All titles are on sale Tuesday. Speaking with Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz on "Sunday Morning," Caan revealed he wanted at least "one more great role" before he died. I said you havent got enough money to make me go to work every day with a director I dont like.. Caan, who was nominated for an Oscar, was perfect as the hedonistic and volatile heir apparent to the Corleone family, whose bloody ways end in his own death. It is doubtful a female celebrity with a comparable past would be portrayed as favorably in the media or receive the near universal praise Caan has basked in posthumously this week. Short on cash, Caan was hired by Coppola for the leading role in the 1987 film Gardens of Stone. The movie, about life at Arlington National Cemetery, proved too grim for most audiences, but it renewed Caans acting career. A character actor with movie star swagger, or perhaps the other way around, Caan got his start on television in the 1960s before becoming one of the biggest names in Hollywood in the 1970s, thanks in large part to his immortal turn as Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather." Although he received professional help and was cured of the addiction, he was unemployable in Hollywood. As for himself, though, Caan said he was fine seeing himself on screen. Caans comeback became entrenched with a difficult role in Rob Reiners Misery (1990) he spends most of the movie bedridden and doped as a seriously injured writer kept captive by his No 1 fan (Kathy Bates, who won the best actress Oscar). Entertainment, Caan said that he lived with cocaine addiction after turning to the drug when his sister died from leukemia. Much of that time was spent coaching Little League baseball, an experience Caan cherished. The spotlight on Caans minor brushes with the law (the Associated Press) has been dim. Scoot Caan, also an actor like his dad, opened up to PEOPLE back in 2010 about their relationship. After attending various schools, he entered two universities, Michigan State University, at which he was a football hero, and Hofstra University, Long Island, but failed to graduate from either. Enter your email below to sign in or become a 4W member and join the conversation. If Im ranking the best James Caan movies, of course Ill start with The Godfather and Ill include Brians Song and The Gambler and Misery but Thief makes the Top 5. Many actors become associated with one particular role, and this was certainly true for Caan, especially in his later years; many of his roles in the 1990s and 2000s like "Mickey Blue Eyes" and "The Way of the Gun" played on the audience's familiarity with Sonny Corleone. The news of his death was reported around the . James was best known for playing Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather," which won him both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. Caan was divorced four times. According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, Caan died from a heart attack and coronary artery disease. A 1999 article in The Guardian states the LAPD arrested Caan at the time and interrogated him for 10 hours over Schwartz death. And it was one of the main reasons, at least for me, the movie worked.". Caan played. Bates won an Oscar for the role. However, the ambitious TV series didn't appeal to him enormously. James Caan appears at a Miami red-carpet event in 2015. That should have been the final straw, but it is only just the beginning of trans activism. He earned one nickname, Shoulders, due to his broad physique. I just walked out of a picture at Paramount. Caan really did live at Hef's house for a short time, and even after moving out remained a frequent guest of the mansion for decades. In the interview, Caan joked that he only agreed to the one-on-one because Hefner threatened to revoke his mansion privileges, and when asked what drugs he enjoys, he replied, "I take an aspirin now and then, when I've got someone like you to talk to. Perhaps surprising to some, Caan could also sing, dance, and deliver a comedic line with precision (via theLos Angeles Times). ", Caan died from a heart attack in early July. Market data provided by Factset. Caan had begun to struggle with drug use and was devastated by the 1981 leukemia death of his sister, Barbara, who until then had been a guiding force in his career. The actor's official Twitter account announced the news on Thursday:. James Caan, the curly-haired tough guy known to movie fans as the hotheaded Sonny Corleone of The Godfather and to television audiences as both the dying football player in the classic weeper Brians Song and the casino boss in Las Vegas, has died. A brilliant director. Barbra Streisand said, He was so talented. Maria Shriver called him a legend. His second wife, Sheila Marie Ryanwho dated Elvis and appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine in 1973 was 12 years his junior and died in 2012 (m. 1976-1977). Things were looking up for . Unfortunately, he passed [] The then-81-year-old said, "I want to do a good piece of work. A July 7 obituary in The New York Times of Caan frames the actors violent tendencies as part of his bad boy reputation. Most of his behavior is blamed on his cocaine addiction, which began after the premature death of his sister. HOLLYWOOD (AP) - The sister of actor James Caan and president-chief operating officer of the actor's film and television production company has died at the age of 38, a spokesman said. The 45-year-old told the news outlet: "To say our relationship wasn't dysfunctional would be a lie." At the times, his dad James, said: "He saw me when I was a little rough around the . He was a star athlete and class president at Rhodes High School and, after attending Michigan State and Hofstra University, he studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater under Sanford Meisner. While James Caan will be remembered for his prolific acting career, he also directed one feature film, 1980's "Hide in Plain Sight." Return To The '80s With The 'Back To The Future' Musical. His movies were best of the best., On July 7, the Associated Press published many tributes in the form of statements and tweets from fellow celebrities. James Edmund Caan, actor, born 26 March 1940; died 6 July 2022, Superb actor whose defining role of Sonny Corleone in The Godfather found echoes in his colourful personal life, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, James Caan in bath smoking as Karel Reiszs The Gambler (1974). By Claire Jimenez(Grand Central, fiction). A few years earlier, when he was still bankable, Caan had turned down three Oscar winners, M*A*S*H, Kramer vs Kramer (it was such middle-class, bourgeois baloney) and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. James Caan, who has died aged 82, sought satisfaction in extreme sports, drugs and a colourful personal life. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "Birnam Wood," by Eleanor Catton(FSG, fiction):The Booker Prizewinning author of The Luminaries returns with a gripping thriller, pitting an activist gardening collective against an enigmatic billionaire who offers the group access to his land but to what end? On another occasion, the FBI intercepted a phone conversation between Fiato and Caan concerning the actor Joe Pesci. "I like watching it, of course, watching it when it comes out, and that will dictate if I ever watch it again," he said. Caan went along with it, checked out with Mann wrote, and recognized something good was brewing. For decades after, he once said, strangers would approach him on the street and jokingly warn him to stay clear of toll roads. You can bull---t your way around it, but it is there, you know?" But the role also followed him around in a more unusual way: Caan, who was of Hungarian Jewish descent, was often mistaken for Italian, if not an actual wiseguy. One member of that new generation was a young, unknown Texas filmmaker named Wes Anderson who, along with brothers Luke and Owen Wilson, was preparing his first feature, a low-budget crime comedy called "Bottle Rocket." Despite Coppolas fears he had made a flop, the 1972 release was an enormous critical and commercial success and brought supporting actor Oscar nominations for Caan, Duvall and Pacino. Reluctantly he returned to the movies in 1987, reuniting with Coppola for the first time in 13 years for the drama "Gardens of Stone" and starring in the 1988 sci-fi buddy cop feature "Alien Nation.". James Caan (@James_Caan) July 7, 2022. At the time of his death, James Caan was attached to a handful of films. But even an artistic success like "Thief" can't nourish an actor forever, and at a certain point in the early 1980s, James Caan stepped away from the film business, seemingly for good. FILE - James Caan attends the 2016 Summer TCA "Hallmark Event" on July 27, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Caan, whose roles included "The Godfather," "Brians Song" and "Misery," died Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at age 82. After his death, many admirers took to social media to post excerpts of his infamous 1976 Playboy interview, during which he spent the whole time goofing on his interviewer and the entire concept of a celebrity profile. Coppola had to fight the studio over everything, including the casting of Caan and newcomer Al Pacino as mob sons Sonny and Michael Corleone. The top entertainment stories, features and must-read reviews sent to you weekly. But James saw it otherwise. Caan, for all his iconic roles, was also emblematic of the violent male misogynist that has plagued film since its inception. In March 1994, Caan was visiting his brother in Los Angeles when he got into a heated argument with another man, reportedly over an act of vandalism. By the mid-1990s, James Caan was back on top, thanks to a string of hits and notable films like "Misery" and the 1992 romantic comedy "Honeymoon in Vegas." "But yeah, I mean, there's