Newbie TV cop Hawaii Five-O hunkster SCOTT CAAN hush-hush past of drugs, crime and ultra-violence!
Before surfing the beaches of TV’s Aloha state crime skein as new "Danno", Caan was a bad-ass rich kid on the wrong side of the law!
The 34-year-old son of movie legend James Caan and second wife Sheila, led a drug-fueled childhood, became estranged from his father and was busted for assault at a bar!
"Growing up, Scott definitely was out of control," a longtime family friend told The ENQUIRER. "He put his dad through hell, and he came close to totally screwing up his life."
Scott’s problems started when he fell in with a rough crowd in his early teens, according to the source.
"He ditched high school to go surfing and skateboarding, smoked pot and raised hell painting graffiti around L.A.," the source said.
"He was suspended a couple of times and dropped out his sophomore year."
Later, Scott toured as a roadie with stoner bands and tried rapping, although his music career went nowhere.
Then he hit rock bottom in 1998 when he was arrested in a West Hollywood bar for assault after getting into a brawl with another patron.
"Scott was a huge embarrassment to his father, and they fought bitterly," the source said.
But James – who was Oscar nommed for The Godfather – never gave up hope.
"He finally got Scott interested in acting and encouraged him to funnel his rage into his art," said the source.
Scott eventually landed roles in Ocean’s Eleven and its two sequels.
The CBS reboot of Hawaii Five-O is now a surf and turf buddy cop CSI and Scott Caan brings a touch of street-wise reality to his character made famous by actor James MacArthur – Det. Danny "Danno" Williams.
"James is so proud he could burst," said the source.
