James Caan

Appeared as The Big Man in Lars von Trier's "Dogville"

Cast as Big Ed Deline, the head of the surveillance team for the Montecito Resort & Casino in the NBC drama "Las Vegas"; left the show's after the fourth season

Cast in the mafia drama feature "This Thing Of Ours"

Played Will Ferrell's biological father a cold-hearted children's book publishing executive in the comedy, "Elf"

Had lead role in the USA Network film "Hearts of Men"

Cast in the fact-based drama about an explosion on the battleship the USS Iowa in "A Glimpse of Hell

Portrayed a mob-connected NYC subway contractor in "The Yards"

Cast as an Irish schoolteacher investigating his roots in "This Is My Father"

Portrayed detective Philip Marlowe in HBO movie "Poodle Springs", adapted from Raymond Chandler's unfinished novel

Appeared in supporting role in "A Boy Called Hate", starring his son Scott Caan

Co-starred as Dennis Quaid's father in "Flesh and Bone"

Garnered praise for his turn as a Las Vegas gambler in "Honeymoon in Vegas"

Teamed with Bette Midler in "For the Boys", directed by Mark Rydell

Had screen hit with "Misery", opposite Kathy Bates

Returned to films after a five-year absence in Coppola's "Gardens of Stone"

Starred in title role of Michael Mann's "Thief"

Film directing debut, "Hide in Plain Sight"; also starred

Played opposite Mason again in "Chapter Two"

Matched on screen with Marsha Mason for first time in "Cinderella Liberty"; also first film with director Mark Rydell

Played Billy Rose opposite Barbra Streisand in "Funny Lady"; sang in the film

Earned praise for his leading role in "The Gambler"

Became a star after playing Sonny Corleone in Coppola's "The Godfather"; garnered Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor

Starred as Brian Piccolo in TV-movie "Brian's Song" (ABC); earned Emmy nomination

First screen collaboration with Francis Ford Coppola, "The Rain People"

Film acting debut, "Lady in a Cage"

First film appearance, bit part in "Irma la Douce"

Broadway debut, "Blood, Sweat, and Stanley Poole"

TV episodic debut on "Naked City" (ABC)

Stage acting debut in "La Ronde"; billed as Jimmy Caan

Raised in Sunnyside, Queens, New York