The famous actor Alan Arkin, known for his Oscar-winning performance in “Little Miss Sunshine” and his role in “Argo,” died at 89. He died on Thursday at his house in San Marcos, California, as confirmed by his sons. Alan Arkin’s cause of death is not guaranteed at the moment. However, he suffered from heart ailments, according to his family.
Arkin had remarkable improvisation skills and talent. His recent role in the award-winning Netflix series “The Kominsky Method” also showcased his incredible mastery. You can find out more about Alan Arkin’s cause of death and his biography below.
Alan Arkin Cause of Death
Alan Arkin’s cause of death has not been given. However, his son Matthew revealed that his father had been suffering from heart ailments. According to Arkin’s family, he passed away peacefully at his residence in San Marcos, California, on Thursday.
Arkin’s sons, Matthew, Anthony, and Adam, released a heartfelt statement to People, describing their father as a “uniquely talented force of nature, both as an artist and a man.” They also called him a loving father, husband, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Arkin’s sons further added that their father would be deeply missed.
He is survived by Suzanne, his wife, his three sons, and his extended family. Arkin leaves behind a remarkable legacy that will continue to inspire and win the hearts of millions of people across the globe.
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Who was Alan Arkin?
Alan Arkin was born on March 26, 1934, in Brooklyn. He was born in a Russian-German Jewish household, and his parents were immigrants.
Arkin was deeply interested in acting from a young age and began taking acting classes early in his life. After living in Brooklyn for several years, his family moved in the 1950s to Los Angeles, where Arkin won scholarships to many drama colleges. However, he dropped out and formed a folk music band in 1955 called The Tarriers.
The band delivered a massive hit in 1956, “The Banana Beat song”, and Arkin continued his music career and acting for a decade.
Arkin became a part of Chicago’s legendary Second City improvisational troupe. He debuted on the big screen with his band, The Tarriers, in the 1957 Calypso Heat Wave. His Broadway debut was in “From the Second City”, which landed him a role in the famous comedy Enter Laughing. He ended up winning a Tony award for the latter.
Arkin’s Acting Career from 1960-1990
Arkin won a nomination for Best Actor at the Oscars for his role as the Soviet sailor Rozanov in the comedy The Russians Are Coming; The Russians Are Coming, which came out in 1966.
After this, Arkin appeared opposite Audrey Hepburn in Wait Until Dark in 1967, followed by The Heart is a Lonely Hunter in 1968. He won a second nomination for the Oscars for the latter, in which he played the role of a deaf-mute. Many critics regard Alan Arkin’s role in the 1970 film adaptation of Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” as one of his best performances. The tragicomic war novel revealed his remarkable talent.
Then, throughout the 1970s to the 1990s, Arkin appeared several times on TV, stage, and big screen.
A few other memorable roles of Alan Arkin are mentioned below.
- Edward Scissorhands in 1990
- Glengarry Glen Ross in 1992
- Grosse Pointe Blank in 1997
Arkin’s Acting Career in the 2000s
In the 2000s, Arkin starred in several shows and movies. The best ones are mentioned below.
- Little Miss Sunshine in 2006
- Argo 2012
- The Kominsky Method in 2018
Moreover, Arkin was extremely witty and intelligent. He created the backstory of his character in Little Miss Sunshine and decided that Grandpa Hoover should be a washed-up man who was a former saxophonist. He should also have a pull toward strip clubs and drugs. Arkin ended up winning his only Oscar due to this role. He commented on Grandpa Hoover’s character, saying,
“I love completely disreputable characters who spout philosophy. He’s completely out there, wide open and nuts.”
He also won another Oscar Nomination for his role in Argo, a tense Iran hostage thriller in which he played the role of a grumpy Hollywood producer who bought fun and comedy into the narrative. Moreover, Arkin appeared in the famous Netflix series The Kominsky Method in 2018. He appeared in two seasons of the show where he played the role of Norman Newlander opposite Michael Douglas’s character.
Douglas described Arkin as “a wonderful actor whose intelligence, sense of comedy and consummate professionalism over the past 70 years has left an indelible mark on our industry.” Overall, Alan Arkin was a spectacular actor, and the entertainment industry greatly mourns his death.