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By Lisa Respers France, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 2:05 PM EDT, Fri June 30, 2023
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Oscar-winning actor Alan Arkin dead at 89
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CNN —
Alan Arkin, the Oscar-winning star of “Little Miss Sunshine,” has died, his family announced Friday.
He was 89.
“Our father was a uniquely talented force of nature, both as an artist and a man. A loving husband, father, grand and great grandfather, he was adored and will be deeply missed,” his sons Adam, Matthew, and Anthony Arkin said in a statement to CNN.
Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Abigail Breslin, Alan Arkin, in "Little Miss Sunshine" in 2006.
Born in Brooklyn to Russian-German Jewish immigrant parents, his family moved to Los Angeles when he was a child.
Arkin attended Bennington College but left to form the music group, The Tarriers in which he sang and played guitar. The group didn’t stay together long but had a hit with “The Banana Boat Song” in 1957.
He then went on to become a founding member of the Second City improvisational troupe, and also continued to record music, including several children’s albums with his group, The Babysitter.
Alan Arkin and director Ben Affleck on set for "Argo" in 2012.
But acting was also a passion and Arkin won a Tony Award for his Broadway debut performance in the 1963 play “Enter Laughing” and a Drama Desk award for directing the 1968 play “Little Murders,” which he also directed for the big screen.
Arkin also directed the original Broadway version of Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys,” which ran for more than 500 performances.
In his film work, he became one of a handful of actors to be Oscar nominated for their first starring role. In Arkin’s case, he was nominated for his role as as Rozanov in the 1966 war comedy, “The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming.
Actor Alan Arkin poses for a portrait during the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012.
A 17-year-old Arkin is seen in his high school yearbook in 1951. Arkin was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Russian-German Jewish immigrant parents. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was a child.
Arkin, right, attended Bennington College but left to form the music group, The Tarriers, in which he sang and played guitar. The group didn't stay together long but had a hit with "The Banana Boat Song" in 1957. Arkin then went on to become a founding member of the Second City improvisational troupe, and he also continued to record music, including several children's albums with his group, The Baby Sitters.
Arkin and a dog sit on a couch together in 1966. Arkin won a Tony Award for his Broadway debut in the 1963 play "Enter Laughing."
Arkin, right, and Theodore Bikel appear in the 1966 war comedy "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming." It was Arkin's first starring film role, and he was nominated for an Academy Award.
Arkin stars with Audrey Hepburn in the 1967 film "Wait Until Dark."
Arkin accepts a Golden Globe Award for his performance in "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming."
Arkin poses for a portrait in Los Angeles circa 1969.
Arkin stars as Capt. John Yossarian in the 1970 film "Catch-22."
Arkin, Sally Kellerman, Renee Taylor and Paula Prentiss appear in a publicity shot for the 1972 film "Last Of The Red Hot Lovers."
Arkin, right, and Nicol Williamson appear in 1976's "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution."
From left, actors Wallace Shawn, William Finley, Arkin and Austin Pendleton are seen on the set of the 1980 film "Simon."
Carol Burnett and Arkin stand on a street corner in 1981's "Chu Chu and the Philly Flash."
Arkin visits his son Adam at the Boston Garden while Adam was starring on an episode of "St. Elsewhere" in 1982. The episode was titled Fathers and Sons. Arkin is survived by his wife, Suzanne; sons Matthew, Anthony and Adam; grandchildren Molly, Emmet, Atticus and Abigail; and great-grandson, Elliott.
Arkin wears a Philadelphia Phillies hat in Florida in 1984. He played an ex-Phillies pitcher in "Chu Chu and the Philly Flash."
Arkin played a fatherly figure to Johnny Depp's "Edward Scissorhands" in 1990.
Arkin plays an office salesman in 1992's "Glengarry Glen Ross."
Arkin, seen in the van, won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in the 2006 film "Little Miss Sunshine."
From left, actors Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Hudson, Helen Mirren and Arkin hold their Oscars in 2007.
Arkin, center, appears with John Goodman, left, and Ben Affleck in 2012's "Argo." The film, which won best picture at the Academy Awards, earned Arkin another nomination for best supporting actor.
Arkin and Kevin Hart attend a screening of "Grudge Match" in New York in 2013.
Arkin, seen here with Michael Douglas, received Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG awards for his role in the Netflix series "The Kominsky Method."
Arkin receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019.
Arkin and his wife, Suzanne, attend the premiere of "Spenser Confidential" in 2020.
Alan Arkin's life in pictures
He also earned Oscar nominations for his performances in “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” (1967), and “Argo” (2012).
Most recently, Arkin was was nominated for Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG awards for his comedic turn in the Netflix series “The Kominsky Method.”
Fellow actors including Viola Davis and Patton Oswalt paid tribute to Arkin on social media.
“Our work inspired a generation of actors and reminded us how powerful our art can shift us,” Davis wrote on Instagram. “Rest well! May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
“Did ANYONE have the range Alan Arkin had?,” Oswalt tweeted. “Hilarious, sinister, insane, tragic. No mood he couldn’t live in. RIP.”
Natasha Lyonne, who costarred with Arkin in 1998’s “Slums of Beverly Hills,” shared her feelings on her Instagram Stories, writing of the late actor, “Love this sweet, brilliant man so very much” and “Favorite movie dad & all time hero.”
Arkin is survived by his wife Suzanne, sons Matthew, Anthony and Adam, grandchildren Molly, Emmet, Atticus, and Abigail, and great grandson Elliott.
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