a few that I'm extra proud of. Check out what clicked this week in entertainment. Following the film's release, Caan placed his acting career at the front-and-center of his professional pursuits. The actor's family announced . However, his rough language betrayed violent thoughts. He toldCigar Aficionado that followingher death,his personal life took a turn for the worse. Despite the #MeToo reckoning, which promised to re-examine the treatment of women in media, many of Hollywoods beloved bad boys are still given a pass. 5 James Caan looked weak and needed a walker before his death Credit: BackGrid 5 The Oscar winning actor was 82 Credit: Getty Images - Getty Distractify is a registered trademark. Then came the morning when he woke up in a friends flat to find 10 Los Angeles policemen standing over him with guns drawn. According to Yahoo! Caan's injured arm brought back memories of his knee injury, back in the first season in 2010. As Mr. Henry, a charming con-man sought out by Dignan, the unflappably optimistic would-be criminal played by Owen Wilson, Caan got the rare opportunity to do an outright comedy, and to show off his skills at karate, which he studied for decades. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. . I can't take it easy. The Godfather star James Caan dies aged 82 Actor who played Sonny Corleone in the groundbreaking 1972 epic engineered a comeback after his career went off the rails in the early 1980s A life in. In 2007, he announced his departure from the show, stating that he was eager to make movies again. Like our work? The next year Caan told Rolling Stone: It is impossible to tell you the whole story without getting into a whole lot of smut, without degrading my ex-wife If I were to say to you that someone threw a phone at me I put up my hands an accidental slap a backhand. In this interview his sister Barbara is quoted as saying, Yes, he shoved her. The film stars James Caan, Marsha Mason and Eli Wallach, and was produced and directed by Mark Rydell. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He wasn't afraid to play against his tough guy image, either, in sensitive supporting turns opposite Barbra Streisand and Jane Fonda in "Funny Lady" and "Comes a Horseman," respectively. The women he abused will remember a different man than the one widely praised by Hollywood for "being a legend.". After undergoing serious back surgery in 2020, he was hospitalized for months and has only recently begun to walk again. He was born in the Bronx, New York, and raised in Queens, where his father was a kosher butcher. As per Cigar Aficionado, the early morning before his classes he would pull a shift at a meatpacking plant. On top of this, he walked off the set of The Holcroft Covenant (1985) and was replaced by Michael Caine. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Caan receive good reviews for the role he called the most physically demanding of his career as he had to stay in bed most of the time. Originally intended to be the head of surveillance, Ed was supposed to be the kind of man who spends most of his time staring at the neon glow of television screens, carefully studying CCTV footage to prevent criminal activities. The legendary actor, who passed away on Wednesday, needed the help of a walker in some of his final photos. She was the only person I was afraid of. Then he had a motorcycle accident and his house was nearly destroyed by a landslide. ", At age 16 he moved halfway across the country to attend Michigan State University, where he studied Economics and played football. However, the many superb portrayals he gave in scores of films and TV episodes will outlive the gossip and sensational headlines. When his brother Ronnie was held at gunpoint by gangsters, Caan enlisted the help of his mafia pal Anthony the Animal Fiato. The GM and coach seem to be more cohesive than Ryan Pace was with Matt Nagy and John Fox. The article doesnt mention his ex-wifes abuse allegations, and glosses over Caans use of prostitutes, framing it as part of a partying lifestyle. Make sure to sign up for our books newsletter to have the latest books news delivered straight to your inbox. Soon after The Godfather, Caan was wallowing in violence again as the embittered hero of Rollerball (1975). He was a famously tricky interview subject, by turns hostile to journalists and refreshingly forthright. For more must-readbook recommendations, check out our interview with Jos Olivarez about his new poetry collection, and the March USA TODAY Book Club pick, "Promises of Gold;"the 20 books we were most excited for this winter, including a collaboration betweenColleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher, andRebecca Makkai's"I Have Some Questions for You";ourfavoritebooks of 2022that received perfect four-star reviews;and the juiciest celebrity memoirs released last year from Matthew Perry, Tom Felton, William Shatner, Jennette McCurdy and more. "Jimnez brings bravery to