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
Actor Alan Arkin — who wowed audiences in “Little Miss Sunshine” and “Glengarry Glen Ross” — has died.
He was 89.
Fellow actor Jason Alexander first shared the news on Twitter, calling the actor a “wonderful, original voice for comedy.”
“On the few occasions I was in his presence, a kind and generous soul,” the “Seinfeld” star tweeted. “I learned so much from watching him. And the laughs I got from his glorious work seem endless. May he rest well.”
The Brooklyn-born actor’s cause of death has not been revealed but his sons Adam, Matthew and Anthony confirmed his passing to People.
“Our father was a uniquely talented force of nature, both as an artist and a man,” the Arkins announced in a joint statement. “A loving husband, father, grand and great grandfather, he was adored and will be deeply missed.”
After spending most of his youth in New York, Arkin moved to Los Angeles with his family at 11 after his father landed a job teaching in the LA school system — but struggled to keep employment as a member of the Communist Party during the height of the Red Scare.
After graduating from Franklin High School in 1951, the “Argo” star went on to pursue a dream he had since the age of five of being an actor.
After studying theater at various colleges, Arkin dropped out in 1955 to join the folk music group “The Tarriers” — with the group even landing a top-five hit with “The Banana Boat Song” in 1957.
Arkin made his uncreated film debut in the 1957 film “Calypso Heat Wave” and continued to record several albums with the band before his departure in 1959.
Following his departure from music, the struggling actor went back to the theater, eventually landing the starring role in the 1964 Broadway play “Luv,” which led to him being offered the role in his breakout film “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming” in 1966 — which earned the then up-and-coming actor his first Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.
After his childhood dream of becoming an actor was fulfilled and solidified in the industry, Arkin was a prominent face at the box office and in living rooms worldwide for the next three decades.
The tenured actor has been nominated for four Academy Awards, six prime time Emmys, and two Tony awards.
In 2006, Arkin received an Oscar and BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Little Miss Sunshine.”