Born in New York City on March 26, 1940, to Sophie and Arthur Caan, Jewish immigrants from Germany, James Caan went to Michigan State University on an athletic scholarship before turning to Off-Broadway, according to a 1975 PEOPLE profile. Suddenly, Ferrell was famous, specifically for playing a beer-guzzling, streaking, ribbon-dancing, ring-of-fire-jumping frat man. "Overnight I was a genius," Caan told PEOPLE in 1975 of his early string of hits. Although Caan lived up to his self-appointed name, he struggled to match Ferrell's relentless Christmas energy and improvising skills which was exactly the dynamic their characters needed. Elf made nearly seven times its $32 million budget at the box office alone, but during the shoot, money was tight. And dont feel bad Buddy would have missed these subtleties, too. All rights reserved. Favreau explained to Rolling Stone that the original script was much darker, and that didn't gel with him. At the end of filming, Favreau said, Ferrell gave his costar a wrap gift. "I look up. However, when Buddy comes to New York, it was important to Favreau to shoot on location whenever possible. Will wanted to do it, and he didn't want the director. He was 82. When David Berenbaum's spec script first emerged in 1993, Carrey was pre-Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and attached to front the Christmas film. In the DVD commentary, Favreau offers, It explained why Buddy was doing all these good things in New York if he grew up in a world where everybody was so sweet even when hes obviously screwing everything up and doesnt fit in at all.. Originally, the filmmakers wanted comic Garry Shandling, but when he declined, they went to the next obvious choice famous tough guy James Caan. I was really lucky that my job in the film was to try to drive him crazy, and I would. Playing the doctor wasnt the directors only cameo. Amy has since starred in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, BoJack Horseman, No Activity, and tons more! 6. At this point, every Game of Thrones fan should know that Tyrion Lannister (actor Peter Dinklage) plays author Miles Finch. The studio noted the actor does not look 26, to which Favreauwho had previously cast Acheson in a small role that had been cut before productionresponded that this disconnect was part of the joke. I ingested a lot of sugar in this movie and I didn't get a lot of sleep. Fortunately, the legal troubles cleared. But it sort of backfired. "Thankfully, we had some pretty smart people who could figure it out," Boyter coyly put it to Netflix. As Favreau explained to Rolling Stone, they made two sets, with Favreau on the one positioned closer to the camera, and lined them up so that it looked like Ferrell was sitting right next to the people on the other set. But now I see what you're doing. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. I can make some money, let my kids do what the hell they want to do,' he told theBull & Fox show on Clevelands 92.3 FM radio station. Favreau panicked that if he showed a cut of the movie without the as-yet-incomplete stop-motion scenes, the studio wouldn't let him add them in later. New Line executives worried that the Old School audience wouldn't want to see an earnest family Christmas movie. 7. And perhaps its because Buddy excels at transporting you to a time when you believed in Santa Claus that you may have missed some fun details you otherwise would have picked up on, including tons of nods to other beloved Christmas flicks. "Christmas movies are about spirit winning . We approached the person that had the rights to Gimbels. Poor Buddy accidentally wreaks all kinds of havoc on his elf community because of his ungainly size. He was a lot of fun.". Video: James Caan, The Godfather and Elf Acting Legend, Dead at 82 (People) As with all successful family films, the movie manages to delight parent and child alike, partially by introducing the . As with all successful family films, the movie manages to delight parent and child alike, partially by introducing the younger generation to an army of Hollywoods elder statesmen. Whats going on? Buddy's all-sugar diet also became Ferrell's daily food intake while filming as he actually scarfed down all of that maple syrup-coated spaghetti and candy during scenes. The first two weeks of shooting were kind of all the exteriors in New York. Even comedian Chris Farley was suggested before Ferrell. But Caan soon put their fears to rest. Lets talk about Walter Hobbs. This challenge extended to other scenes. Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit. Smiling's my favorite! This article was originally published on Dec. 22, 2017, Rachel McAdams Would Be Part Of 'Mean Girls: The Musical' On This Condition, Paramount+s 'Fatal Attraction' Series Follows The Movies Alternate Ending, Molly Ringwald Turned Down 'Pretty Woman' Due To An Early Script's Ick Factor, Jennifer Aniston Reveals The One Sequel She Would *Never* Do, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. But while trying to do a rewrite, he had an epiphany. So in the interest of spreading holiday cheer, here are 27 things you never noticed in Elf before. We shot right up until we destroy the place," Lange said. And his A Night at the Roxbury co-star Chris Kattan was his elf. According to James, it never happened becausethe director [Jon Favreau, who also played Buddys doctor] and Will didnt get along very well. Although he has passed since Elf came out, Harryhausen is a legend when it comes to stop-motion animation. But before Elf, he was better known for being an actor and he appears as the doctor who does the paternity test for Walter. Billingsley has been a producer on several of Favreau's film and television projects. Just leave it to Ferrell. He chose to wear her "Wanda" nametag anyway. Cookies help us deliver our Services. The headlines youll read this week will likely focus on The Godfather. But every December and maybe even July well be focused on Elf, waiting for the moment when Caans Walter puts on that Santa coat and begrudgingly belts Santa Claus Is Comin to Town.. But as soon as I was done with that movie, I pretty much dyed it back.". In the scene at Walters office where Buddy answers the phone, he says, Whats your favorite color? In 2012, Caan joined son Scott on an episode of Hawaii Five-0, playing a retired NYPD bomb expert who becomes a private investigator in Oahu. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Caan is survived by five children and four . 1 min read. Plus, The New York Times called it, "A splashy, peppy, sugar-sprinkled holiday entertainment." For that role, he earned an Emmy nomination. At that point, Ferrell was known mainly for Saturday Night Live, which he'd just left, and for small parts in adult-only movies like the first and second Austin Powers, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Zoolander. It was one of those things.". He might not play the main character in either, but hes one of the most important in both. Following a theater apprenticeship, he moved on to television guest spots and a role in The Rail People that earned him the eye of one Francis Ford Coppola. This man is actor and comedian Matt Walsh, best known for playing Mike McLintock on Veep. According to Pratchetts lore, octarine is the color of magic, so of course Buddy loves it! Alan Markfield/New Line Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock. Hope you find your dad." Favreau said, laughing. He told Rolling Stone that it was an essential part of the movie'sretro Christmas feel, with a particular nod to Rankin/Bass. Macys declined to be the featured in the film. Am I biased? He knew it was crucial for Walter to be annoyednever amusedby his supposed son's antics. Same thing with the 59th Street Bridge," Favreau told Rolling Stone. He fronted Made with friend Vince Vaughn, and later found a sweet supporting role for himself in Iron Man. A bit awkward: Gimbels was once a real department store, and a noted rival of Macy's. "He wrote a note that said, 'Great working with you. "So when you watch it, it doesn't feel like it ages the same way that a film that has a lot of digital effects does.. "We were going to do it, and I thought, 'Oh my God, I finally have a franchise movie. We take a look back at his life. Subscribe to . He explained that he didn't want to face criticism and accusations of money-grabbing if it didn't turn out as well as the first one, adding, "I didn't want to wander into an area that could erase all the good work I've done.". Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) comforts Brian Piccolo (James Caan) in 1971's "Brian's Song." Caan died July 6, 2022, at the age of 82. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. Anyone who grew up watching Rankin/Bass specials will notice similarities with Elf, especially in the North Pole sequences. Buddy's biological father, Walter, is the workaholic, stone-faced foil to his eternally peppy personality. "I wanted some of the Christmas Story, that good mojo, that was our goal," he told Billingsley on ABC News. "If it takes eating a lot of maple syrup, then I will if that's what the job calls for.". "It was very comforting to write a Christmas movie when you miss the snow, and there's a heatwave outside." However, he had some fun alongside Molly Sims and Josh Duhamel on Las Vegas, starring as casino bigwig Ed Deline from 2003 to 2007. 