Actor Scott Caan Files Petition To Manage Father James Caan's Estate

Actor Scott Caan, the son of the late actor James Caan, has filed a petition to manage his father’s estate in new court documents obtained by The Blast.

James was best known for playing Sonny Corleone in “The Godfather,” which won him both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. Unfortunately, he passed away due to heart problems last July at age 82.

In March 2023, The Blast obtained court documents that show that Scott Caan has filed a petition to manage his father’s estate, which is estimated to be worth $35,000. James had two different properties of land. One was estimated to be worth $15,000 while the other was estimated to be worth $20,000.

The Blast also obtained a copy of James Caan’s will, which states that he named Scott Caan as the sole executor of his will. Although Caan died unmarried, he was previously married to Linda Caan, Ingrid Caan, Shielda Caan, and Dorothea Jay Cooper. All of his marriages ended in divorce.

“The Misery” actor and Linda shared two children together: James and Jacob. He had three children from his other marriages: Tara, Scott, and Alexander. Under the terms of the will, Scott, as his executor, is able to “sell, lease, mortgage or encumber by deed or trust or otherwise, the whole or any part of my Estate, at either public or private sale, with or without notice, but subject to such confirmation as may be required by law.”

The legal documents go on to state that “My executor may, at my Executor’s option and in my Executor’s sole discretion, continue to hold, manage and operate any property, business or enterprise that I may hold and own at my death, the profits and losses, in any therefrom, to inure or be chargeable to my Estate and not my Executor.”

On July 7, 2022, the family of James Caan took to Twitter to reveal that he had passed away the following day. “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6,” they tweeted. “The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”

As The Blast previously reported, the “Brian’s Song” actor’s death certificate revealed that he passed away due to a combination of heart problems. The 82-year-old actor reportedly passed away from a heart attack and coronary artery disease, the most common heart disease in the United States.

His death certificate stated that he suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD, and congestive heart failure. His official time of death was listed at 9:02 PM on July 6 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. The “Elf” actor has since been buried at Eden Memorial Park, which is the final resting place of many celebrities.

One of James Caan’s best-known roles was in the 1990 film “Misery,” based on the novel by Stephen King.

“The Shining” author posted his condolences on Twitter, writing, “Very sorry to hear about the passing of James Caan, who gave an Oscar-worthy performance as Paul Sheldon in Rob Reiner’s exceptional film version of MISERY.”

Costar Kathy Bates, who won an Oscar for her performance, tweeted, “I’m heartbroken to hear of Jimmy’s passing. Shocked. No words. Thank you, Jimmy. Love you, your ‘Kat’ @James_Caan.”

Close friend Francis Ford Coppola, who directed James Caan on four films, also released a statement after his passing.  “Jimmy was someone who stretched through my life longer and closer than any motion picture figure I’ve ever known,” Coppola said at the time.

“From those earlier times working together on The Rain People, and throughout all the milestones of my life, his films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten,” he continued. “He will always be my old friend from Sunnyside, my collaborator, and one of the funniest people I’ve ever known.”

Coppola first directed Caan in 1969’s “The Rain People.” Three years later, they made history with “The Godfather.” Caan was also tapped to star in Coppola’s dream project, “Megalopolis,” which is currently in development.