CAAN WAS MOBBED UP!

Art imitated life for actor with secret gangster ties

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ACTOR James Caan not only shot to fame by playing a mobster — he was one himself!

Sources from both sides of the law say the late star, whose career went gangbusters after he portrayed hotheaded gangster Sonny Corleone in 1972’s The Godfather, was a wise guy in real life.

After Caan’s death at 82 on July 6, he was ratted out by one of the most notorious gangsters of all — feared Mafia underboss Sammy “The Bull” Gravano.

“He was in the mob,” declares Gravano, who was John Gotti’s hit­ man turned informant.

Gravano claims Caan was a “close” Mafia associate and asked the late New York crime boss Joseph Colombo for his blessing to appear in The Godfather.