Gianni Russo, who played Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather, claims he had no contact with James Caan after filming ended or even before until the late actor asked for a role in one of his films.
The Little Italy native claims that while casting for the 1999 soccer drama Any Given Sunday, he received a call from Caan’s agency.
Russo, 78, told the Post about the Al Pacino-led film what the agent said: “He said, ‘You know, Jimmy would be great in this movie. He is a great sports fan.”
To which Russo replied, “I said, ‘Do you think I would hire James Caan?’ I wouldn’t give Jimmy Caan a part in anything. He was so rude to me”.
Russo claimed that from the first rehearsal of “The Godfather” at Patsy’s restaurant on West 119th Street, Caan, who played Sonny Corleone, the character’s brother-in-law, was hostile toward him.
Add Comment