One brother, Ronnie Caan, and one sister, Barbara (deceased c. 1981--leukemia).
Played football for Michigan State University.
Some sources give his birth year as 1939.
Son of Arthur & Sophie Caan. His father was a kosher butcher.
Sons with Linda Stokes: James Arthur Caan (b. 6 November 1995) and Jacob Nicholas Caan (b. September 24th 1998).
Spent 9 years on the pro rodeo circuit.
States that Thief (1981) is one of his favorite films.
Studied Economics in Michigan State University.
Studied in Rhodes High School in New York.
Studied in The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater in New York.
Tested for the role of Ted Henderson in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969).
Turned down plum roles in MASH (1970) & Apocalypse Now (1979).
Two generations of his family and the Coppola family have worked together. He worked with Francis Ford Coppola most memorably in the first two Godfather films (The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974)) and in Gardens of Stone (1987). His son, Scott Caan, appeared in Sonny (2002), which was directed by Nicolas Cage and featured Cage and his brother, Marc Coppola. Sonny was also the name of Caan's "Godfather" character.
Was a drama major at Hofstra University on Long Island, New York.
Was considered by George Lucas for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977).
Was offered the role of McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).
Was originally tested for the role of Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972) (director Francis Ford Coppola had worked with him and Robert Duvall in The Rain People (1969) and wanted them in the movie), but then was slated to play Michael Corleone after Paramount's initial choices (which included Warren Beatty, Robert Redford and Ryan O'Neal) did not pan out. When Al Pacino came on board, Caan was switched back to Sonny.
While on sabbatical from acting he coached a Little League baseball team, there was one incident where his team's weakest player hit a home run that won a game. This incident is claimed by Caan as one of the greatest moments of his life.