A founding member of the folk group The Tarriers, he co-wrote the song "The Banana Boat Song" (also known as "Day-o"), which later became a mega-hit for Harry Belafonte.
Although he usually plays quirky, fatherly types these days, back in the '60s and '70s he was known as an edgy, intense actor. His darkest role is almost certainly Harry Roat in Wait Until Dark (1967), who was a vicious but intelligent psychopath who terrifies a seemingly defenseless blind woman (played by Audrey Hepburn).
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. pg. 24-25. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387.
Disliked filming the scene in Wait Until Dark (1967) where his character Harry Roat Jr terrorizes Suzy Hendrix played by Audrey Hepburn.
Disowned his involvement in the film Freebie and the Bean (1974), saying he had only accepted the role because, "I needed the bread.".
Father-in-law of Phyllis Lyons and Amelia Campbell.
Founding member, Second City improv troupe.
Grandfather of son Adam Arkin's daughter Molly.
He is also a teacher, leading workshops in improvisation. Students find him warm, insightful, and very, very funny.
He was originally slated to play Saul Bloom in Steven Soderbergh's remake of Ocean's Eleven (2001); after dropping out of the production, he was replaced by Carl Reiner. Arkin won a 1963 Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Play as well as a Theatre World Award playing a character based on Carl Reiner in the Broadway production of Reiner's autobiographical novel Enter Laughing (1967).
In the foreword for the Second City book, Arkin revealed that he was reluctant to head to Chicago. He says that his first paying job as an actor was in St. Louis, where he ran into a fellow who was starting up the Second City theater troupe in Chicago, and said that if Arkin were ever to come to Chicago, he would hire him. Arkin halfheartedly agreed, thinking that it was just a joke, and headed back to New York for another year as a struggling actor. Arkin called the man and asked if a position was still open. The man confirmed it and Arkin headed to Chicago, thinking that his life was over. But when he joined Second City, he said that he realized he was with a group of people who fostered the kind of acting that he was involved in, and protected him from the fear of the world.
Lives in New Mexico with his wife, Suzanne Newlander Arkin.
One of only six actors to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his first screen appearance. The other five actors are: Orson Welles, Lawrence Tibbett, James Dean, Paul Muni and Montgomery Clift.
Two of his movies, Popi (1969) and Freebie and the Bean (1974), were later adapted into television series starring Hector Elizondo in the roles Arkin brought to the screen. Elizondo also co-starred in the television series "Chicago Hope" (1994) with Arkin's son, Adam Arkin.
Was cast in the title role of Inspector Clouseau (1968) after Peter Sellers declined to reprise the role a third time. It was the last Clouseau film until Sellers returned to the role in The Return of the Pink Panther (1975).
Won Broadway's 1963 Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Play for Enter Laughing (1967), for which he also won a Theatre World Award. Ten years later, he was nominated for a 1973 Tony Award as Best Director (Dramatic) for The Sunshine Boys (1975/I).
Wrote "The Lemming Condition," "Cassie Loves Beethoven" and "One Present for Flekman's."