(DailyDig.com) – Alan Arkin, 89, a Broadway and Hollywood icon who won Oscars, has died. According to Matthew Arkin, his father died in San Marcos, California, due to heart problems.
Anthony, Adam, and Matthew, his sons, acknowledged his death in a statement released on behalf of the family, in which they reflected on their father’s life and legacy as an artist and a man. He was someone who cared deeply for his family at every generational level. He was loved by many, and his death was felt keenly.
Arkin was born on March 26, 1934, in Brooklyn, NY. When he was 11 years old, he went to Los Angeles with his family.
After landing a role in 1963’s Broadway comedy “Enter Laughing,” for which he won a Tony, his career took off.
Arkin made the transition from the stage to the big screen and had been confident in his ability to succeed in film. His first Oscar nomination was for the 1966 military comedy “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming.”
More than a hundred films and television shows would include Arkin over the following several decades, including “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” (1968), for which he received an Oscar nomination. In addition to “Glengarry Glen Ross” (1992), he appeared in “Edward Scissorhands” (1990) and “Catch-22” (1970).
Youthful fans may remember him most for his role as the dysfunctional family’s grandpa in the 2006 film “Little Miss Sunshine.” Although he barely appeared in the film for only 14 minutes, his performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Arkin was nominated for an Oscar again for his role in “Argo” (2012), the film directed by Ben Affleck. He portrayed a seasoned film producer who, in order to free the hostages, fabricates a fake movie.
Arkin is survived by a great-grandson, four grandchildren, three sons from previous marriages, and his third wife, Suzanne Newlander.
Copyright 2023, DailyDig.com
