James Caan has been around for a number of years, during which he has appeared on Broadway, television, and made numerous films - not all successful. Primarily known for his eye catching performance in "The Godfather" his career has had a number of dips over the years, but recently has enjoyed a resurgence.

Caan was born in the Bronx in 1939, and decided to pursue acting while at college. Starting off as a stage actor, it was a television film ("Brian's Song"), which first brought him to fame, and a year after, he was cast in Coppola's "The Godfather", which simultaneously confirmed his stardom and earned him an Academy Award nomination. After that, despite winning a Golden Globe in 1974 for "The Gambler", his career failed to meet expectations. He turned down roles in "Superman" and "Kramer vs. Kramer", and in 1980 he tried his hand at directing, with "Hide in Plain Sight", which was not a great success either.

Around the start of the 90s, he had another career lift. A part in Rob Reiner's acclaimed "Misery" and supporting roles in films such as "Honeymoon in Vegas" helped to put him back on the map. More recently he has had supporting roles in several films. Putting to one side the abysmal "Mickey Blue Eyes", he has appeared in a couple of other critically acclaimed films from young directors: "The Yards", a New York crime drama, and "The Way of the Gun", a contemporary Western. In both films, Caan's power as a character actor comes to the fore, and influences the finished product. If he carries on like this, it will not only be cool to have Caan in your film, but essential.