| Alan Arkin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alan Wolf Arkin March 26, 1934 , U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, director, musician, singer |
| Years active | 1957–present |
| Spouse | Jeremy Yaffe (1955–1960) Barbara Dana (1964-199?) Suzanne Newlander (1996–present) |
Alan Wolf Arkin (born March 26, 1934) is an American actor, director, musician and singer. He is best-known for starring in such films as: Catch-22; The In-Laws; Edward Scissorhands; The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming; Glengarry Glen Ross; and Little Miss Sunshine, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2007. He is the father of actors Adam Arkin, Anthony Arkin, and Matthew Arkin. He is also first cousin to children's author Edward Irving Wortis who is better known by his pen name Avi.
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Arkin was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Beatrice (née Wortis), a teacher, and David I. Arkin, a painter and writer who mostly worked as a teacher.[1] Arkin was raised in a Jewish family with "no emphasis on religion;" his maternal grandfather was an immigrant from Odessa, Ukraine.[2] The family moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, California when Arkin was 11 years old,[2] but an eight-month Hollywood strike cost Arkin's father a set designer job he had wanted to take. Arkin's parents were accused during the 1950s Red Scare of being Communists, which led to Arkin's father losing his job after refusing to answer questions regarding his political affiliation. David Arkin challenged the dismissal and was ultimately vindicated, but only after his death.[3]
Arkin has been married three times. He and Jeremy Yaffe, to whom he was married from 1955 to 1960, have two sons: Adam Arkin, born Aug. 19, 1957, and Matthew Arkin, born in 1960. In 1967, Arkin had son Anthony (Tony) Dana Arkin with actress-screenwriter Barbara Dana (born 1940), to whom he was married from June 16, 1964 to the mid-1990s. In 1996, Arkin married a psychotherapist, Suzanne Newlander.[3] As of 2007, they live in New Mexico.
Arkin, who had been taking acting lessons since age 10, became a scholarship student at various drama academies, including one run by Stanislavsky student Benjamin Zemach, who taught Arkin a psychological approach to acting.[4] Arkin attended Franklin High School,[5] in Los Angeles, followed by Los Angeles City College from 1951 to 1953. He also attended Bennington College. With two friends, he formed the folk music group The Tarriers, in which Arkin sang and played guitar. The band members co-composed the group's 1956 hit "The Banana Boat Song", a reworking, with some new lyrics, of a traditional, same-name Jamaican calypso folk song combined with another titled "Hill and Gully Rider".[6] It reached #4 on the Billboard magazine chart the same year as Harry Belafonte's better-known hit version.[7]
From 1958 to 1968, Arkin performed and recorded with the children's folk group, The Baby Sitters.[8] He also performed the role of Dr. Pangloss in a concert staging of Leonard Bernstein's operetta Candide, alongside Madeline Kahn's Cunegonde. Arkin was an early member of The Second City comedy troupe in the 1960s.[9] Arkin and his second wife, Barbara Dana, appeared together on the 1970–71 season of Sesame Street as a comical couple named Larry and Phyllis who resolve their conflicts when they remember how to pronounce the word "cooperate." In 1985, he sang two selections by Jones & Schmidt on Ben Bagley's album Contemporary Broadway Revisited.
Arkin is one of only eight[10] actors to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his first screen appearance (for The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming in 1966). Two years later, he was again nominated, for The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.
Among the films for which he has garnered the most favorable critical attention are his Oscar-nominated turns above; Wait Until Dark, as the erudite killer stalking Audrey Hepburn; director Mike Nichols' Catch-22; The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (where he played Sigmund Freud); writer Jules Feiffer's Little Murders, which Arkin directed; the The In-Laws, co-starring Peter Falk; Glengarry Glen Ross; and Little Miss Sunshine, for which he received his third Oscar nomination, in the category of Best Supporting Actor. On the 11 February 2007 he received a BAFTA Film Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Grandfather Edwin in Little Miss Sunshine. On February 25, 2007, upon winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Arkin, who plays a foul-mouthed grandfather with a taste for heroin said, "More than anything, I'm deeply moved by the open-hearted appreciation our small film has received, which in these fragmented times speaks so openly of the possibility of innocence, growth and connection".[11] At 72 years old, Arkin became the sixth oldest winner of the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. In 2006-07, Arkin was cast in supporting roles in Rendition and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause as Bud Newman (Carol's Dad), starring with Tim Allen, Martin Short, Elizabeth Mitchell, Judge Reinhold and Wendy Crewson. He also portrayed the Chief of CONTROL in 2008's Get Smart.
