He was 89.
“Serpentine!” R.I.P.
I wasn’t really aware of him until he was an older actor. He had impeccable comedic timing. Slums of Beverly Hills is one of my favorite movies ever. Really enjoyed him in The Kominsky Method.
Rest in peace, sir.
Serpentine Shel! Serpentine!
He was a great one. I loved his performances whenever I caught them.
His acting in Argo was delicious. “Argo fuck yourself!!”
RIP.
So many great movies. Little Miss Sunshine, Slums of Beverly Hills, Gattaca, The In-Laws, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, The Russians are Coming, and plenty more movies and TV performances. Sometimes the good die old. Goodnight Alan, sleep tight.
One of us always says, ‘Oh! It’s Alan Arkin!’ when he pops up in a film. We liked him.
I’m saddened by his passing but glad for his long and prolific career. He was a gifted and versatile actor who always seemed to fit perfectly into whatever role he landed, from comedy to drama. I always knew that if I saw his name in the cast, there would be something worthwhile about whatever I was about to watch. He was also in one of my favorite movies - which few other people seem to like - Catch-22.
He should have won an Oscar in 1967 for Wait Until Dark. What a great villain!
Been a fan of his since I saw Alvin on cable. Apparently I’m in the minority of folks who liked that movie, though.
Glad that I’m not the only one who immediately said serpentine to myself and smiled!
Sad that he’s died but glad that he was among us.
So many great roles.
In this and the “Russians are Coming” he showed how brilliant of an actor he was early. He was never bad, even if the movie wasn’t good.
He was one of my favorites.
I saw that movie in when it premiered in NYC in October, 1967. In particular I remember that on scene near the end, which I won’t spoiler. But I’ll say that I’ve never seen an entire audience jump out of their seats and scream in unison.
What an incredible career – 111 acting credits on IMDB. I particularly remember him from Four Days in September as the American ambassador to Brazil kidnapped by revolutionaries.
At the time he said, “You don’t get nominated for being mean to Audrey Hepburn!”
I dunno why I am surprised so many other people thought “Serpentine” as well.
Yes, not always great movies, but always good performances.
I do love The Return of Captain Invincible, a superhero musical spoof. Alan started off as a singer with a folk group called The Tarriers, so he sings well. And Christopher Lee being the villain didn’t hurt either.
He could be grating sometimes and his miscasting in the title role of Inspector Clouseau (1968) is a stain on his career. Nevertheless, I thought he was pretty good as Freud in The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976); certainly, a more entertaining historical impersonation than Monty Cliff’s.
I did not truly appreciate his talent until his comedic performance as the criminal father of James Woods in Joshua Then and Now (1985). A little seen, little remembered film – condensed from a much longer Canadian TV mini-series – Arkin steals every scene he’s in, offering perspectives on life, sex and the story of Job at once unconventional, profound and hilarious.
Good god, my mind is going. It’s Simon, not Alvin.
“I’m a toaster!”
The first time I saw Wait Until Dark, I was sitting on the floor in front of the TV. I swear I shot a foot straight up into the air at the big moment!
I saw The Russians Are Coming as soon as it came out. I immediately liked Arkin’s black naval uniform and copied as much of it as I could on Halloween.
RIP, Alan. You were always one of my favorite actors.