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James Caan, Oscar nominee for 'The Godfather' dies at 82

Actor James Caan, left, and his wife Linda Stokes attend the 41st Annual Chaplin Award Gala honoring Rob Reiner on April 28, 2014 in New York. Caan, who had notable roles in "The Godfather," "Brian’s Song" and "Misery," died Wednesday at age 82. Reiner directed the film "Misery," which starred Caan. Associated Press File Photo

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 “Brian’s Song” and the casino boss in “Las Vegas,” has died. He was 82.

His manager Matt DelPiano said he died on Wednesday. No cause was given and Caan's family, who requests privacy, said that no further details would be released at this time.

Many of his collaborators wrote condolences on Twitter Thursday.

Adam Sandler, who acted with him in “Bulletproof” and “That's My Boy” wrote that he, “Loved him very much. Always wanted to be like him. So happy I got to know him. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. His movies were best of the best.”

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