ट्रिविया

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 The Godfather (1972) (director Francis Ford Coppola had worked with him and Robert Duvall in The Rain People (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 The Godfather (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.

Turned down Jack Nicholson's role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). Not one to repeat that mistake, he accepted the lead role in मिज़री (1990) when Nicholson turned it down. Both films involved the lead character being at the mercy of a sadistic nurse.

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

Is a 6th Dan in Karate.

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

Briefly lived at the Playboy Mansion in the 1970s.

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

Played football for Michigan State University.

He was the original choice to play Lone Starr in Spaceballs (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 MASH (1970) in order to appear in Rabbit, Run (1970).

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

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

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.

Studied Economics at Michigan State University.

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

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

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 (The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974)) and in Gardens of Stone (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.

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 तीसरी प्रकार की मुठभेड़ (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.

He walked off the set of The Holcroft Covenant (1985) and was replaced by Michael Caine. Both were in A Bridge Too Far (1977).

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.

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 The French Connection (1971). Gene Hackman subsequently won an Oscar for the part.

Although he played John Cazale's elder brother in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974), he is five years his junior in real life.

He agreed to appear in A Bridge Too Far (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 Kiss Me Goodbye (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.

In 1977, Caan rated several of his movies out of ten - The Godfather (1972) (10), Freebie and the Bean (1974) (4), Cinderella Liberty (1973) (8), The Gambler (1974) (8), Funny Lady (1975) (9), Rollerball (1975) (8), The Killer Elite (1975) (5), Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976) (0), Slither (1973) (4), A Bridge Too Far (1977) (7), and Un autre homme, une autre chance (1977) (10). He also liked his performances in The Rain People (1969) and Thief (1981).

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

He was considered to voice Scar in द लायन किंग (1994).

Frequent guest/player at celebrity golf events.

Avid golfer.

He was considered for Harrison Ford's roles in स्टार वॉर्स (1977) and ब्लेड रनर (1982).

He survived a car crash in 1985.

Although he played Morgana King's son in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974), he is only ten years her junior in real life.

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

He was considered for Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop (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.

In the Godfather trilogy, Andy Garcia plays the son of Caan's character, Sonny Corleone. In Ocean's Eleven (2001) and ओसन्स ट्वेल्व (2004), Caan's son, Scott Caan, works with Garcia.

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

He was considered for the lead role in Rocky (1976).

He was originally cast in the main villain role of Scorpio in डर्टी हैरी (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 लीथल वेपन ३ (1992).