the page, and its her strong storytelling and humor that make this an outstanding debut," says a starred Kirkus review, while a rave review from Publishers Weekly calls it a "knockout.". James Caan, whose indelible, Oscar-nominated performance as Sonny Corleone, the recklessly hotheaded son of Marlon Brando's Mafia don in " The Godfather ," is sure to be remembered as long as. End of tweet" (via Twitter). Based on the life of 1980s Ponzi schemer turned Evangelical minister Barry Minkow, the film went into production in 2009 with Minkow producing and even playing himself. He eventually agreed to direct, though, saying, "But it took a year from my life." It was a nightmare, Caan said. Im a thief James Caans Frank, coming clean about his profession in Thief., If Im compiling a list of my favorite heist movies, it wont be long before I get to Thief.. From 1990 to 1995 Caan was married to model Ingrid Hajek, who was 20 years younger than him. It wasnt just women who were the targets of Caans violence and abuse. Veteran Hollywood actor James Caan, who had memorable roles in The Godfather and Misery, has passed away at the age of 82. That work ethic, whether due to artistic passion or financial need, resulted in a very busy 21st century for the actor. Finding a new gravitas, Caan was utterly convincing as a stiff-necked but compassionate army sergeant who feels that there is nothing to win, and no way of winning it in Vietnam. End of tweet. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Im very pleased and very honored by the fact the Actors Studio, the kids there have picked that scene to do quite a lot, said Caan. Paramount Pictures hired Coppola to adapt and direct the film, feeling that having an Italian-American at the helm would ensure that the film was authentic, and would protect them against charges of racism. I mean, I woke up and this whole thing had happened while I was asleep. According to The New York Times, Rowland claimed Caan picked her up by the neck, choked her and threw her into a hallway after an argument. A 2015 article in HuffPost mentions the broken nose, black eye, and constant intimidation [Rowland] suffered at the hands of Hollywood actor and her then boyfriend James Caan. Rowlands IMDb profile mentions a pictorial in Celebrity Sleuth from 1995 entitled James Caan Tried to Kill Me! In 1999, The Guardian reported that the physical battery suit against Caan was dismissed without trial. "Jimmy was one of the greatest," Del Piano said in a statement. (Michael Kovac), The tweet was completed withCaan's famous Twitter phrase, "End of tweet.". "Caan took pride in his work, telling Bright Lights Film Journal that he especially loved being looked up to by the next generation of actors. He survived a car crash in 1985. But coaching Little League doesn't pay the bills, and due to some financial chicanery on the part of his accountant, Caan's financial situation took a significant hit. He was 82. A great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend. Growing up on the mean streets of Sunnyside, Queens, in the 1950s, Caan made a name for himself two names, in fact with his physical prowess. At times Caan gave the impression he wished to be seen as an artist, not a tough guy. I wear $150 slacks, I wear silk shirts, I wear $800 suits, I wear a gold watch, I wear a perfect D flawless three-karat ring, I change cars like other guys change their f---ing shoes! It took several years, but the "Rollerball" actor eventually got his career back on track, starring in "Gardens of Stone" in 1987 (via IMDb). James Caan, who has died aged 82, sought satisfaction in extreme sports, drugs and a colourful personal life. The second nickname, Killer Caan, came from his skills as a teenage boxer. I'd have to go out and beat up a wildcat or something." James Caan's portrayal of Ed Deline, the head of security at the Montecito Resort and Casino, was the main reason many viewers switched on their TV every Monday to catch a new episode of Las Vegas. Once again in demand, Caan starred in For the Boys with Bette Midler in 1991 as part of a song-and-dance team entertaining U.S. soldiers during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. Would you go down there and do two, three days for me?'". Per Rotten Tomatoes, the film also stars Caan who plays "a blue-collar worker in Buffalo whose estranged wife, Ruthie (Barbara Rae), has taken up with a local mobster, Jack Scolese (Robert Viharo)." But when we chatted via Zoom on Monday, helooked strong and healthy, was brimming with good spirit and was hurling enough expletives to make Sonny Corleone blush. First among those was "Thief," the 1981 debut feature of writer-director Michael Mann, who would go on to revolutionize the crime drama on television and film with "Miami Vice," "Manhunter," and "Heat," among many others. In 1995 he married actress/costume designer Linda Stokes who looks at least a decade younger than him and they divorced in 2016, after filing for