Who can forget James Caan from the 1972 crime thriller The Godfather? The American actor portrayed the role of Sonny Corleone, the eldest son of crime boss Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando).

His performance in the film also won him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the corresponding Golden Globes.

Presumably, one of the best films ever made, The Godfather, is set between 1945 and 1955. It follows the Corleone family's patriarch, Vito's, journey from a reluctant family outsider to a ruthless mafia boss.

The story later focuses on the transformation of Vito's sons, Sonny and Michael Corleone.

It turns out James, one of the lead actors from the classic mafia film, has connections with a mob boss in real life, too.

James and His Son’s Connection with Mob Boss

The 81-year-old actor has a very close relationship with the Colombo crime family boss, Andrew Russo. His friendship with the mob boss started way back in the early 1970s.

Their friendship became stronger when Andrew accepted the actor's son, Scott Caan, born on August 23, 1976, as his godson.

The father of Hawaii Five-0 star has also been vocal about his good relationships with Andrew publicly. For instance, when the mob boss was arrested in the FBI raids in January 2011, James supported his old friend, trying his best to bail him.

 Speaking with Dailymail at that time, he said,

I've known Andrew since 1972 and in all that time I have known him only as an unbelievable father, grandfather, great-grandfather and as good a friend as any person could ask for.

The Brian's Song star even wrote a note to the court, stating that their families were intertwined, and he was willing to put up anything of personal value that the court would accept for Andrew's bail.

"I would not hesitate a moment to fly in and be present if the court should so request," he added. "In short, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to see this man where he belongs and where he is needed the most — with his family."

James Has Five Children from His 4 Marriages

James' son Scott, whose godfather is Andrew, was born to the veteran actor and his second wife, Sheila Marie Ryan. James and Sheila got married in 1976, but their marriage only lasted for a year.

Prior to her, the Misery actor was married to his first spouse, Dee Jay Mathis, from 1961 to 1966. From their marriage, they welcomed a daughter named Tara Caan in 1964.

After two failed marriages, James went on to tie the knot with Ingrid Hajek in September 1990. Their marriage saw the birth of their son Alexander James Caan in 1991. But despite that, their marital relationship only lasted for less than 4 years, as they divorced in March 1994.

Over a year after his third divorce, the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre alum found love in Linda Stokes.

James and Linda got married on October 7, 1995, and subsequently gave birth to two sons: James Arthur Caan (1995) and Jacob Nicholas Caan (1998).

The pair had an on-and-off relationship but remained married to each other for two decades.

The actor finally filed for divorce from his ex-wife, Linda, citing "irreconcilable differences," in January 2015. The divorce was finalized in 2017.