Best known as an actor, this multitalented man has also enjoyed success as a musician, writer and director, not to mention father of three performers, including Emmy-nominee Adam Arkin. Although the New York-born, Los Angeles-bred Arkin harbored acting ambitions since his youth, he started out as the lead singer of the '50s folk trio The Tarriers. Toward the end of that decade, Arkin was invited to join a new sketch-comedy troupe called Second City in Chicago. Initially hesitant to make the Midwest his home base, he ultimately accepted the gig. It jump-started his acting career and led to his Broadway debut in the 1961 revue
From the Second City. Two years later, Arkin picked up a Tony for his appropriately hilarious performance in
Enter Laughing, and in 1966 he earned an Oscar nod for his film debut as a Russian-submariner-out-of-water in the Cold War comedy
The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming. A second Oscar nomination for his dramatic turn as a deaf mute in 1968's
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter proved he could do more than provoke laughs. Although Arkin worked regularly into the '70s as a versatile character player, embodying myriad ethnic characters including Jews (his own background), Russians, the French
(Inspector Clouseau) and, strangely but convincingly, Hispanics (
Popi, Freebie and the Bean), he also pursued his other interests, including writing and directing. After winning a Drama Desk Award for helming the black comedy
Little Murders off-Broadway, he brought it to the screen in 1971 and directed many other projects for the stage and the small screen. In the '80s and '90s, he found meatier roles on TV, earning Emmy nods as a concentration-camp prisoner focused on freedom in
Escape from Sobibor and a guest spot on his son Adam's series
Chicago Hope. While he was relegated to the stereotype of cantankerous old coot in many of his later film appearances, his flamboyant turn as a foulmouthed junkie grandpa in the lauded 2006 indie
Little Miss Sunshine earned him an Oscar (in a surprise upset over Eddie Murphy in
Dreamgirls) and proved that the 72-year-old veteran could still tackle cutting-edge dramedy.
Alan Arkin Fast Facts:
- His folk trio, The Tarriers, had a minor hit with their rendition of "The Banana Boat Song." Later Arkin sang children's tunes with the group The Babysitters.
- Starred in two films, Popi (1969) and Freebie and the Bean (1974), that were made into TV series, both starring Hector Elizondo in Arkin's roles.
- Has written a number of children's books and science fiction stories.
- Alan Arkin Relationships:
- Barbara Dana - Ex-wife
- Beatrice Arkin - Mother
- David I. Arkin - Father
- Jeremy Yaffe - Ex-wife
- Suzanne Arkin - Wife
- Anthony Arkin - Son
- Matthew Arkin - Son
- Adam Arkin - Son
- Alan Arkin Awards:
- 1966 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
- 1968 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
- 2006 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Winner
- 1973 Tony: Best Direction of a Play - Nominee
- 1963 Tony: Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play - Winner
- 1988 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - Nominee
- 1970 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama - Nominee
- 1967 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Winner
- 1969 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama - Nominee
- 1967 Golden Globe: New Star of the Year - Actor - Nominee
- 1997 Emmy: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series - Nominee
- 1967 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1987 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special - Nominee
- 2003 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie - Nominee
- College:
- Attended Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, CA; attended Los Angeles State College, Los Angeles, CA; attended Bennington College, Bennington, VT
