# Alan Arkin has passed {June 29, 2023} **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [June 30, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352 "2023-06-30T15:33:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/1 "2023-06-30T15:33:53Z")
He was 89. > **[Alan Arkin, Oscar-winning actor with a wry charm, dies at 89](https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/06/30/alan-arkin-dead/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWJpZCI6Ijg0MzMxNTYiLCJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjg4MDk3NjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNjg5MzkzNTk5LCJpYXQiOjE2ODgwOTc2MDAsImp0aSI6IjMyOGM4OGE2LWZiOGEtNDEzYS1hMDQyLTkwMzAwMzFkNDdmZCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9vYml0dWFyaWVzLzIwMjMvMDYvMzAvYWxhbi1hcmtpbi1kZWFkLyJ9.DJ5QcG3ZPP1_-MmfWiDEf-HWSXuCV-Ah39csgLv6rgY&itid=gfta)** > > The four-time Oscar nominee appeared in movies including “Catch-22,” “Argo” and “Little Miss Sunshine,” which earned him the best supporting actor prize. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/2 "2023-06-30T15:37:02Z")
“Serpentine!” R.I.P. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/3 "2023-06-30T15:37:10Z")
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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kominsky_Method)_. Rest in peace, sir. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/4 "2023-06-30T15:37:15Z")
Serpentine Shel! Serpentine! ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/5 "2023-06-30T15:42:41Z")
He was a great one. I loved his performances whenever I caught them. His acting in Argo was delicious. “Argo fuck yourself!!” RIP. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/6 "2023-06-30T15:48:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/7 "2023-06-30T15:49:13Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > So many great movies. One of us always says, ‘Oh! It’s Alan Arkin!’ when he pops up in a film. We liked him. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/8 "2023-06-30T15:55:38Z")
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.** ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/9 "2023-06-30T15:55:40Z")
He should have won an Oscar in 1967 for _Wait Until Dark_. What a great villain! [![](https://www.filmbuffonline.com/FBOLNewsreel/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/wait-until-dark-arkin.jpg) ](https://www.filmbuffonline.com/FBOLNewsreel/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/wait-until-dark-arkin.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/10 "2023-06-30T15:57:51Z")
Been a fan of his since I saw _Alvin_ on cable. Apparently I’m in the minority of folks who liked that movie, though. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/11 "2023-06-30T16:07:31Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/12 "2023-06-30T16:10:13Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/13 "2023-06-30T16:11:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/14 "2023-06-30T16:25:23Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/15 "2023-06-30T17:01:08Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > He should have won an Oscar in 1967 for _Wait Until Dark_. What a great villain! At the time he said, “You don’t get nominated for being mean to Audrey Hepburn!” ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/16 "2023-06-30T17:13:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/17 "2023-06-30T17:25:59Z")
[IMDb lists 31 references to ‘Serpentine’ in other movies and TV shows.](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079336/movieconnections/#referenced_in) ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/18 "2023-06-30T17:50:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/19 "2023-06-30T17:53:27Z")
🤦‍♂️ Good god, my mind is going. It’s _Simon_, not _Alvin_. “I’m a toaster!” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352/20 "2023-06-30T17:56:06Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alan-arkin-has-passed-june-29-2023/986352.md?page=2)