it. A highlight of my career. God bless James Caan." –Jon Lovitz
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"I just want to take a minute to remember Jimmy Caan: one of the kindest, coolest, funniest people I've ever met, one of my mentors. And you'll be missed, Jimmy Caan. I love you." –Josh Duhamel
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"So sad about Jimmy Caan. He was a legend. He was always kind to me. Sending his family my love." –Maria Shriver
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"The first time I ever saw my father cry was watching Jimmy Caan in "Brian's Song." Today, I'm going to shed some tears for Jimmy. Rest In Peace pal." –Tony Danza
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"One of the great gifts in being part of The Godfather family was becoming friends with James Caan. Rest In Peace Jimmy." –Joe Mantegna
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"James was a good man, a kind man, a family man, and a wildly gifted man — whose great talent will always be loved and remembered. My prayers are with his family that he treasured so dearly" –Talia Shire
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"What a terrible and tragic loss. Jimmy was not just a great actor with total commitment and a venturesome spirit, but he had a vitality in the core of his being that drove everything from his art and friendship to athletics and very good times. There was a core of values within him about how people should be, more or less. It might be variable, the corners could be rounded with urban irony, but there was a line and it was non-fungible. And it produced many outrageous and hilarious anecdotes. I loved him and I loved working with him. He reached into the core of his being during difficult personal times to be the rebellious, half wild child, institutionalized outsider Frank, in my first film, Thief. Frank is half Frank, half Jimmy. The character and the man – like his Sonny in The Godfather – were made for each other. Unique. What a loss." –Michael Mann
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"It is heartbreaking to hear the news about James Caan leaving us. Truly one of my favorite people to ever work with. His heart so full of love for his co-workers, a blast to be around, loyal & protective. A beautiful legend on the silver screen. Rest in Love & Peace Jimmy" –Kristy Swanson
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"DAMN. We Lost Another Great- @James_Caan. Many Know Jimmy From THE GODFATHER But Please Check Out "Da Work" He Did In THIEF Directed By Michael Mann. Rest In Paradise" –Spike Lee
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"The Caan family played a major role in saving my life 11 years ago. I am so sorry for your loss and hope you can again soon find peace." –Ethan Embry
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"RIP The GREAT James Caan!" –Marc Maron
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"RIP James Caan. Shocked. Was lucky enough, after a lifetime of loving his work, to get to work with him and I loved him as a person even more. Funny, warm, self-deprecating, and effortlessly talented. They say never meet your heroes, but he proved that to be very very wrong" –Andy Richter
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"Ran into James Caan on a flight… tough dude to the end without even trying" –Chuck D
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"James Caan always had the funniest stories. Once he told me Coppola had the habit of grabbing food off his plate & eating it, so one day he made a sandwich with very hot jalapeños between two pieces of buttered bread, & waited outside Coppola's airstream. Coppola came roaring out to direct the next scene, grabbed the sandwich off the plate & gobbled it down. Immediately tears started squirting out of his eyes & he started yelling 'What is this? What did you do to me?!' And Jimmy said meekly 'Did I ask you to eat my sandwich? Did I?'" –Jennifer Tilly
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"I was blessed to star opposite this icon. He taught me patience and professionalism. RIP my friend. Thanks for the lessons Jimmy. End of tweet." –Johnathon Schaech
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"Team Mates and friends till the end. RIP Jimmy." –Billy Dee Williams
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"I'm so sad to learn the news of James Caan. James was a dear friend of our family. He was beloved by many. From 'The Godfather' to 'Elf,' and so much more, his work is timeless. [My wife] Scarlett and I will be watching 'Misery' this evening. Sending love to his family during this time." –Cooper Hefner
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"I named my son after Santino Corleone in the Godfather and the man who infamously played him passed away today on my son's birthday. From one Sonny to another… God bless you James Caan & Happy Birthday Sonny!" –Mario Lopez
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"Always sad to say goodbye to the greats, especially when it's one who's responsible for one of the greatest performances of all time. Goodby Sonny" –Josh Gad
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"Legend… Rest in Power, Jimmy. Our condolences to Scotty and his family" –Cary Elwes
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"So sorry to hear the news. I loved working with him. And the only Jew I knew who could calf rope with the best of them. Love to the family." –Rob Reiner
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"RIP to a genuine megawatt movie star, Mr Jimmy Caan, star of not just The Godfather, but also Thief, Misery, Freebie And The Bean, Slither, Rollerball, Bottle Rocket, Gardens Of Stone, The Way Of The Gun, Honeymoon In Vegas, Elf & many more." –Edgar Wright
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"Brilliant actor – loved him as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, such a ferocious, menacing, magnificent performance. Met him once at a party in LA and he was a very funny & highly entertaining man. Sad news." –Piers Morgan
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"Jimmy Caan was a master actor. Rest In Peace. My heart felt condoles to his family." –Piper Perabo
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"RIP James Caan." –Michael McKean
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"Rest In Peace Jimmy. So great. So loved! You Will be terribly missed." –Mario Cantone
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"Rest In Peace James Caan. There are so many movies of his I love, The Godfather films of course being at the very top, but here are a few more I adore (Thief in particular was a Gunn family classic – I had the poster on my wall in high school)" –James Gunn
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"Ugh. I just saw him speak at the Godfather 50 with Francis and Talia and he was as spirited and fiery as ever. What a giant." –Alex Winter
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"I once passed James Caan in the commissary at Paramount Pictures. He looked me over in my Data makeup and uniform and uttered just one word, 'Working?' Honored. RIP" –Brent Spiner
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"Rest In Peace James Caan! What a life" –Holly Robinson Peete
