Alan Arkin dead: Oscar-winning Little Miss Sunshine actor dies aged 89

Actor Alan Arkin, who won an Oscar for his turn in movie Little Miss Sunshine, has died aged 89, his family have confirmed.

“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,” his sons Adam, Matthew and Anthony wrote in a statement to People magazine.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Arkin was known for projecting a characteristically dry wit but could play tragedy with equal efficacy.

His career spanned seven decades and saw him appear in more than 100 movies including Catch-22 (1970), Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Glengarry Glen Ross (1992).

Arkin made his Broadway debut in 1961 in From the Second City and followed it up with a Tony-winning performance in 1963’s Enter Laughing.

He won his Oscar for his supporting performance in indie comedy Little Miss Sunshine as the foul-mouthed, heroin-snorting grandfather Edwin back in 2007.

Five years later another nomination followewd for his punchy and profane turn in Ben Affleck’s best picture winner Argo.

He also picked up two earlier nominations in his film career, for The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming in 1967 and for The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter in 1969.

2019 saw him honoured with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In recent years, Arkin received back-to-back Primetime Emmy Award nominations in outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for his performance in the Netflix series The Kominsky Method, in which he starred alongside Michael Douglas. He received four additional Emmy nominations (across other categories) earlier in his career.

Arkin is survived by his wife Suzanne Newlander, whom he married in 1996, and three children: sons Adam Arkin and Matthew Arkin, whom he shared with first wife Jeremy Yaffe, and Anthony Dana Arkin, whom he shared with second wife Dana.

His son, Adam, 66, is also a well-known actor and director who has starred on TV hits including Chicago Hope, 8 Simple Rules and Sons of Anarchy.