James Caan: Oscar-nominated actor and Godfather star dies at 82

US actor James Caan, who rose to fame for his portrayal of Sonny Corleone in The Godfather, has died aged 82.

A leading man in Hollywood throughout the 1970s whose career spanned decades; he was nominated for an Oscar, an Emmy and four Golden Globes.

Caan's family thanked fans on Thursday for an "outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences".

The New Yorker, known for his partying lifestyle, was married four times and leaves behind five children.

Born to a butcher in the Bronx, he initially planned on pursuing a career as an American Football player.

But he took to acting when he began studying at Hofstra University, where he met Francis Ford Coppola - his director of The Godfather.

After a string of minor TV and film appearances, Caan finally got his big break in 1965, when he starred in two Howard Hawks films: Red Line 7000 and El Dorado.

But it was 1972's mob drama epic The Godfather that saw him become a household name.