2023 E! "It is with great sadness . And Elf's workshops were modeled after the Rankin/Bass designs, as were the stop-motion animals of the area. Producer Jon Berg said it was actually comedian Wanda Sykes who was slated to play the manager, but she dropped out at the last minute. He added, [Jon] Favreau knew Faizon Love and called him up and he came in and did us a solid. Mystery solved. However, he has made quick cameos in many Christmas movies. American actor James Caan has died at the age of 82. Pierce Brosnan is honoring late costar James Caan as someone who gave himself "to the art of acting and performance to the very end." On Friday, Brosnan, 69, shared a series of photos from the set . Its particularly striking given how picky he could be he rejected starring roles in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Apocalypse Now, Blade Runner and Superman (because he didnt want to wear a cape), among others. As Berenbaum told Philadelphia City Paper, "I don't think we'd be talking about the movie now if Will didn't commit to play Buddy the elf, 'cause I can't really imagine anyone else on the planet playing that role at this point.". Buddys childlike innocence can get anybody into the holiday spirit, including his Scrooge-like biological dad, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). According to Brick Underground, its the same as Dana Barretts haunted apartment in Ghostbusters. . It took him a while to get with the programming. ", 5. Favreau used the "forced perspective" technique while filming so that Buddy the Elf appeared larger than his surroundings and counterparts. Grizzled Mark Acheson's casting as Buddy's drinking buddy concerned execs because of the line, "I'm 26 years old." Elves thrive on the four main food groups (candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup, of course), but one of the dumb things we all ignored in Elf was that Buddy, as a human, would probably be very ill, if not dead, on this diet. But when Elfwas moving into production, he was considered a wildly improbable choice for the character. 10. And the third. Both are now closed. Did you know that Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie, made a sneaky appearance in Elf? But the people making the film had a clear and strong vision, inspired by the holiday specials of their childhood. We ended up hanging out a lot off-set. Will Ferrell and Jon Favreau in "Elf," 2003. That really makes me happy, and it's the best part of the job," Favreau told Rotten Tomatoes. However, Simon and Garfunkels concert in Central Park actually occurred in 1981, with the musicians releasing an album of it in 1982. Patrick Ferrell is listed as one of the security guards, and he appears to be Wills real-life brother. 15. "I was really lucky that my job in the film was to try to drive him crazy, and I would," Ferrell explained to Blackfilm. Edward Chiodo credits animator Teresa Drilling with finishing a marathon shoot on the scene with Buddy and Leon the Snowman, which was especially complicated because it involved a human interacting with a stop-motion character. While the film became an instant classic thats still featured in movie marathons, holiday events and drive-ins today, Will admitted to James Corden on The Late Late Show in 2018 that There were moments he thought the now-beloved film would be the downfall of his entire acting career. James Caan, the tough leading man who portrayed the explosively violent and oldest of Vito Corleones sons in The Godfather, died on July 6 at 82. "[But] he got so into that. Movies. Eventually, something just clicked in Jimmy and he just went with it. Pitting the capital-S Serious actor against Ferrells manic creation was part of director Jon Favreaus plan, though it made for a nervous crew. In the scene where Buddy suffers as a toy tester, he's subjected to popping open an endless stream of menacing jack-in-the-boxes. This is either going to be a home run or people are going to go, Whatever happened to you? He even landed a role inSpiderMan: Far From Homein 2019. "Now, we're really best buddies. Ferrell turned down a reported $29 million paycheck to reprise the role of Buddy for a sequel, telling The Guardian in 2006 that it "wasn't difficult at all" to pass on the opportunity. In a 2020 Rolling Stone interview , director Jon Favreau recalled . According to Berg, on his first day on set, he gave a speech in which he asked to be called Jimmy the Dream. Throughout "Elf," James Caan is constantly and exasperatedly brushing off Buddy's need for a father figure and his childish attempts at bonding with his estranged father. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. "Whenever he was out there in his suit, we'd hear screeches and fender-benders and lights smashing. