Alan Arkin

Biography

Alan Wolf Arkin (March 26, 1934 – June 29, 2023) was an American actor, director, musician and singer. He was known for starring in such films as Wait Until Dark, The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, Minions: The Rise of Gru, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, Catch-22, The In-Laws, Edward Scissorhands, Glengarry Glen Ross, Marley & Me, Argo and Little Miss Sunshine, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2006. He was the father of actors Adam Arkin, Anthony Arkin, and Matthew Arkin.

Career Overview

Alan Arkin has 122 screen credits in a career dating back to 1944. Their work spans 9 cinematic universes — most prominently Despicable Me with 1 titles. Signature works include Minions: The Rise of Gru, Argo, Gattaca. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Acting
Gender: male
Known Credits: 122
Birth Date: 1934-03-26 00:00:00
Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 9 universes

Despicable Me (1 titles)
Minions Collection (1 titles)
Spenser Confidential Collection (1 titles)
Dumbo (1 titles)
The Muppets Modern (1 titles)
The Muppets Collection (1 titles)
Marley & Me Collection (1 titles)
The Santa Clause (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

Tim Nielsen (3 collaborations)
Ben Affleck (3 collaborations)
David Campbell (3 collaborations)
Bill Bannerman (3 collaborations)
Jack Antonoff (2 collaborations)
Kyle Balda (2 collaborations)
Matthew Fogel (2 collaborations)
Bobby Mancuso (2 collaborations)
Tom Macdonald (2 collaborations)
Amy Herman (2 collaborations)

Credits

directing (7 credits)
- Arigo
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2026
- Samuel Beckett is Coming Soon
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1993
- Fire Sale
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1977
- Twigs
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1975
- Little Murders
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1971
- People Soup
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1969
- T.G.I.F.
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1967
writing (1 credits)
- Arigo
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2026
actors (111 credits)
- "Sr."
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- Minions: The Rise of Gru
  Wild Knuckles (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2022
- Spenser Confidential
  Henry
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Dumbo
  J. Griffin Remington
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- Going in Style
  Albert Garner
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2017
- Naples '44
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- Love the Coopers
  Bucky Newport
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- Alan Arkin: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- Million Dollar Arm
  Ray Arkin
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- In Security
  Officer Riggs
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- BoJack Horseman
  
  - Start Spreading the News (2016) ... J.D. Salinger (voice) actor actors
  
  - Yes And (2015) ... J.D. Salinger (voice) actor actors
  
  - Let's Find Out (2015) ... J.D. Salinger (voice) actor actors
  
  - Higher Love (2015) ... J.D. Salinger (voice) actor actors
  
  2014
- Grudge Match
  Louis 'Lightning' Conlon
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
  Rance Holloway
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2013
- Stand Up Guys
  Richard Hirsch
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Starring Sigmund Freud
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Argo
  Lester Siegel
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Thin Ice
  Gorvy Hauer
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- The Muppets
  Tour Guide
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- The Change-Up
  Mitch's Dad
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
  Herb Lee
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- City Island
  Michael Malakov
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- Marley & Me
  Arnie Klein
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Wisdom
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Get Smart
  The Chief
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Sunshine Cleaning
  Joe Lorkowski
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Rendition
  Senator Hawkins
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- Raising Flagg
  Flagg Purdy
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
  Bud Newman
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Crossroads
  Father Behnke
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Little Miss Sunshine
  Edwin Hoover
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Firewall
  Arlin Forester
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Eros
  Dr. Pearl / Hal
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- Noel
  Artie
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself
  Sam Drebben
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2003
- The Pentagon Papers
  Harry Rowen
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2003
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show
  
  - The cast of "Little Miss Sunshine" (2007) ... Self actor actors
  
  2003
- Thirteen Conversations About One Thing
  Gene
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2001
- America's Sweethearts
  Wellness Guide
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2001
- Varian's War
  Freier
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2001
- Blood Money
  Willy 'the Hammer' Canzaro
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- Magicians
  Milo
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- Slums of Beverly Hills
  Murray Samuel Abromowitz
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1998
- Will & Grace
  
  - It's a Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad World (2005) ... Martin Adler actor actors
  
  1998
- Four Days in September
  Charles Burke Elbrick
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1997
- Gattaca
  Detective Hugo
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1997
- Grosse Pointe Blank
  Dr. Oatman
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1997
- The View
  
