'Little Miss Sunshine' Actor Alan Arkin Dies at 89

The family of Academy Award-winning actor Alan Arkin has announced his death Friday at the age of 89. Arkin was known for his Oscar-winning role as Edwin Hoover in the 2006 film 'Little Miss Sunshine'.

In a statement, his sons Adam, Matthew, and Anthony Arkin said their father was "a uniquely talented force of nature" both as an artist and a man. "A loving husband, father, grand and great grandfather, he was adored and will be deeply missed," the statement added.

He was survived by his wife Suzanne Newlander, his three sons, four grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

Who was Alan Arkin?

Born in 1934 in Brooklyn to Russian-German immigrant parents, his family moved to Los Angeles as a child.

He attended Bennington College but left to form the music group The Tarriers where he was the vocalist and guitarist. While the band did not last long, it made a hit song in 1957 with "The Banana Boat Song".

Arkin then went on to become a founding member of the Second City improvisational troupe. He also continued to record music with his group called The Babysitter, where they produced several children's albums.

Arkin's Acting Career

While music sustained him during the 1950s, it was his acting career that he was known for.

He started in theater in the 1963 play "Enter Laughing", where he was awarded a Tony. He also won the Drama Desk award for directing the 1968 play "Little Murders", which he also adapted for cinema.

Arkin also directed the original Broadway version of Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys," which ran for more than 500 performances.

In his transition to film, he became one of a few actors to be Oscar-nominated for their first starring role when he played Rozanov in the 1966 war comedy "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming."

Other Oscar nominations included his performances for "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" (1967), and "Argo" (2012).

He also appeared in countless films over his long acting career.

Arkin was also nominated for Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards for his comedic role in the Netflix series "The Kominsky Method."