Why did James Caan leave the Las Vegas tv show? The actor’s television credits include The Untouchables, Naked City, and Route 66 during the 1960s. He went on to star opposite Billy Dee Williams as struggling football player Brian Piccolo in the TV movie Brian’s Song in 1970. The role earned him an Emmy nomination. Caan’s breakthrough role came a year later when he bagged the role of the hotheaded gangster Sonny Corleone in the classic Oscar-winning flick, The Godfather.
James Caan went on to star in the hit series Las Vegas, which ran for five back-to-back seasons on NBC in 2008. This series marked the actor’s first starring role in a television series. The series revolves around James Caan, who played casino boss Ed Deline and his apprentice played by Josh Duhamel. However, Caan’s sudden departure took viewers by surprise. Let us find out why did James Caan leave the Las Vegas tv show.
Why did James Caan leave Las Vegas TV Show?
It seems like James Caan left Las Vegas due to his commitment to movies, which led to some movie conflicts. The actor himself issued a statement saying how he is eager to return to where his heart is, which is a film, and confirmed that due to the show’s schedule, he missed some great opportunities to do that while adding that he wishes the show and his co-stars involved with it continued success.
It was pretty clear that the actor had to leave the show behind as it interfered with the timing and kept him busy, for which he could not return to films full-time. However, James Caan was not the only actor who left the show behind, as several other characters also departed.
Series executive producer and series creator Gary Scott Thompson explained how the actor was itching to do a movie and the actor could not do them while they were shooting. Thompson revealed how he turned down a lot of features over the last four years and how some of them they tried to do work, and with the schedule of television, it was impossible. Thompson also praised the actor while calling him an invaluable part of the Las Vegas family.
Also read: James Caan Net Worth: How Much Does He Earn?
What Happened To James Caan?
Popular actor James Caan passed away at the age of 82. Co-star Josh Duhamel later took to social media to pay his heartfelt tribute to the late actor. Duhamel remembered Caan as one of the coolest, kindest, and funniest people he had ever met while calling him one of his mentors. Billy Dee Williams also called the late actor his teammate and friend till the end. The two starred in the 1971 TV football movie Brian’s Song.
Team Mates and friends till the end. RIP Jimmy 💔#jamescaan pic.twitter.com/s7lfMzMlh3
— Billy Dee Williams (@realbdw) July 7, 2022
Caan’s The Godfather co-star, Al Pacino, remembered the late actor by calling him his fictional brother and long friend as he further said how it is hard to believe that Caan won’t be in the world anymore while calling him so alive and daring along with being a great actor and a brilliant director.
Was James Caan In The Godfather?
James Caan became a household name after playing the role of Sonnh in the iconic movie. His character became so popular that the actor recalled how many even mistook him for a real mobster as he admitted that he had been accused so many times, and how he won ‘Italian of the Year’ twice in New York, despite him not even being Italian!
James Caan went on to receive an Emmy nomination for best actor for Brian’s Song and also earned an Academy Award nomination for best-supporting actor for The Godfather. The actor once recalled how he ended up getting involved in the whole lifestyle of girls and drugs and partying while admitting that once you do get caught up in that lifestyle, it becomes very destructive.
Also read: Why Did John Frusciante Leave RHCP? How The Band Split Up