On Broadway, Arkin starred in Enter Laughing, for which he won a Tony Award, and Luv. He also directed The Sunshine Boys, among others.
Arkin is the author of many books, including the children's stories Tony's Hard Work Day (illustrated by James Stevenson, 1972), The Lemming Condition (illustrated by Joan Sandin, 1976), Halfway Through the Door: An Actor's Journey Toward Self (1979) and The Clearing (1986 continuation of Lemming).[12]
| Films | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
| 1957 | Calypso Heat Wave | Tarriers lead singer | uncredited |
| 1963 | That's Me | ||
| 1966 | The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming | Lt. Rozanov | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actor Nominated - BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer Nominated - Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actor |
| The Last Mohican | Pretzel Peddler | short film | |
| 1967 | Woman Times Seven | Fred (segment "The Suicides") | released June 1967 |
| Wait Until Dark | Harry Roat | released October 1967 | |
| 1968 | Inspector Clouseau | Inspector Jacques Clouseau | released July 19 |
| The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter | John Singer | KCFCC Award for Best Actor NYFCC Award for Best Actor Nominated - Academy Award for Best Actor Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama |
|
| 1969 | Popi | Abraham Rodriguez | KCFCC Award for Best Actor Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama |
| The Monitors | Cameo appearance | released October | |
| 1970 | Catch-22 | Capt. John Yossarian | |
| 1971 | Little Murders | Lt. Practice | also director |
| 1972 | Last of the Red Hot Lovers (film) | Barney Cashman | released August |
| Deadhead Miles | Cooper | ||
| 1974 | It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy | Nov. 1974 TV-movie | |
| Freebie and the Bean | Bean | released December 1974 | |
| 1975 | Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins | Gunny Rafferty | a.k.a. Rafferty and the Highway Hustlers |
| Hearts of the West | Burt Kessler | released October 1975 NYFCC Award for Best Supporting Actor |
|
| 1976 | The Seven-Per-Cent Solution | Dr. Sigmund Freud | |
| 1977 | Fire Sale | Ezra Fikus | also director |
| 1978 | The Other Side of Hell | Frank Dole | January 17, 1978 TV-movie |
| The Defection of Simas Kudirka | Simas Kudirka | January 23, 1978 TV-movie | |
| 1979 | The In-Laws | Sheldon S. Kornpett, D.D.S. | released June 1979 |
| The Magician of Lublin | Yasha Mazur | released November 1979 | |
| 1980 | Simon | Prof. Simon Mendelssohn | Nominated - Saturn Award for Best Actor |
| 1981 | Full Moon High | Dr. Brand | |
| Improper Channels | Jeffrey Martley | released May 1981 Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actor |
|
| Chu Chu and the Philly Flash | Flash | released August 1981 | |
| 1982 | The Last Unicorn | Schmendrick | voice |
| 1983 | The Return of Captain Invincible | Captain Invincible | |
| 1984 | A Matter of Principle | Flagg Purdy | TV movie |
| Terror in the Aisles | archival footage | ||
| 1985 | The Fourth Wise Man | Orontes | March 1985 TV movie |
| Joshua Then and Now | Reuben Shapiro | released September 1985 Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role |
|
| Bad Medicine | Dr. Ramón Madera | released November 1985 | |
| 1986 | A Deadly Business | Harold Kaufman | TV |
| Big Trouble | Leonard Hoffman | released May 1986 | |
| 1987 | Escape from Sobibor | Leon Feldhendler | Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1988 | Necessary Parties | Archie Corelli | TV |
| 1990 | Coupe de Ville | Fred Libner | released March 1990 |
| Edward Scissorhands | Bill | released Dec. 7, 1990 Nominated - Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor |
|
| Havana | Joe Volpi | released Dec. 12, 1990 | |
| 1991 | The Rocketeer | A. 'Peevy' Peabody | |
| 1992 | Glengarry Glen Ross | George Aaronow | |
| 1993 | Cooperstown | Harry Willette | Jan. 1993 TV movie |
| Indian Summer | Unca Lou Handler | released April 1993 | |
