James Caan, who starred in Brian’s Song and The Program, has died aged 82

Sad news from the world of cinema as actor James Caan passed away on Wednesday, his family announced on his Twitter account.

Caan, 82, had a film and television career spanning seven decades. Perhaps best known for his role as the hot-headed Santino “Sonny” Corleone in The Godfather, Caan also had roles in films as diverse as Misery, Bottle Rocket, and Elf. He was nominated for four Golden Globes, an Emmy and an Oscar in his lifetime, and also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

During his acting career, Caan, who played football at Michigan State in the 1950s, was also known for his roles in several iconic sports films. Early in his career, Caan starred in Brian’s Song, where he played Brian Piccolo, the real-life Chicago Bears quarterback who died of cancer at age 26. Billy Dee Williams stars as Piccolo’s friend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers alongside Caan.

Caan also starred as coach Sam Winters in The Program, a drama about the struggles of a fictional college football team (read our oral history of the film here), and as Jonathan E. in Rollerball, a sci-fi story about a futuristic and violent sports league.