(CNN) — Alan Arkin, Oscar-winning actor for “Little Miss Sunshine,” has died at the age of 89, his family announced Friday.
“Our father was a uniquely talented force of nature, both as an artist and as a man. A loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, whom we adore and will deeply miss,” his sons Adam, Matthew and Anthony Arkin said in a statement sent to CNN.
Arkin was born in Brooklyn to Russian-German Jewish immigrant parents, but his family moved to Los Angeles when he was a child.
He attended Bennington College but dropped out to form the musical group The Tarriers, in which he sang and played guitar. The group did not last long, but had a hit with “The Banana Boat Song” in 1957.
He then became a founding member of the Second City improv troupe, also continuing to record music, including several children’s albums with his group, The Babysitter.
However, acting was also a passion, and Arkin won a Tony Award for his Broadway debut in the 1963 play “Enter Laughing.” He also won 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.
The most remembered roles of Alan Arkin
In his film career, Alan Arkin was one of the few actors nominated for an Oscar for his first leading role. He received the nomination for his role as Rozanov in the 1966 war comedy “The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming.”
He also earned Oscar nominations for his performances in “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” (1967) and “Argo” (2012).
Most recently, Arkin was nominated for Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Awards for his performance in the Netflix series “The Kominsky Method.”
Other actors, including Viola Davis and Patton Oswalt, paid tribute to Arkin on social media.
“Our work inspired a generation of actors and reminded us of the power of our art to change us,” Davis wrote on Instagram. “Rest well! May flights of angels sing to you for your rest,” she added.
“DID ANYONE have the rank that Alan Arkin had?” Oswalt tweeted. Hilarious, sinister, crazy, tragic. There is no state of mind in which he cannot live. He rests in peace”.
Natasha Lyonne, who co-starred with Arkin in 1998’s “Slums of Beverly Hills,” shared her condolences on her Instagram stories, writing of the late actor: “Love this sweet, brilliant man so much” and “Favorite movie dad and movie hero.” all the times”.
Arkin is survived by his wife Suzanne, sons Matthew, Anthony, and Adam, grandchildren Molly, Emmet, Atticus, and Abigail, and great-grandson Elliott.
(CNN) — Alan Arkin, Oscar-winning actor for “Little Miss Sunshine,” has died at the age of 89, his family announced Friday.
“Our father was a uniquely talented force of nature, both as an artist and as a man. A loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, whom we adore and will deeply miss,” his sons Adam, Matthew and Anthony Arkin said in a statement sent to CNN.
Arkin was born in Brooklyn to Russian-German Jewish immigrant parents, but his family moved to Los Angeles when he was a child.
He attended Bennington College but dropped out to form the musical group The Tarriers, in which he sang and played guitar. The group did not last long, but had a hit with “The Banana Boat Song” in 1957.
He then became a founding member of the Second City improv troupe, also continuing to record music, including several children’s albums with his group, The Babysitter.
However, acting was also a passion, and Arkin won a Tony Award for his Broadway debut in the 1963 play “Enter Laughing.” He also won 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.
The most remembered roles of Alan Arkin
In his film career, Alan Arkin was one of the few actors nominated for an Oscar for his first leading role. He received the nomination for his role as Rozanov in the 1966 war comedy “The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming.”
He also earned Oscar nominations for his performances in “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” (1967) and “Argo” (2012).
Most recently, Arkin was nominated for Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Awards for his performance in the Netflix series “The Kominsky Method.”
Other actors, including Viola Davis and Patton Oswalt, paid tribute to Arkin on social media.
“Our work inspired a generation of actors and reminded us of the power of our art to change us,” Davis wrote on Instagram. “Rest well! May flights of angels sing to you for your rest,” she added.
“DID ANYONE have the rank that Alan Arkin had?” Oswalt tweeted. Hilarious, sinister, crazy, tragic. There is no state of mind in which he cannot live. He rests in peace”.
Natasha Lyonne, who co-starred with Arkin in 1998’s “Slums of Beverly Hills,” shared her condolences on her Instagram stories, writing of the late actor: “Love this sweet, brilliant man so much” and “Favorite movie dad and movie hero.” all the times”.
Arkin is survived by his wife Suzanne, sons Matthew, Anthony, and Adam, grandchildren Molly, Emmet, Atticus, and Abigail, and great-grandson Elliott.