| Taking the Heat | Tommy Canard | June 1993 TV movie | |
| So I Married an Axe Murderer | Police Captain (uncredited) | released July 1993 | |
| Samuel Beckett is Coming Soon | The Director (character) | short film; also director | |
| 1994 | North | Judge Buckle | released July 22, 1994 |
| Doomsday Gun | Col. Yossi | July 23, 1994 TV movie | |
| Picture Windows | Tully, in segment "Soir Bleu" | Oct. 1994 TV movie | |
| 1995 | The Jerky Boys | Ernie Lazarro | released Feb. 1995 |
| Steal Big Steal Little | Lou Perilli | released Sept. 1995 | |
| 1996 | Heck's Way Home | Dogcatcher | March 1996 - TV |
| Mother Night | George Kraft | released Nov. 1996 | |
| 1997 | Grosse Pointe Blank | Dr. Oatman | released April 1997 |
| O Que É Isso, Companheiro? | Charles Burke Elbrick | Brazil-U.S May 1997; U.S. Jan. 1998 | |
| Gattaca | Det. Hugo | released Oct. 1997 | |
| 1998 | Slums of Beverly Hills | Murray Samuel Abromowitz | |
| 1999 | Jakob the Liar | Max Frankfurter | released Sept. 1999 |
| Blood Money | Willy "The Hammer" Canzaro | TV movie | |
| 2000 | Arigo | writer and director | |
| Magicians | Milo | direct-to-video | |
| 2001 | Varian's War | Freier | April 2001 TV movie |
| America's Sweethearts | Wellness Guide | released July 2001 | |
| Thirteen Conversations About One Thing | Gene | wide theatrical release 2002 BSFC Award for Best Supporting Actor Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated - Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Nominated - BFCA Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated - OFCS Award for Best Supporting Actor |
|
| 2003 | The Pentagon Papers | Harry Rowen | March 2003 TV-movie Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Miniseries or a Movie |
| And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself | Sam Drebben | Sept. 2003 TV movie | |
| 2004 | The Novice | Father Benkhe | released Sept. 2004 |
| Noel | Artie Venzuela | Nov. 2004 TV movie | |
| Eros | Dr. Pearl / Hal in segment "Equilibrium" | ||
| 2006 | Firewall | Arlin Forester | released Feb. 2006 |
| Little Miss Sunshine | Edwin Hoover | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Nominated - SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated - BFCA Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated - OFCS Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated - Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture |
|
| The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause | Bud Newman | released Dec. 2006 | |
| 2007 | Raising Flagg | Flagg Purdy | released Feb. 2007 |
| Rendition | Senator Hawkins | released October. 2007 | |
| 2008 | Sunshine Cleaning | Joe | |
| Get Smart | The Chief | released June 2008 | |
| Marley & Me | Arnie Klein | released December 2008 | |
| 2009 | The Private Lives of Pippa Lee | Herb | |
| 2010 | City Island (film) | Michael Malakov (drama coach) | |
| 2011 | Get Smart 2 | The Chief | in pre-production |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1964 | East Side/West Side | Ted Miller | "The Beatnik and the Politician" |
| 1966 | ABC Stage 67 | Barney Kempinski | "The Love Song of Barney Kempinski" Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama |
| 1970–1971 | Sesame Street | Larry | unknown episodes |
| 1979 | Carol Burnett & Company | Himself | Episode 1, Season 2 |
| 1983 | St. Elsewhere | Jerry Singleton | 3 episodes: "Ties That Bind", "Lust En Veritas", "Newheart" |
| 1985 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Bo | "The Emperor's New Clothes" |
| 1987 | Harry | Harry Porschak | March 4–25, ABC TV series |
| 1997 | Chicago Hope | Zoltan Karpathein | "The Son Also Rises" Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor - Drama Series |
| 2001–2002 | 100 Centre Street | Joe Rifkind | A&E TV series |
| 2005 | Will & Grace | Marty Adler | "It's a Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad World" |
| 2006–2007 | Boston Legal | Prosecutor | Two episodes in Season 3 |
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