Who played the Godfather's son Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather"?

Who played the Godfather's son Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather"? James Caan played Sonny Corleone, Don Vito Corleone's hot-tempered eldest son.

Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather" was released in 1972 and adapted from Mario Puzo's 1969 novel. Sonny is the family's acting leader while his father recovers from an assassination attempt, but his impulsive temper makes him vulnerable during the escalating war between New York crime families.

Caan's performance contrasts Sonny with his brothers: Michael, played by Al Pacino, is initially distant from the family business, while Fredo, played by John Cazale, is less forceful. Sonny's fiery relationship with his brother-in-law Carlo is central to one of the film's most consequential turning points.

Caan briefly reprised Sonny in a flashback in "The Godfather Part II" (1974). A frequent mix-up is assigning Sonny to Al Pacino, but Pacino played Michael, the younger brother who eventually succeeds Vito as the family's leader.