Sheila Marie Ryan was an American model and actress. She was also known as the second wife of actor James Caan and the mother of actor Scott Caan. Before her marriage to Caan, she had a relationship with Elvis Presley.
Ryan appeared on the cover of Playboy in 1973 and later worked as an actress. Her credits included Road House, Open House, Hunter, and A Boy Called Hate. She died from cancer in 2012 at the age of 60.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sheila Marie Ryan |
| Date of birth | September 17, 1952 |
| Birthplace | Franklin Park, Illinois, United States |
| Date of death | September 18, 2012 |
| Age at death | 60 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Model and actress |
| Parents | Arlene Ryan and Gerald/Gerard Ryan |
| Siblings | Four |
| Education | East Leyden High School; theatre studies at Playhouse West |
| Height | Reported as 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Ex-husband | James Caan |
| Marriage | 1976–1977 |
| Child | Scott Caan |
| Former partner | Elvis Presley |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
Early Life and Family
Sheila Marie Ryan was born on September 17, 1952, in Franklin Park, Illinois. She grew up in a family of five children.
Her parents have been identified as Arlene Ryan and Gerald Ryan. Some sources spell her father’s first name as Gerard. Her brother Mike Ryan has also been identified publicly.
There are conflicting reports about the rest of her siblings. Some accounts say she had three brothers and one sister. Others say Mike was her older brother and that she had three younger sisters. Because of this difference, the exact makeup of her siblings is unclear.
Education
Ryan attended East Leyden High School in Franklin Park. She reportedly graduated in 1971.
She later studied theatre at Playhouse West in North Hollywood. This gave her formal training before her work as an actress.
Ryan also reportedly moved to Las Vegas when she was around 18 years old. She said she moved there because some of her friends were living in the city.
Sheila Marie Ryan’s Modeling Career
Sheila Marie Ryan worked as a model before becoming better known for her acting and famous relationships.
One of her most notable modeling appearances came in October 1973, when she appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine. Some reports also claim that she spent time living at the Playboy Mansion, although this detail is not as well documented.
Her modeling work helped make her a recognizable figure during the 1970s.
Acting Career
Ryan later appeared in several movies and television productions.
She was reportedly featured in the 1977 television miniseries Aspen. Her later acting credits included Open House in 1987 and Road House in 1989.
In Road House, she played Judy. The film starred Patrick Swayze and became one of the better-known titles connected with Ryan’s acting career.
She also played Sandy/Susan in Fertilize the Blaspheming Bombshell in 1990 and Ginny in an episode of Hunter in 1991.
Her other reported credits include Sarah in Lone Star Blues and Woman Golfer in A Boy Called Hate. Shelter from the Storm has also been associated with her career.
Some online biographies confuse Sheila Marie Ryan with another actress named Sheila Ryan who worked during classic Hollywood’s 1940s and 1950s. Claims that Sheila Marie appeared in films from that period do not fit her birth date of 1952 and should not be attributed to her.
Sheila Marie Ryan and Elvis Presley
Before marrying James Caan, Sheila Marie Ryan had a relationship with Elvis Presley.
Reports commonly place their relationship around 1973 to 1975, although sources differ on exactly how long they dated. Some describe it as a two-year relationship, while others give a longer period.
Ryan later discussed how she first met Presley. According to her account, she was living in Las Vegas when she met Joe Esposito, a close member of Presley’s circle.
Esposito reportedly took her backstage while Presley was performing in Las Vegas. Ryan recalled that Presley threw a grape that hit her forehead. He then came over and introduced himself.
Their meeting developed into a romantic relationship.
Ryan said that marriage was not something she was looking for at the time. She also said her father wanted her to marry Presley because of his fame and financial success.
Their relationship eventually ended after Ryan fell in love with James Caan.
Some accounts connect Ryan with Elvis Presley’s performance of And I Love You So. The song was written by Don McLean and later recorded by Presley. Reports say Presley dedicated or associated the song with Ryan, but claims that she inspired or caused the song to be written are inaccurate.
Who Was James Caan?
James Caan was an American actor born on March 26, 1940, in New York City. He became widely known for playing Sonny Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather.
