According to the British documentary The Godfather and the Mob (2006) (TV), Caan was regularly seen with Gambino family underboss Carmine Persico (aka "Junior") during the filming of The Godfather (1972). As Persico was under surveillance by the FBI at the time, Caan came under almost equal scrutiny.
After being turned down by Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino, Julia Phillips inquired of Caan's agent if he would be interested in taking the lead role of Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Caan's agent responded that he would read the script for a guarantee of $1 million plus 10% of the gross if he accepted the role. Phillips went with the original choice, Richard Dreyfuss.
Appears in Misery (1990), which was directed by Rob Reiner. His son, Scott Caan, appeared in Ocean's Eleven (2001) and Ocean's Twelve (2004), opposite Reiner's father, Carl Reiner.
Avid golfer.
Born at 10:31pm-EST.
Briefly lived at the Playboy Mansion in the 1970s.
During the making of Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), he nicknamed Hugh Grant "Whippy" after the Whippet, an English breed of dog that shivers a lot.
Father (with Sheila Ryan) of actor Scott Caan.
Frequent guest/player at celebrity golf events.
Grew up in Sunnyside, Queens, New York City.
Has a daughter named Tara Caan with Dee Jay Mathis.
Has a daughter with first wife Dee Jay Mathis - Tara A. Caan, born November 5, 1964.
Has a son named Alexander James Caan (b. April 10th 1991) with Ingrid Hajek.
His film contracts during his rodeo days had written in them that he could not compete in rodeos during filming. This was for fear he would injure or kill himself.
In his youth, his nicknames were "Shoulders" and "Killer Caan".
In the 1990s, he kicked a cocaine habit of some 20 years.
In the Godfather trilogy, Andy Garcia plays the son of Caan's character, Sonny Corleone. In Ocean's Eleven (2001) and Ocean's Twelve (2004), Caan's son, Scott Caan, works with Garcia.
Is a 6th Dan in Karate.
Is of Jewish-German ancestry.
Lives in Beverly Hills, California.