The statement, posted to Caan’s official Twitter account, said the actor passed away Wednesday night (local time). No cause of death or location were provided.
“The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time,” the statement said.
Caan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the hot-tempered Corleone in 1972’s “The Godfather.” He reprized the role in flashback scenes in “The Godfather: Part II” in 1974. Other nominations included four Golden Globes and an Emmy.
Al Pacino, who played Sonny Corleone’s brother in “The Godfather,” praised Caan as “a great actor, a brilliant director and my best friend.”
“It’s hard to believe he won’t be in the world anymore because he was so vibrant and daring,” Pacino said in a statement.
Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Caan in “The Godfather” and the 1969 film “The Rain People,” said Caan’s films “and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten.”
Caan’s career spanned six decades and included a wide variety of other roles in films, from psychological thriller “Misery” to comedy “Eleven.” Last year, he starred in the romantic comedy “Queen Bees” opposite Ellen Burstyn.
James Edmund Caan was born on March 26, 1940 in the Bronx borough of New York City to German Jewish immigrants.
One of three siblings, Caan started acting in television in 1961.
He received widespread acclaim for his role in the 1971 TV movie “Brian’s Song,” in which he played real-life Chicago Bears football player Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer at age 26. The role earned Caan an Emmy nomination.
Billy Dee Williams, who co-starred with Caan in “Brian’s Song,” shared an undated photo of the two together on his Twitter account in recent years.
“Team members and friends to the end. RIP Jimmy,” Williams tweeted with a heartbroken emoji.