Last week, we lost one of the greats: Alan Arkin, whose acting career spanned seven decades. He was 89 years old. The beloved comedian has been nominated for four Oscars and won once, for the smash hit in 2006 Little Miss Sun. After his death, the actress who played his granddaughter paid him a moving tribute.
“Alan Arkin was one of the nicest, sweetest, most hilarious actors I’ve ever worked with,” said Abigail Breslin, who was 10 when the film was released. People. “We may not have been linked in real life but he will always be a grandfather in my heart, I send my deepest condolences to his wife Suzanne and his family.”
In Little Miss Sun, Breslin played a tirelessly hopeful young girl aspiring to be the beauty queen. After qualifying for a deeply dodgy and uncomfortable beauty pageant, the dysfunctional family, including Arkin’s heroin-snorting grandparents, pile into their rickety Volkswagen van to travel from New York. Mexico to California. The film is comically cynical about many things, but Breslin and Arkin share many touching (but not sentimental) scenes. Breslin was also nominated for an Oscar.
Over his long career, Arkin has appeared in all kinds of beloved movies, spanning all genres. He did dramas like The heart is a lonely hunter (his second Oscar nominee) and Glengarry Glen Ross. He did comedies, like Catch-22 And The in-laws And Gros Pointe Blank. Did you know that he has already played Inspector Clouseau? With James Caan, he starred in Freebie and the bean, often considered the first cop buddy comedy. He made thrillers like Wait until nightfall and the award for best film Argo. One of his best is the one he directed: 1971 Little Murdersin which he has an unforgettable scene.
Arkin will be missed.
(Via People)