Alan Arkin, the acclaimed actor recognized for his performances in Argo and Little Miss Sunshine, passed away at the age of 89. The news of his death was confirmed by his sons, Adam, Matthew, and Anthony, who released a statement on Friday, June 30. Arkin peacefully passed away at his residence in Carlsbad, California, a day earlier. The statement expressed that Arkin was an incredibly gifted individual, excelling as both an artist and a person. He was cherished as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, and his absence will be profoundly felt.
Celebrities took to social media to pay tribute to Arkin, praising his versatile talent in film and TV across different genres. Michael McKean tweeted, "When I was a young actor, people asked me if I wanted to be serious or funny. I'd say, 'Which kind is Alan Arkin?' and that silenced them. Rest in peace, Alan. Nobody was better, ever."
In a Twitter post, Patton Oswalt questioned, "Did anyone have the range that Alan Arkin had? Hilarious, sinister, insane, tragic. He could thrive in any mood. RIP."
Alan Arkin in ‘Little Miss Sunshine.’ 20th Century Fox/Fox Searchlight/Kobal/Shutterstock
Born in 1934 in Brooklyn, Arkin started his acting journey at the age of 10 by taking acting lessons. He made his first appearance in a film named "Calypso Heat Wave" in 1957, and later became one of the early members of the renowned comedy troupe Second City. Notable individuals such as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert, Bill Murray, and Jordan Peele have also been associated with this group.
In 1961, Arkin marked his debut on Broadway through a play called "From the Second City." Within two years, his outstanding performance in "Enter Laughing" not only gained recognition but also earned him the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.
Arkin's film career blossomed in the 1970s when he portrayed Captain John Yossarian in Mike Nichols’ film adaptation of Joseph Heller's Catch-22. Additionally, Arkin directed movies such as Little Murders in 1971 and Fire Sale in 1977.
Continuing to work steadily in the 1980s and 1990s, Arkin's popularity soared among younger audiences after his role in the 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine. He received critical acclaim, winning both an Oscar and a BAFTA Award for his remarkable portrayal of Edwin Hoover, who trains his granddaughter Olive (Abigail Breslin) for the central beauty pageant.
John Goodman, Alan Arkin and Ben Affleck in ‘Argo.’ Warner Bros Pictures/Kobal/Shutterstock
Playing Lester Siegel in the film Argo in 2012, Arkin garnered significant acclaim and received nominations for prestigious awards such as the Golden Globe, Oscar, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Award.
In a more recent endeavor, Arkin portrayed the character Norman Newlander in the initial two seasons of Netflix's The Kominsky Method, alongside Michael Douglas, Paul Reiser, and Kathleen Turner. This compelling performance led to consecutive Emmy nominations in 2019 and 2020, as well as back-to-back SAG Award nods.
Arkin is survived by his wife, Suzanne Newlander, and sons Adam, 66, and Matthew, 63, whom he shared with ex-wife Jeremy Yaffe, and son Anthony, 56, whom he shared with ex-wife Barbara Dana.