Little Miss Sunshine's Alan Arkin dead as he's remembered as a 'talented force'

30 June 2023 , 14:00

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Actor Alan Arkin has died at the age of 89, it has been confirmed

Hollywood icon Alan Arkin, who was known and loved for starring in Little Miss Sunshine, has died at the age of 89, it has been revealed.

His three beloved sons Adam, Matthew and Anthony confirmed his death in a joint statement to People magazine today.

The family penned the touching statement which read: "Our 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."

Alan starred in comedy-drama Little Miss Sunshine back in the mid-noughties, with him acting alongside Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, and Abigail Breslin.

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Alan is known for starring in 2006 movie Little Miss Sunshine

In the movie he played the role of a grumpy grandfather who had a potty mouth and took drugs.

The role is what won him the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

When he received the coveted Academy Award for the role in 2007, he touchingly said: "More than anything, I'm deeply moved by the open-hearted appreciation our small film has received, which in these fragmented times speaks so openly of the possibility of innocence, growth, and connection."

The actor was married three times, divorced twice and had three children

The New York-born actor and director had graced both stage and screen throughout his glowing career, with his first Broadway role being in 1961.

Picking up a selection of gongs throughout his career, which spanned eight decades, Alan received an Academy Award, a BAFTA, Golden Globe and a Tony Award.

As well as his role in the fan-favourite comedy-drama in which he starred, his career was full to the brim with him having starred in a number of other films such as Bad Medicine, Indian Summer and Picture Window.

His love of acting began when he was only 10 when he started taking acting lessons.

Gaining scholarships at a number of drama academies to study and grow, he then attended Los Angeles State College from 1951 to 1953.

Throughout his life he was married three times and divorced twice.

In 1955 he married Jeremy Yaffe, with the couple welcoming sons Adam and Matthew before splitting in 1961.

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Barbara Dana was Alan's wife from 1964 until 1994, with her even appearing alongside him in episodes of Sesame Street in the 1970s. In 1967 the couple welcomed a son named Anthony.

Two years after they parted ways in 1996, Alan married Suzanne Newlander who was a psychotherapist.

Reports say that the couple remained together until Alan's sad passing this month.

Mollie Quirk