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. "I had to dye my hair blonde for a screen test for a movie that never happened before I did Elf. Im not the least bit embarrassed by this, nor should you be if youre in the same camp. "It looks almost like he's a puppet and the tights and the boots and the hat and he was extremely brave wearing that costume.". The boy is credited as Kid with Santa, but his real name is Paul Schofield. Another theme Berenbaum wanted to explore was a son looking for an absent father. Turns out, Charlottes reporting isnt as stellar as she thinks. According to him, Rays has a lot of imitators but the real ones on the 11th. Actually, while there was a Famous Rays Pizza on 11th street, the first and original Rays Pizza opened in 1959 on Little Italys Prince Street. This included him leapfrogging across a pedestrian walk, happily accepting flyers, and getting his shoes shined, all of which made it into the movie's cheerful montage. Will walks by in the outfit, the elf outfit, which he tried to stay in character. It was hilarious because little kids could care less about the elf. My goal is to do good work and not quit trying.". But this sugary diet played havoc on Ferrell, who admitted, "That was tough. She told Entertainment Weekly that Favreau wanted to tailor the character to whoever played her. TIL: After filming ELF, Will Ferrell gave James Caan the GODFATHER trilogy with a note saying "Great working with you. He was 82. This marks just one of many Billingsley and Favreau's collaborations. The elf Ming Ming oversees toy production and unintentionally helps Buddy realize hes a human. Since former brick-and-mortar New York City department store Gimbels was no longer in business at the time of filming, Favreau said his team got creative. "I decided I wouldn't be able to. Youll shoot your eye out! But when it came to the blood test scene where Buddy bellows when pricked by a needle, Caan cracked. Buddy's iconic costume was modeled off of the elves from the 1964 Rankin/Bass film Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Caan drew on the rigid, hardened and sometimes explosive tough guys for which hed become known, toning it down to fit a holiday film. So every take was different. The shot where Buddy is caught by NY1 cameras in Central Park is most likely a reference to the 1960s movie from Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin that allegedly featured Bigfoot, according to the website Zinzin. And Santa is Ed Asner?! Originally cast as Michael . Okay, technically it was an abandoned mental hospital, where the production team constructed the interior sets for Walter's Central Park West apartment, Gimbels's lavish toy department, and that grim prison cell. James Caan Remembered by Adam Sandler, Rob Reiner and More: 'Best of the Best', All About James Hong, 94-Year-Old 'Everything Everywhere' Star Who Got Standing Ovation at SAG Awards. The Wrap. Elf proved to be a big break for Zooey Deschanel, who played down-on-Christmas department store elf Jovie, whom Buddy falls in love with. Great job,'" Ferrell recalled during an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2018. Especially since declawing kittens in New York has been made illegal. "But it was out-and-out luck.". It became an architectural project in miniature, production designer Rusty Smith explained to Entertainment Weekly. But they even managed to use Riverview for the Hobbs' chic Manhattan apartment and the Gimbels department store interior, which was in the former cafeteria. And then he just walked past. "And they said, 'No, you have to keep your hair what it was in the meeting.' Favreau and Lange both told "20/20" that the movie's art department worked long hours over two weeks to set the scene with an elaborate LEGO city-scape, Lite Brite displays, and miniature train setup. TV credits included Back in the Game, Magic City and a starring role on . 9. The director eventually cast him in 1972's The Godfather, earning Caan his sole Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Before he was asked to come in to rewrite the script and transform the movie into a PG friendly-family affair, Favreau initially turned down the job. That fear didnt last. The interaction between Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf and Artie Lange, as the department store Santa who smells like beef and cheese, was mostly improvised over several takes, Favreau said. The horrifying laughter in the Jack-in-the-boxes that Buddy tests is actually from a classic Disney film. A revival hit in time for Christmas 2012, and national tours have been recurring. Peter Billingsley, who memorably played the Red Ryder-wanting Ralphie in the 1983 holiday classic, popped in to play Ming the elf. James Caan and Will Ferrell in "Elf," 2003. I surrounded him with a lot of improvisers, like Andy Richter and Kyle Gass and Amy Sedaris. "When we had Will in the Lincoln Tunnel, the tunnel was open. Though his career was already impressive, he has only continued to cement himself as a comedy legend! Both Berenbaum and director Jon Favreau were inspired by the studio's colorful, quirky Christmas movies. It's this spirit that gave Elf its candy cane-sweet center. Of course. However, the production ran into a problem when the boys couldn't perform. Santa, being the frequent sleigh flier that he is, gives Buddy some NYC spots to hit up, including Rays Pizza. . Its great to see Jimmy in a way that were not used to seeing him in and it adds to the