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Topics: TV and Film, Oscars, Twitter, Viral, Celebrity
Emily Brown
Film fans are questioning how the late actor James Caan didn't ever win an Oscar throughout his decades-long career.
Caan's first on-screen acting credit came with an appearance on the TV series Naked City in 1961, when the actor was in his early twenties, but it wasn't until after he had secured a string of minor appearances that he achieved leading man status in the 1965 film Red Line 7000.
Just a few years later Caan put on one of his most memorable performances as Sonny in The Godfather, and his career continued to flourish over the years with appearances in films such as Thief, Misery, Mickey Blue Eyes, Dirty Money and the beloved Christmas film Elf, starring Will Ferrell.
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Today (7 July), Caan's family announced that the actor had passed away at the age of 82, with a statement released on Twitter reading: "It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6.
"The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. End of tweet."
In spite of his range of incredible performances over the years, Caan never won an Oscar throughout his career. It's an honour many fans believe was poorly overlooked when it comes to Caan, with one person writing: "Even though Kathy Bates won the Oscar, James Caan gave an Oscar-worthy performance in Misery - my favorite of his films. One of the greatest actors of our time."
Calls for Caan to receive an Oscar preceded the news of his death, with one fan taking to Twitter earlier this year to question:
Though the talented actor never took home one of the golden statues for his work, he was nominated in 1973 in the category of Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Godfather, in which he starred alongside Marlon Brando.
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The award ultimately went to Joel Grey for his role in Cabaret, with other nominees for the award including Eddie Albert for The Heartbreak Kid, and both Al Pacino and Robert Duvall for The Godfather.