LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Alan Arkin, the versatile actor who won an Oscar in 2007 for his performance in 'Little Miss Sunshine' has died at 89. On Friday, June 30, his death was confirmed by his sons Anthony, Matthew, and Adam, who have issued a statement on their family's behalf.
"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," read their jointly offered statement, according to People.
How did Alan Arkin die?
Though Arkin's sons have confirmed his death, the cause of death remains unclear. The Academy Award and Tony Award-winning actor Alan Arkin was born on March 26, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York. During his childhood, his family moved to Los Angeles. That "is why I don't live there now," Arkin previously told the outlet in 1979 from his home in Chappaqua, New York.
Arkins has been listed as an alumnus of the class of 1955 at Bennington College in Vermont though he has dropped out of at least three of several different colleges he has attended. "They might have thrown me out. I don't remember," he previously told the outlet. He then joined a folk music group called the Tarriers as a singer and guitarist.
Inside Arkin's successful professional life
After quitting the band, Arkin who had taken acting lessons at a young age went on to establish himself as an actor. He became an early member of the improvisational comedy troupe Second City in Chicago in 1960. "Second City saved my life. It literally saved my life. I have a feeling it's true for a lot of other people, too," Arkin said. In 1961, he made his Broadway debut in 'From the Second City' and performed in 'Enter Laughing' in 1963 which earned him a Tony Award.
Arkin won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his character Edwin Hoover in 'Little Miss Sunshine' (2006) in which his role as the grandfather of a dysfunctional family only spanned 14 minutes of screen time.
The actor earned his fourth Oscar nomination for his role in the political drama 'Argo' (2012) directed by Ben Affleck. Making his appearance in more than 100 films and movies over the next 50-plus years, Arkin starred in movies like 'Glengarry Glen Ross' (1992), 'Edward Scissorhands' (1990), 'Catch-22' (1970), and 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter' (1968) for which he was nominated for the Oscars for the second time. Arkin has been nominated for six Emmy Awards and the latest one was for the show 'The Kominsky Method' which he left in 2021 before its third season.
'Acting is so ingrained in my physiognomy and the channels of my brain'
Talking to The Guardian in 2020, Arkin said "I'm like a horse going down the trail," and added, "Acting is so ingrained in my physiognomy and the channels of my brain that I find myself missing aspects of the business. But I don’t need it anymore. I should probably get over it."
The actor is survived by his wife Suzanne Newlander and his three children. Arkin married Newlander in 1996. He shared sons Adam Arkin and Matthew Arkin with his first wife Jeremy Yaffe, and Anthony Dana Arkin with his second wife Dana. His son Adam who is also a popular actor and director has starred in TV hits including 'Sons of Anarchy', 'Simple Rules', and 'Chicago Hope'.