effect. Picturing anyone other than Will Ferrell (or an actual elf) pulling off Buddy's unbridled Christmas spirit, hopeless naivete, and yellow tights is almost impossible now. James played Buddys dad Walter, the cold businessman who had a change of heart and realized family is more important than everything by the end. However, he has also become more involved in more dramatic projects, such asThe Shrink Next Door, which was released in 2021. "The director and Will didn't get along very well. Back in 2003, Peter was relatively unknown when he played the mean author Miles Finch. Just cruel enough to end up on the naughty list, but just empathetic enough to pull himself off it after a little help from the family he loves, often despite himself. The scene when Buddy is on the bridge and sees Santas sleigh crash mirrors when George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) hits his low point in Its A Wonderful Life, yet another classic holiday movie. But Caan alleged it was tension between Ferrell and Favreau that possibly squashed any plans for a follow-up. she explained to Feel Christmassy. He is Buddy and Michael Hobbs's father, Emily Hobbs's husband, Jovie's father-in-law, and Susie's paternal grandfather. The Godfather (1972) Caan immortalized himself in what would become his signature role as lovable hothead Santino "Sonny" Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's Mafia epic. The hardest part about the mealtime scenes, Steenburgen said, was not laughing at Ferrell. Not only is the real Santa played by the late Ed Asner, who voiced Lou Grant from Pixars Up, but if you feel like youve seen Asners Santa before, thats because you probably have. The fact that its in rotation is the highest honor that movie can have. Years later, it still holds true. The Oscar nominee often played it serious, and was beloved by fans because of it. Elf (2003) photos, including production stills, premiere photos and other event photos, publicity photos, behind-the-scenes, and more. Here are eight things you might not know about the movie "Elf.". And in that, they succeeded. Revel in the giddy glow of this modern holiday movie classic with a slew of secrets from behind the scenes. Columbia Pictures. Eventually, something just clicked in Jimmy, and he just went with it. She'd bleached her brown hair for another audition and wanted to change it back, but the Elffilmmakers decided blonde worked better. Berenbaum also loved experiencing Christmas on the silver screen, and he counts It's a Wonderful Life as one of his all-time favorite films. - Favreau on the shower/duet scene between Deschanel and Farrell. "He really never came to any of his movies. The Academy Award-nominated star of The Godfather was hired to play Walter in part because Favreau wanted a stern persona to play against Ferrell's giddy Buddy, and Caan took the comedy of Elf seriously. The first one is a little bit slow, but the second two are really good." . All of the elves outfits are designed to look like those seen in Rudolph, with Buddys costume matching the Head Elfs. She explained to Variety, "There are worse things in the world to eat than that, but we had been doing it for hours." Unless youre living under a rock, you already know that he starred onGame of Thronesas Tyrion Lannister! She plays Gail inThe Last Man On Earth, has appeared inThe Connersas Marcy, andmadeher Christmas movie return inHappiest Seasonon Hulu. They have to smash the whole [thing] -- so we dont really have a lot of resets, Favreau said, laughing. In Elf, he was able to channel a workaholic publishing executive who refuses to reprint a childrens book missing a couple of pages in the name of the almighty dollar, and who is annoyed if not terrified to learn he might unknowingly have a son from a previous relationship. Legendary actor James Caan, best known for his roles in "The Godfather" and "Elf," has died at the age of 82. 19. Their main concern was Buddy's green costume, which looked strikingly similar to an elf uniform from Rankin/Bass and was in almost every scene. He was even given the prestigious Gordon E. Sawyer Academy Award in 1992 for his impact in the motion picture industry. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. It went a whole lot further in undoing Sonny Corleone than, say, Misery.. Will Ferrell and Bob Newhart in "Elf,"2003. Favreau realized Deschanels Doris Day-type voice would help break her cold character, who spends much of the film not feeling the Christmas spirit. With Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Edward Asner. Yes, even if youve seen it a million times. But the director said lining up a large set and small set required extremely precise lighting to control continuity between the appearance of both the background and foreground. Anyone with any sort of positive relationship with Elf i.e. "were improvised by Ferrell in the moment. Menu. Thats who you notice on