James Caan died Wednesday night at the age of 82, according to a statement from the actor’s representative. Caan left behind a prolific body of work spanning more than six decades and across different genres.
His career was marked by a number of critically acclaimed roles, the main one being Sonny Corleone in The Godfather. Other notable roles he’s known for include The Godfather Part II, Elf, Thief and Brian’s Song.
He demonstrated his versatility and range by going for roles across genres, from comedy to his role as bedridden badass Paul Sheldon, which many of Caan’s A-list peers had turned down at the time.
Along with his choice of roles, the actor’s dating life also made plenty of headlines. He was married four times – to Dee Jay Mathis, Sheila Ryan, Ingrid Hajek and Linda Stokes – and had five children – Tara, Scott, James, Jacob and Alexander.
Sonny Corleone actor was married four times
The late James Caan first tied the knot in 1961 at the age of 21, with fellow actress Dee Jay Mathis. Known for small roles in The Patsy (1964) and Frankie And Johnny (1966), Mathis’ career did not appear to take off in quite the same way as her husband’s. During their brief marriage, Caan nabbed some of his earliest big roles in films like Lady In A Cage (1964,) and The Glory Guys (1965)
In 1964, Caan and Mathis welcomed a daughter, Tara, and by 1966 the couple had called it quits.
The actor waited a full ten years before his next marriage, this time to Elvis’s ex-girlfriend, Sheila Ryan. Their marriage, sadly, fizzled out in about a year, just after the couple welcomed their son, Scott Caan.
By 1977, the actor was again single and ready to mingle. However, it would be more than a decade before he married his third wife, Ingrid Hajek. During his marriage to Hajek, who worked as a life coach, Caan’s second son, Alexander James, was born.
By 1994, Caan and Hajek had split and this time the actor moved on more quickly, marrying his fourth wife, Linda Stokes in 1995. The couple stayed together for more than two decades, welcoming two sons – James Arthur and Jacob Nicholas – before finally calling it quits in 2016.
According to the Daily Mail, Caan had filed to divorce Stokes twice, once in 2005 and again in 2009, before finally splitting for good in 2015. They were allegedly embroiled in an expensive court battle over Stokes’ alimony.
Who was James Caan’s wife, Sheila Ryan?
James Caan’s second wife, Sheila Caan (née Ryan), was a Playboy model-turned actress who had previously dated the King of Rock’n Roll, Elvis Presley.
Born on 17 September 1952 in Franklin Park, IL, Sheila went on to start a career in modelling, gracing the cover of Playboy Magazine in October 1973. According to an interview with Elvis Australia, the Official Elvis Presley Fan Club, she dated Elvis Presley for two years, after his relationship with Linda Thompson ended.
Elvis and Sheila first met in Las Vegas when, she says, he threw a grape at her, possibly as an excuse to introduce himself. Later, Sheila was contacted by Elvis’s manager who said his boss would like to ask her out.
During their relationship, Elvis dedicated his hit, And I Love You So, to Sheila numerous times, including on take one of the recording, where he can be heard saying, “step here Sheila let me sing to you baby” just before the song starts in earnest.
In 1976, Sheila Ryan met and married James Caan, becoming Sheila Caan. Their relationship was short-lived, and the couple divorced in 1977. During the brief marriage, they welcomed one son, Scott.
Sheila Caan also worked as an actress, with credits including Patrick Swayze classic Road House (1989), Lone Star Blues (1994) and A Boy Called Hate (1994), where she appeared alongside her son, Scott.
Sheila died in September 2012, at the age of 59 after a battle with cancer.
Meet Sheila and James Caan’s son, Ocean’s 11 star Scott Caan
Perhaps James Caan most famous child, Scott Caan has built himself a prolific acting career, with notable roles including Ocean’s 11 (and a few other films within the franchise), Gone In Sixty Seconds and Varsity Blues.
In 1994, Scott Caan starred alongside his mother, Sheila, in A Boy Called Hate, his first acting role.
Scott told the LA Times his father was the type of person who “digs into life and goes, ‘Yeah, that tore my heart out, but I’m going to try again.’ ”
In a 2010 interview with People, he added that, though their relationship could be classified as dysfunctional at times, he had “no resentment” toward his dad. “He made mistakes that affected him — and me — but he’s always been there for me no matter what,” Scott said.
The son and father had a “unique relationship”, Caan Sr explained. He told Esquire in a 2003 interview: “I never saw my dad cry. My son saw me cry. My dad never told me he loved me, and consequently I told Scott I loved him every other minute. The point is, I’ll make less mistakes than my dad, my sons hopefully will make less mistakes than me, and their sons will make less mistakes than their dads.”
Condolences pour in for late actor’s family
“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time,” reads a message from Caan’s family announcing the actor’s death.
Since then, countless messages have poured in from friends, colleagues and fans honouring the late actor and his life’s work.
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