Curiosidades

While on sabbatical from acting he coached a Little League baseball team. There was an incident where his team's weakest player hit a home run that won a game. Caan said that this was one of the greatest moments of his life.

In the 1990s he kicked a cocaine habit of some 20 years.

His film contracts during his rodeo days had provisions that he would not compete during filming.

Was originally tested for the role of Sonny Corleone in El padrino (1972) (director Francis Ford Coppola had worked with him and Robert Duvall in Llueve sobre mi corazón (1969) and wanted them in the movie), but then was slated to play Michael Corleone after Paramount's initial choices (which included Warren Beatty, Robert Redford and Ryan O'Neal) did not pan out. When Al Pacino came on board, Caan was switched back to Sonny.

According to the British documentary The Godfather and the Mob (2006), Caan was regularly seen with Gambino family underboss Carmine Persico (aka "Junior") during the filming of El padrino (1972). As Persico was under surveillance by the FBI at the time, Caan came under almost equal scrutiny.

Spent nine years on the pro rodeo circuit.

He turned down the lead role in Superman (1978), because he balked at wearing such a costume.

Is a 6th Dan in Karate.

Turned down Jack Nicholson's role in Alguien voló sobre el nido del cuco (1975). Not one to repeat that mistake, he accepted the lead role in Misery (1990) when Nicholson turned it down. Both films involved the lead character being at the mercy of a sadistic nurse.

States that Ladrón (1981) is one of his favorite films.

Was a drama major at Hofstra University in Hempstead, Nassau County, Long Island, New York, USA before he dropped out.

Briefly lived at the Playboy Mansion in the 1970s.

Played football for Michigan State University.

He was the original choice to play Lone Starr in La loca historia de las galaxias (1987). Unfortunately, he was struggling with addiction issues at the time. A then unknown Bill Pullman won the role, as Caan was deemed too expensive to insure.

Turned down the role of Trapper John in M*A*S*H (1970) in order to appear in Rabbit, Run (1970).

During the making of Mickey ojos azules (1999), he nicknamed Hugh Grant "Whippy" after the Whippet, an English breed of dog that shivers a lot.

From 1982 to 1987, Caan suffered from depression over his sister's death from leukemia, a growing problem with cocaine, and what he described as "Hollywood burnout," and did not act in any films.

He turned down the role of Ted Kramer in Kramer contra Kramer (1979). Dustin Hoffman subsequently won an Oscar for the role.

In his youth, his nicknames were "Shoulders" and "Killer Caan".

Studied Economics at Michigan State University.

Sons with Linda Stokes: James Arthur Caan (b. 6 November 1995) and Jacob Nicholas Caan (b. September 24th 1998).

After being turned down by Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino, Julia Phillips inquired of Caan's agent if he would be interested in taking the lead role of Roy Neary in Encuentros en la tercera fase (1977). Caan's agent responded that he would read the script for a guarantee of $1 million plus 10% of the gross if he accepted the role. Phillips went with the original choice, Richard Dreyfuss.

The theatre dressing room scene in 'Funny Lady' in which he and Barbra Streisand toss powder in each others faces turned into a surprise for Barbra as she only expected a light dusting but James, conspiring with director Herbert Ross heaped a powder storm on her with dramatic and humorous effect. it's one of her personal favourites.

His parents, Sophie (Falkenstein) and Arthur Caan, were both German Jews.

Two generations of his family and the Coppola family have worked together. He worked with Francis Ford Coppola most memorably in the first two Godfather films (El padrino (1972) and El padrino parte II (1974)) and in Jardines de piedra (1987). His son, Scott Caan, appeared in Sonny (2002), which was directed by Nicolas Cage and featured Cage and his brother, Marc Coppola. Sonny was also the name of Caan's "Godfather" character.

He walked off the set of El pacto de Berlín (1985) and was replaced by Michael Caine. Both were in Un puente lejano (1977).

He was offered the role of Col. Lucas in Apocalypse Now (1979), but he demanded too much money for such a small part, and Harrison Ford was cast instead.

He turned down the role of "Popeye" Doyle in Contra el imperio de la droga (1971). Gene Hackman subsequently won an Oscar for the part.

He is a practicing martial artist. He has trained with Takayuki Kubota for nearly thirty years, earning various ranks. He is a Master (Rank = 6 Dan) of Gosoku Ryu Karate and was granted the title of Soke Dai by the International Karate Association.

Although he played John Cazale's elder brother in El padrino (1972) and El padrino parte II (1974), he is five years his junior in real life.

He agreed to appear in Un puente lejano (1977) because of the scene in which he forces a reluctant Army surgeon to operate on one of his buddies at gunpoint. He said, "When Richard Attenborough came to see me in Los Angeles, he offered me the choice of several roles. I chose the Sergeant, chiefly for that one scene.".

In a 1991 interview, Caan claimed that making Bésame y esfúmate (1982) was a factor in his self-imposed exile. Caan called it one of the worst experiences of his life and professed that director Robert Mulligan was the most incompetent filmmaker he had ever worked with.

He was considered for the role of Tom Hagen in El padrino (1972) before Robert Duvall was cast. He eventually played Sonny Corleone in both that film and El padrino parte II (1974).

In 1977, Caan rated several of his movies out of ten - El padrino (1972) (10), Una extraña pareja de polis (1974) (4), Permiso para amar hasta medianoche (1973) (8), El jugador (1974) (8), Funny Lady (1975) (9), Rollerball, ¿un futuro próximo? (1975) (8), Los aristócratas del crimen (1975) (5), Harry y Walter van a Nueva York (1976) (0), Slither (1973) (4), Un puente lejano (1977) (7), and Otro hombre, otra mujer (1977) (10). He also liked his performances in Llueve sobre mi corazón (1969) and Ladrón (1981).

He was considered to voice Scar in El rey león (1994).

Avid golfer.

He survived a car crash in 1985.

He was considered for Harrison Ford's roles in La guerra de las galaxias (1977) and Blade Runner (1982).

Although he played Morgana King's son in El padrino (1972) and El padrino parte II (1974), he is only ten years her junior in real life.

Frequent guest/player at celebrity golf events.

Grew up in Sunnyside (neighborhood), Queens, New York City, New York, USA.

He was considered for Axel Foley in Superdetective en Hollywood (1984).

Studied at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater, a professional conservatory for actors, and the home of the Meisner technique (developed and taught by Sanford Meisner, who was at one time part of the faculty there), in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.

He has five children and four grandchildren, three from his eldest daughter Tara and one from his son Scott.

He was originally cast in the main villain role of Scorpio in Harry el sucio (1971), however the part later went to Andrew Robinson.

He made his screen singing debut in 'Funny Lady' and played the piano which he studied as a child.

He was considered for Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver (1976).

He was considered for the role of Jack Travis in Arma letal 3 (1992).

In the Godfather trilogy, Andy Garcia plays the son of Caan's character, Sonny Corleone. In Ocean's Eleven: Hagan juego (2001) and Ocean's Twelve. Uno más entra en juego (2004), Caan's son, Scott Caan, works with Garcia.

He was considered for Richard Dreyfuss' roles in Encuentros en la tercera fase (1977), La chica del adiós (1977), and ¿Qué pasa con Bob? (1991).