Alan Arkin was a celebrated American actor, director, and screenwriter, widely recognized for his memorable performances in films such as The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming and the television series The Kominsky Method.
Alan Wolf Arkin was born on March 26, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 11, his family relocated to Los Angeles, California. Following his high school graduation, Arkin pursued his passion for drama, studying at both Los Angeles City College and Los Angeles State College. He also briefly attended Bennington College in Vermont. In 1955, he moved to New York City to begin his professional career in the entertainment industry.
Arkin's first appearance in a feature film came in 1957 with the musical movie Calypso Heat Wave. He later joined The Second City, the renowned improvisational sketch comedy troupe based in Chicago, which played a pivotal role in shaping his early acting ability and stage presence.
Returning to New York, Arkin performed in the 1961 Broadway revue From the Second City, spotlighting emerging comedic talent from his former troupe. In 1963, he earned widespread acclaim for his lead role as David Kolowitz in Carl Reiner’s Enter Laughing. He further cemented his theatrical reputation with his performance in Luv (1964), directed by Mike Nichols.
Alan Arkin garnered his first major film role in The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He earned continued praise through a diverse array of roles spanning genres and decades. His portrayal of a sharp-tongued grandfather with a heroin habit in Little Miss Sunshine (2006) won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film’s critical and commercial success revitalized his career for a new generation.
Arkin went on to appear in films such as The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006), Get Smart (2008), and Marley & Me (2008). In 2012, he delivered another standout performance in Ben Affleck’s thriller Argo, playing a wry Hollywood producer involved in a CIA mission. His role earned him yet another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Additional notable projects include the crime comedy Stand Up Guys (2012), the heist drama Going in Style (2017), and Disney's live-action adaptation of Dumbo (2019), directed by Tim Burton, where he played a Wall Street executive.
In 2018, Arkin took on a prominent television role opposite Michael Douglas in the Netflix series The Kominsky Method. He played Norman Newlander, the longtime agent and confidant to a retired actor turned acting coach. The show successfully blended humor with poignant reflection on aging, earning Arkin critical praise and renewed public admiration.
His performance in The Kominsky Method earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2019 Emmy Awards, underscoring his enduring relevance in both television and film.
Alan Arkin was married three times. His first marriage was to Jeremy Yaffe in 1955; they divorced in 1961. The couple had two sons, Adam Arkin and Matthew Arkin, both of whom pursued careers in acting. In 1967, he married actress Barbara Dana, with whom he had another son, Anthony Arkin, who also became an actor. Arkin later married psychotherapist Suzanne Newlander, his third wife, with whom he remained until his passing.
| Birth Date: | 26 Mar, 1934 |
| Age: | 86 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | New York City |
| residence: | New Mexico Brooklyn Los Angeles |
| Education: | Bennington College Los Angeles City College |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American actor, director, musician and singer |
| Net Worth 2021: | 15 million |