  - Episode 74 (2013) ... Self actor actors
  
  1997
- Mother Night
  George Kraft
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1996
- Heck's Way Home
  Dogcatcher
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1996
- Steal Big Steal Little
  Lou Perilli
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1995
- The Jerky Boys
  Ernie Lazarro
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1995
- Doomsday Gun
  Yossi
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1994
- North
  Judge Buckle
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1994
- Chicago Hope
  
  - The Son Also Rises (1997) ... Zoltan Karpathein actor actors
  
  1994
- So I Married an Axe Murderer
  Tony's Boss (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1993
- Taking the Heat
  Tommy Canard
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1993
- Indian Summer
  Unca Lou Handler
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1993
- Cooperstown
  Harry Willette
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1993
- Glengarry Glen Ross
  George Aaronow
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- The Rocketeer
  A. 'Peevy' Peabody
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1991
- The Making of Edward Scissorhands
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- Havana
  Joe Volpi
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- Edward Scissorhands
  Bill
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- Coupe de Ville
  Fred Libner
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- Necessary Parties
  Archie Corelli
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1988
- Escape from Sobibor
  Leon Feldhendler
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1987
- Big Trouble
  Leonard Hoffman
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1986
- A Deadly Business
  Harold Kaufman
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1986
- Bad Medicine
  Dr. Ramon Madera
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- The Emperor's New Clothes
  Bo
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- Joshua Then and Now
  Reuben
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- The Fourth Wise Man
  Orontes
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- A Matter of Principle
  Flagg Purdy
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1984
- The Last Unicorn
  Schmendrick (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1982
- Faerie Tale Theatre
  
  - The Emperor's New Clothes (1985) ... Bo actor actors
  
  1982
- St. Elsewhere
  
  - Newheart (1983) ... Jerry Singleton actor actors
  
  - Lust Et Veritas (1983) ... Jerry Singleton actor actors
  
  - Ties That Bind (1983) ... Jerry Singleton actor actors
  
  1982
- Chu Chu and the Philly Flash
  Flash
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1981
- Full Moon High
  Dr. Brand
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1981
- Improper Channels
  Jeffery Martley
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1981
- Simon
  Simon Mendelssohn
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1980
- The Magician of Lublin
  Yasha Mazur
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- The In-Laws
  Sheldon S. Kompett D.D.S.
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1979
- The Defection of Simas Kudirka
  Simas Kudirka
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1978
- The Other Side of Hell
  Frank Dole
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1978
- Fire Sale
  Ezra Fikus
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1977
- The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
  Dr. Sigmund Freud
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1976
- The Muppet Show
  
  - Alan Arkin (1980) ... Self - Special Guest Star actor actors
  
  1976
- Hearts of the West
  Bert Kessler
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1975
- Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins
  Rafferty
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1975
- Freebie and the Bean
  Bean
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1974
- It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy
  (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1974
- The Trouble With People
  Husband (Story 5)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1972
- Last of the Red Hot Lovers
  Barney Cashman
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1972
- Deadhead Miles
  Cooper
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1972
- Little Murders
  Lt. Practice
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1971
- Catch-22
  Capt. John Yossarian
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1970
- The Monitors
  Man in Monitors Commercial
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1969
- Popi
  Abraham
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1969
- The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
  John Singer
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1968
- Inspector Clouseau
  Insp. Jacques Clouseau
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1968
- The Love Song of Barney Kempinski
  Barney Kempinski
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1968
- The Dick Cavett Show
  
  - Harry Chapin, Alan Arkin, John Simon, Dick Gregory (1972) ... Self - Guest actor actors
  
  1968
- Wait Until Dark
  Roat / Roat Jr. / Roat Sr.
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1967
- Woman Times Seven
  Fred
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1967
- The Last Mohican
  Mr. Ableman
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1966
- The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!
  Lt. Rozanov
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1966
- That's Me
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1963
- The Mike Douglas Show
  
  - Episode 103 (1979) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 25 (1977) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 209 (1977) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 75 (1977) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Episode 74 (1974) ... Self actor actors
  
  1961
- The Oscars
  
  - 80th Academy Awards (2008) ... Self actor actors
  
  1953
- What's My Line?
  
  - Episode 755 (1965) ... Self - Mystery Guest actor actors
  
  1950
- Golden Globe Awards
  
  - The 70th Golden Globe Awards (2013) ... Self - Nominee actor actors
  
  1944
production (2 credits)
- Thin Ice
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2012
- The In-Laws
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1979
sound (1 credits)
- That's Me
  
  music
  
  sound
  
  1963