divorce three times. I would love to do a real character thing. I just want the opportunity, while I'm still walking, to do something that will have you calling me and saying, 'Jimmy, that was really good,'" he toldThe Independent. Both of his parents were Jewish immigrants from Germany. Don't miss out on the latest news. FILE - James Caan attends the 2016 Summer TCA "Hallmark Event" on July 27, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Caan, whose roles included "The Godfather," "Brian's Song" and "Misery," died Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at age 82. . Then his friend Coppola gave him the lead in Gardens of Stone (1987). I spend most of my time upstairs in my bedroom, wearing out one spot on the bed where I sit when Im making phone calls. When he had not appeared in a film for four years, people in Hollywood were beginning to ask, What ever happened to ?. The women he abused will remember a different man than the one widely praised by Hollywood for "being a legend." On July 6, 82-year-old American actor, James Caan, best known for his roles in The Godfather, Misery, and Elf, died from causes that have not yet been made public. Caan was perfect as the volatile heir apparent to the Corleone family. Private funeral services for Barbara Emily Caan Licker, who died Monday, James Caan, the curly-haired tough guy known to movie fans as the hotheaded Sonny Corleone of "The Godfather" and to television . "The Godfather" has long been dogged with questions of how much of the story is based on true events, and how much the real-life mafia was involved with the film's production. There are some film stars for whom the frisson of fame and the exultation of acting are not enough. James disappeared from Hollywood on several occasions, intermittently working as a children's sports coach. Playing Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather" earned James Caan a Golden Globe nomination and his sole Academy Award nod; he might have won if the Academy had not pitted him against co-stars Robert Duvall and Al Pacino in the Best Supporting Actor category. Poles needs to make sure Eberflus maintains significant input. ", After his time in the proverbial desert in the 1980s, James Caan never stopped working, and in fact had several projects in the works that will now be released posthumously. All rights reserved. ", He's most known for his work in "The Godfather," "Thief," "Misery" and "Rollerball.". But I think if you know this guy well enough, if he was that pig-headed about doing what he had to fulfill, and he loved her, I dont think theres any question where hes going. "One in my wrist, two in the other wrist, and one in each. According to the death certificate obtained by TMZ, Caan died from a heart attack and coronary artery disease. His movies were best of the best.. In 1994 Fleiss told Vanity Fair she was having an affair with her longtime crush, James Caan. In a 1999 interview Caan said of his involvement with the prostituted women working for Fleiss: Hookers? How rare. It was not a box office smash, grossing $31 million in todays dollars, but has become revered as a classic of the genre and a major influence on films from Manns own Heat (1995) to Nicolas Winding Refns 2011 classic Drive., Click here for behind-the-scene gems from the making of Thief and Caans great story about the aftermath of Brians Song.. Even at the end, when father and son have reconciled in time to save Christmas, there's the sense that Walter still isn't a big fan of Buddy's whole thing. Sonny Corleone, a violent and reckless man who conducted many killings, met his own end in one of the most jarring movie scenes in history. But Caan hit the headlines again in the 90s for the wrong reasons. It's an importantjob, but can she resist the tug pulling her away? A few, but not all, of these allegations have received some attention in last weeks articles venerating Caan and his reputation as a mans man, tough guy, and bad boy. But it sure looked really bad. Yep. "I was very fortunate that I was able to do whatever the hell I wanted to do, so I put it together right away," he said. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Between 1982 and 1987, he went on what he would later call the Hollywood burnout. Hollywood great James Caan, who had recently undergone back surgery, appeared frail as his son Jacob pushed him around in a wheelchair back in 2020. He was 82. Detectives were questioning a person who was inside the home at the time. Lee called the police and Caan was arrested on a misdemeanor charge, then released later that night. Instead, Joel Grey took home the award for "Cabaret." This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. An acquaintance of Caan, Schwartz fell while attempting to reach the unit. James Caan 's portrayal of Ed Deline, the head of security at the Montecito Resort and Casino, was the main reason many viewers switched on their TV every Monday to catch a new episode of Las Vegas . The film, which points to the links between the mafia and American capitalism, portrays men such as Don Corleone (Marlon Brando), the godfather of the title, as businessmen. We had a scene where he goes to Malibu [to be with his family] at the end, but Michael decided against it, said Caan. I am Joe the boss of my own body, so what the f--- do I have to work for you for?, Caan said Frank never uses a contraction throughout the movie, and speaks in deliberate, measured tones so he is never misunderstood. Jul 15, 2022 7 min. