James Caan Cause Of Death: Actor Suffered Heart Attack 5 Hours Before Dying

Actor James Caan’s cause of death was revealed on Saturday, more than two weeks after his family announced the star’s passing.

Caan, known for his role as Sonny Corleone in “The Godfather,” died from myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ.

The coroner estimated that Caan suffered from a myocardial infarction, often called a heart attack, five hours before he died and battled coronary artery disease for at least three years prior to his death.

Caan’s death certificate also lists “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” (COPD) and “congestive heart failure” as secondary factors that contributed to his death.

The document reveals Caan died on July 6 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was later taken to Eden Memorial Park for his final resting place.

Caan’s family first shared news of his death on July 7 in a statement released on Twitter. “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6,” the statement read.

“The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”

According to his death certificate, Caan worked in the motion picture industry for 60 years. Following his role in “The Godfather,” Caan received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for his performance.

During an April interview with Collider about the 50th anniversary of the film, Caan reflected on being a part of one of the most popular movies of all time. “Well, it feels, to me, great. I mean, I’m happy there’s something they can remember about me,” Caan said.

“Yeah, I’m very proud of it, and I’m very proud of Francis [Ford Coppola, the director]. The cast was great. And that just added to my one big thing about making a good movie.”

Aside from his iconic portrayal as mobster Sonny Corleone, Caan also had notable roles in films like “Brian’s Song,” “Elf,” “Dick Tracy,” and “Misery.”

Cann is survived by his five children, including “Hawaii Five-0” star Scott Caan. He was 82.