JAMES Caan looked frail and weak in the time leading up to his passing.
The legendary actor, who passed away on Wednesday, needed the help of a walker in some of his final photos.
James Caan looked weak and needed a walker before his death[/caption]
The Oscar winning actor was 82[/caption]
The Godfather star, who was 82, was spotted last year needing the aid to get to his car after grabbing dinner with friends in West Hollywood.
James’ legs looked thin and weak as he struggled to hold himself up.
He reportedly had a back operation last year as well, and had to spend time in a wheelchair after surgery.
On Thursday, his family shared the sad news via Twitter.
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“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6,” a tweet from James’ official account posted.
“The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
DISTINGUISHED CAREER
James is best remembered for his legendary role as Sonny Corleone in 1972’s The Godfather.
He went on to earn an Oscar nomination for the part.
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The actor also won an Emmy for playing NFL running back Brian Piccolo in the tear-jerker Brian’s Song, among a number of major roles in films like Elf and the television series Las Vegas.
HEALTH PROBLEMS
But James struggled with various mental and physical health complications over the years, including depression, severe chest pain, and back problems.
The talented star was diagnosed with clinical depression in 1981 after his sister died of Leukemia.
He also admitted to fighting a cocaine addiction for nearly a decade and recalled feeling hopeless while on the set of several films.
He once told the New York Times in an interview: “There are pictures I made that I still haven’t seen.
“I was depressed when I was making them. In the middle of some of these pictures, I kept thinking, ‘What am I doing here?’ It’s like you’re in a hallway and you can’t get out.”
“I had a bad bout with cocaine for a little while. I lost my sister when it happened.
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“And she was like, I don’t know, when I lost her, I couldn’t, I couldn’t handle it, I didn’t know what to do,” he told Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz last July.
In 2015, James was rushed to the hospital with extreme chest pain, and despite concerns of a heart attack, medics attributed it to infection.
James had back surgery last year[/caption]
He battled a variety of health problems over his life[/caption]
James is survived by five children, including Hawaii Five-0 remake star Scott, seen here[/caption]
