James Caan’s death mourned by ‘Godfather’ director Francis Ford Coppola, stars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Talia Shire

Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino and other members of “The Godfather” family paid tribute to James Caan following his death at age 82.

The New York-born Caan, who portrayed the hotheaded Sonny Corleone in the classic 1972 mobster movie, died Wednesday. A cause of death has not been released.

“Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend,” Pacino, who starred as Sonny’s brother Michael Corleone, said in a statement Thursday. “It’s hard to believe that he won’t be in the world anymore because he was so alive and daring. A great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend. I’m gonna miss him.”

Coppola attended Hofstra University with Cann before working with him on multiple movies, including 1969′s “The Rain People.” They united again for “The Godfather,” which Coppola directed and co-wrote.

“Jimmy was someone who stretched through my life longer and closer than any motion picture figure I’ve ever known,” Coppola said Thursday.

“From those earlier times working together on THE RAIN PEOPLE and throughout all the milestones of my life, his films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten. He will always be my old friend from Sunnyside, my collaborator and one of the funniest people I’ve ever known.”

Robert De Niro, who won an Oscar for his work on 1974′s “The Godfather II,” said, “I’m very very sad to hear about Jimmy’s passing.”

Talia Shire portrayed Sonny’s younger sister, Connie, in “The Godfather.” One of the film’s most famous scenes involved Sonny beating up Connie’s abusive husband, Carlo, using his fists and a trash can.

“James was a good man, a kind man, a family man, and a wildly gifted man — whose great talent will always be loved and remembered,” Shire said in a statement. My prayers are with his family that he treasured so dearly.”

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