Pierce Brosnan has made a touching tribute to legendary actor , whose death was announced on Thursday.
Bond actor Brosnan, 69, had recently worked with the Hollywood veteran who home on Wednesday evening at the age of 82.
Just weeks ago, the pair completed work on their upcoming gangster thriller, Fast Charlie.
The late star worked alongside Brosnan on location in Louisiana for more than a month, despite being confined to a wheelchair and being in poor health.
Taking to Instagram on Friday, a devastated Brosnan offered a moving eulogy to his co-star alongside several images of the two friends as they relaxed between scenes.
He wrote: ‘On the set of the movie Fast Charlie with the great man himself James Cann, farewell Jimmy.
‘We had many laughs together over those five days in New Orleans…
‘You were an inspiration to me as young actor starting out, and an even greater one as a man watching you work each day against great physical pain and discomfort.
‘You gave of yourself to the art of acting and performance to very end. My heart has a deep sorrow this day for your passing.’
He added: ‘I shall cherish the memory of you always. My heartfelt condolences to your family. May you Rest In Peace, forever in the light.’
The actor’s death was confirmed on Thursday evening by .
‘It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6,’ it read.
His manager Matt DelPiano also confirmed the news to AFP, stating: ‘Jimmy was one of the greatest. Not only was he one of the best actors our business has ever seen, he was funny, loyal, caring and beloved.’
The actor first hit the big screen in the 1960s in films made by big-name directors such as Billy Wilder and Francis Ford Coppola (The Rain People).
His breakthrough television role was in 1970 American football drama Brian’s Song, portraying dying gridiron star Brian Piccolo.
The actor later starred in acclaimed films such as Misery, alongside – A Bridge Too Far and Coppola’s 1972 classic The Godfather, which he received an Oscar nomination for.
‘Jimmy was someone who stretched through my life longer and closer than any motion picture figure I’ve ever known,’ said Coppola in a statement to AFP.
‘His films and the many great roles he played will never be forgotten. He will always be my old friend from Sunnyside, my collaborator and one of the funniest people I’ve ever known.’
Other tributes from an army of Hollywood stars.
Barbra Streisand, who starred in 1975’s Funny Lady as Fanny Brice, while he played her husband Billy Rose, tweeted: ‘I’m so sorry to hear about Jimmy. He was so talented.
She wrote this alongside a black-and-white photo of them together taken around the time of their film.
Al Pacino, who played the lead role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather and its sequels, stated: ‘Jimmy was my fictional brother and my lifelong friend.
‘It’s hard to believe that he won’t be in the world anymore because he was so alive and daring. A great actor, a brilliant director and my dear friend. I’m gonna miss him.’
His Godfather co-star Robert De Niro also shared a short statement about the actor.
He said: ‘I’m very very sad to hear about Jimmy’s passing.’
Adam Sandler, who starred alongside Jimmy in 1996’s Bulletproof and That’s My Boy in 2012), tweeted: ‘Always wanted to be like him.
‘So happy I got to know him. Never ever stopped laughing when I was around that man. His movies were best of the best.
‘We all will miss him terribly. Thinking of his family and sending my love.’
Meanwhile, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who appeared with James in the 1996 action thriller Eraser, called him an ‘icon’ and a ‘legend.’
‘He inspired everyone who has ever been in front of a camera,’ he wrote. ‘I was lucky to work with him and see his talent and his fantastic sense of humor firsthand. He was a great training partner in the gym and a true friend, and I’ll miss him.’