His performance in the 1972 film earned him major recognition and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Caan had a long acting career that included films such as Misery, Rollerball, Thief and Elf. He also worked extensively in television.
Caan married four times during his life. Sheila Marie Ryan was his second wife.
He died on July 6, 2022, at the age of 82.
How Did Sheila Marie Ryan Meet James Caan?
Ryan reportedly met James Caan in 1975 through a mutual friend.
At the time, Caan was already an established Hollywood actor following the success of The Godfather. Ryan was working as a model and pursuing acting.
The two began a relationship, and Ryan’s romance with Elvis Presley came to an end.
Ryan and Caan married on January 12, 1976.
Marriage and Divorce
Sheila Marie Ryan and James Caan’s marriage lasted for a short period.
They welcomed their son in August 1976, several months after their wedding. Their relationship later broke down, and they separated in 1977.
December 7, 1977, is commonly reported as the date their marriage ended. Some online sources incorrectly give 1997, but this conflicts with contemporary details and the widely reported 1976–1977 timeline.
One account says Ryan and Caan briefly reconciled and spent Christmas Eve together in 1977. However, their marriage ultimately ended.
Reports about their divorce settlement state that Ryan received custody of their son. She was reportedly awarded $3,000 per month for five years, along with $1,000 per month in child support until Scott turned 18. These figures come from published reports rather than publicly presented court records.
Sheila Marie Ryan’s Son, Scott Caan
Sheila Marie Ryan and James had one child together, Scott Caan.
Scott Andrew Caan was born on August 23, 1976, in Los Angeles, California. He followed his parents into the entertainment industry and became an actor, writer, director and photographer.
He became widely recognized for playing Turk Malloy in Ocean’s Eleven and its sequels. Television audiences also know him as Danny Williams in Hawaii Five-0.
Scott and his mother were photographed together at public entertainment events. Sheila attended events connected with her son’s career, including film premieres.
Scott was Sheila’s only publicly known child.
Life After James Caan
Much less has been publicly documented about Ryan’s personal life after her divorce from James Caan.
She continued to receive acting credits during the 1980s, 1990s and into the period covered by her known filmography. Her appearances included Open House, Road House, Hunter, Lone Star Blues, and A Boy Called Hate.
She also occasionally appeared publicly with Scott.
There is no well-documented evidence in the available information that Ryan remarried after James Caan. At the time of her death, published biographies generally described her as divorced.
Sheila Marie Ryan’s Net Worth
Sheila Marie Ryan’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Some online sources estimate that she was worth between $1 million and $5 million. However, there is no clear financial documentation supporting this range.
For that reason, the figure should be treated as an online estimate rather than a confirmed net worth.
Social Media
Ryan lived most of her life before social media became a major part of celebrity culture.
There are no widely documented verified social media accounts belonging to her. Most information about her life comes from interviews, entertainment records, photographs, and reports about Elvis Presley, James Caan, and Scott Caan.
Sheila Marie Ryan’s Death
Sheila Marie Ryan died on September 18, 2012. She had turned 60 just one day earlier.
Her death has been widely reported as the result of cancer. Available reports do not clearly identify the specific type of cancer.
Some sources list Canoga Park, California, as her place of death. She has also been reported as being laid to rest at Oakwood Memorial Park.
Interesting Facts
- Sheila Marie Ryan was born on September 17, 1952.
- She grew up in Franklin Park, Illinois.
- She studied at East Leyden High School.
- She later took theatre training at Playhouse West in North Hollywood.
- She worked as a model and actress.
- She appeared on the cover of Playboy in October 1973.
- She dated Elvis Presley before marrying James Caan.
- She reportedly met Presley backstage in Las Vegas through Joe Esposito.
- She married James Caan on January 12, 1976.
- Ryan was James Caan’s second wife.
- Their son, Scott Caan, was born on August 23, 1976.
- Ryan and Caan’s marriage ended in 1977.
- She played Judy in the 1989 film Road House.
- Her other acting credits included Open House, Hunter, Lone Star Blues, and A Boy Called Hate.
- She died from cancer on September 18, 2012, at age 60.
Explore More:
Who Is Ursula Alberto? Meet the Mother of Shawn Wayans’ Three Children
