James Caan was an American actor renowned for his ability to portray complex characters: often "tough," energetic, or masculine, but with an underlying vulnerability or an impetuous charisma.

His most iconic role was that of Sonny Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's *The Godfather* (1972), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Another memorable performance was as writer Paul Sheldon in the psychological thriller *Misery* (1990), where he demonstrated great depth in portraying physical and psychological suffering.

He also shone in films such as the sci-fi *Rollerball* (1975) and, notably, Michael Mann's *Thief* (1981), where he embodied the solitary professional with cold intensity. Later in his career, he showed a comedic streak in *Elf* (2003), expanding his repertoire. Caan was a master at balancing brute force and emotional nuances, making his characters consistently compelling.