the second watch. Kevin Kane/Getty Images for Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The first one is a little bit slow, but the second two are really good.' That's no coincidence. The Most Memorable Christmas Moments From 'The Office', 6 Hallmark Christmas Movies Worth Watching This Holiday Season, Melissa Rivers Shares 2023 Met Gala Predictions: Who Will 'Bring It', Joe, Bessy Gatto Spark Reconciliation Rumors After Buying Home Together, Why Wasn't Scott Disick At Kardashian Easter Celebration? From left, Amy Sedaris, James Caan and Will Ferrell in the 2003 holiday comedy "Elf." (New Line Cinema/Everett Collection) Article. Will wanted to do it, and he didnt want the director.. To replace them, brunette triplet girls were brought in, who were far perkier and more playful, and thereby ready for their close-ups. But to further underscore the drama that is a snowball fight in frosty New York, Favreau asked composer John Debney to give this section a Western vibe that would recall The Magnificent Seven. Although no Gimbels existed when Elf was made, Gimbels was a real store that shut down in 1986, and it was featured prominently as Macys competitor in the original Miracle on 34th Street. When he moved to Los Angeles, hoping to write movies himself, that love for Christmas followed and even intensified. But Will would bust his balls a lot. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. As Favreau explained, "If I made the world that [Buddy] was from as though he grew up as an elf in one of those Rankin/Bass Christmas specials I grew up with, then everything fell into place tonally.". For North Pole scenes, two sets were builtone larger scale for the actors playing elves, the other smaller to make Buddy and Santa look big. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Ferrell told Blackfilm it was one of his favorite scenes to film. While Miles is referring to the ski resort town of Vail, Colorado, Tyrion memorably was kept prisoner at the Eyrie, which is located in the Vale of Arryn also known simply as the Vale in GoT Season 1. "I constantly stayed up. Life & Style is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. Peter Billingsley, who memorably played the Red Ryder-wanting Ralphie in the 1983 holiday classic, popped in to play Ming the elf. Notably, in the North Pole sequences, they used forced perspective to make Ferrell look much taller than his co-stars. Buddy works at the department store Gimbels with Jovie. According to Variety, Jim Carrey was the first pick, likely thanks to his roles in PG-13 movies such asAce Ventura and The Mask. "So we had one take to destroy it. Caan met a new generation of fans when he played the straight-and-narrow biological father to Will Ferrell's Buddy in 2003's Elf. The New York Times called his presence "a lunatic bonhomie that lights a welcome spark.". Born in the Bronx in 1940, he emerged as a virile leading man in the 1970s. The article has been updated. But even if you recognized him, you probably didnt notice he is also credited as playing Himself. Whatta creep. "We had one take to destroy it," Lange told ABC News, "So Favreau said, 'Just go nuts! But [my Elf character] is the ne plus ultra Santa, and all of the others were [in] preparation for this!. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. 'Sleepless in Seattle' Cast: Where Are They Now? What seems craziest to fans is the fact that despite the films success, there was never a sequel. This meant the team relied on practical effects whenever possible. "I took a look at the script, and I wasn't particularly interested," he told Rolling Stone. 1. So, the Chiodos ramped up their schedule. A Buzzfeed employee picked up on an adorable fact about Buddy and Jovies babys name at the end of the film. Will Ferrell and Faizon Love in "Elf," 2003. I ingested a lot of sugar in this movie, and I didn't get a lot of sleep." Greg Doherty/Getty Images for The Salvation Army. ", In hindsight, it's clear that casting Ferrell was key to the movie's success. Their daughter is Susie and Buddys moms name was Susan Wells, so shes most likely named for her grandmother. He also voiced the rabid raccoon Buddy encounters. A titan in the film industry, Caan's movie and TV career stretches back over 60 years, with some of his most notable roles being in The Godfather (1972), Misery (1990) and Elf (2003). So I had to wait until I was done with that movie. In 2006, he turned down a $29 million offer nearly the entire budget of the first movie to put Buddy's tights back on. Among the many Hollywood heavy hitters he has inspired are Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, and James Cameron, according to the British Film Institute magazine Sight & Sound. This is the untold truth of Elf, including the story of building Santaland, the scene Jon Favreau added for Zooey Deschanel, the lawsuit that nearly canceled everything, what James Caan was like .