Alan Arkin Biography

Birth Name: Alan Wolf Arkin

Born in New York City, Alan Arkin started his career in the entertainment industry as a member of a folk-singing group called The Tarriers. He then joined Chicago's Second City improv group, which prepared him well for his stage debut in Carl Reiner's Enter Laughing. This project garnered Arkin rave reviews as well as a coveted Tony Award in 1963.

Known for sterling comic and dramatic performances, Arkin is an extremely versatile entertainer—working in theater and film as both actor and director, and, as well, authoring a number of children's books. He is also a songwriter and exhibited-photographer. Father of actor Adam Arkin, Alan made his big screen debut in The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming!, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and a Golden Globe Award. He went on to earn a second Oscar nod for his sensitive portrayal of John Singer in the drama film The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968).

Alan won a Best Supporting Actor award from the Boston Society of Film Critics for his role in Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2001) and an Academy Award and a BAFTA for Little Miss Sunshine (2006). He also has two Genie awards for his work in Improper Channels (1981) and Joshua Then and Now (1985).

He continued to work steadily in motion pictures such as Marley & Me (2008), Sunshine Cleaning (2009), City Island (2010) and The Change-Up (2011). For his role in the critically-acclaimed film Argo, directed by Ben Affleck, Arkin received his fourth Academy Award nomination.

Alan also appeared in the films Million Dollar Arm (2014) with Jon Hamm, the comedy Love the Coopers (2015) with Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, and the comedy Going in Style (2017) with Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.

From 2018 to 2019, Alan starred opposite Michael Douglas on two seasons of the Netflix series The Kominsky Method, but didn't return for the third season.

His final role was providing the voice of Wild Knuckles in the animated film Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022).

He is survived by his three sons from his first two marriages and his third wife Suzanne, to whom he was married for 27 years.

Filmography:

Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
Spenser Confidential (2020)
Dumbo (2019)
Going in Style (2017)
Love the Coopers (2015)
Million Dollar Arm (2014)
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
In Security (2013)
Stand Up Guys (2013)
Argo (2012)
The Muppets (2012)
The Change-Up (2011)
The Convincer (2011)
City Island (2009)
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009)
Marley & Me (2008)
Get Smart (2008)
Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
Rendition (2007)
Raising Flagg (2006)
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
Firewall (2006)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
The Novice (2006)
Eros (2004)
Novel (2004)
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2001)
America’s Sweethearts (2001)
Magicians (2000)
Jakob the Liar (1999)
The Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)
O Que É Isso, Companheiro? (1997)
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
Gattaca (1997)
Mother Night (1996)
Steal Big Steal Little (1995)
The Jerky Boys (1995)
North (1994)
So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)
Indian Summer (1993)
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
The Rocketeer (1991) Coupe De Ville (1990)
Havana (1990)
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Big Trouble (1986)
Joshua Then and Now (1985)
Bad Medicine (1985)
The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
The Last Unicorn (1982) (voice)
Full Moon High (1981)
Improper Channels (1981)
Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981)
Simon (1980)
The Magician of Lublin (1979)
The In-Laws (1979)
Fire Sale (1977)
The Seven Percent Solution (1976)
Hearts of the West (1975)
Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins (1975)
Freebie and the Bean (1974)
Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972)
Deadhead Miles (1972)
Little Murders (1971)
Catch-22 (1970)
Popi (1969)
The Monitors (1969)
Inspector Clouseau (1968)
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
Wait Until Dark (1967)
Woman Times Seven (1967)
The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming! (1966)
Calypso Heat Wave (1957)