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Whether or not Caan gets his wish, he will be remembered as a shining star of American cinema. Caan was 82 years old when he died. Russo told EW: With this being my first film, I didnt want to complain he chipped my elbow with the garbage pail cover, and he broke two ribs. Caan was asleep when this happened . There were several contributing factors, starting with a bad experience filming the 1982 romantic comedy "Kiss Me Goodbye," co-starring Sally Field and Jeff Bridges. Let's take a look at some things you might not know about James Caan. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. 5 'Godfather' actor James Caan died on Wednesday, July 7. As the actor said in an interview with Bright Lights Film, he did have a good few reservations about accepting a role on a TV show at first. The "Godfather" star continued to act in recent years, with IMDb listing an upcoming project of his, titled "Fast Charlie," as being in post-production ahead of a 2023 release. As he said in Cigar Aficionado, "I love kids because they're not full of s***, you know?" He managed a long career despite drug problems, outbursts of temper and minor brushes with the law. Caans first wife was actress Dee Jay Mattis, and they were married from 1961 to 1966. Adam Sandler tweeted, for example, Always wanted to be like him Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. The first episode of the crime drama aired on Sept. 22, 2003 and it was an immediate hit. Years later, Caan would downplay his contributions to the team, joking that his job was "mostly holding bags and being the tackling dummy," but that experience of being a football player and an athlete in general would mark a number of his most famous roles, from real-life Chicago Bear Brian Piccolo in the 1971 docudrama "Brian's Song" to the star player of a dystopian bloodsport in Norman Jewison's "Rollerball." As screenwriter William Goldman wrote in his 2000 memoir, "That pent-up energy you saw on screen was very real. "It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on . And the violent, anti-woman propaganda appearing in its place. He was sued by a woman who claimed he had tried to strangle her. Caan may have been a great actor and his roles may be long-remembered. "The Godfather" would sit at the top of nearly any actor's resume, and rightly so, but James Caan had other, less heralded favorites. This will never happen with my son. Caan was well teamed with Genevive Bujold in Claude Lelouchs romance set in the US, Another Man, Another Chance (1977), and with Jane Fonda in the western Comes a Horseman (1978). On July 6, 2022, the film world was stunned by the death of actor and filmmaker James Caan. Outside, they had discovered a body of an aspiring actor, Mark Alan Schwartz, on the pavement eight storeys below. The actor's rep told The Hollywood Reporter that Caan died Wednesday night at 82, confirming a Twitter post from his family. Actor Scott Caan, the son of the late actor James Caan, has filed a petition to manage his father's estate in new court documents obtained by The Blast. He says, I am, not Im, so its, I am the last guy on Earth you want to f---- with. At one point Michael said, Why are you talking so deliberately and slowly? and I said, Because I never have to repeat myself. , Frank is a master thief who uses an arsenal of heavy and complicated tools such as a 200-pound magnetic drill, and Caan said he had to make it all look real while technical advisers, including some former notorious thieves, looked on. In a 2013 interview with the AV Club, Caan took credit for discovering Mann, recounting how the fledgling filmmaker waited to talk to him on the set of the Neil Simon adaptation "Chapter Two." Caan was questioned for nearly 10 hours before they released him, having concluded that Schwartz had fallen while trying to break into the flat. He made his 40 million dollar fortune with Countdown, The Killer Elite, Bottle Rocket. Racing to find his sisters husband, Corleone stops at a toll booth that he discovers is unnervingly empty of customers. At the time, 27-year-old Heidi Fleiss was accused of being Hollywoods top madam. I can get that. J ames Caan is showing off his war wounds. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Behind the scenes, Caan and his character were not too far apart, as Ferrell once noted on a 2018 episode of "The Late Late Show with James Corden."