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Alan Arkin

Alan Arkin has long been recognized as an actor of great talent and versatility on stage, screen and television. He won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, the 2007 BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor, the 2007 Best Motion Picture Cast Performance by the SAG Awards and the 2007 Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in Little Miss Sunshine. Alan recently completed filming The Change Up directed by David Dobkin playing Ryan Reynolds' father for Universal Pictures as well as The Muppets for Disney Studios. Born in N.Y., Alan launched his career with Chicago's improvisational revue, "Second City." This led to his first part on Broadway, the lead in Carl Reiner's play Enter Laughing, for which he won a Tony Award. The following year he appeared again on Broadway in Murray Schisgal's hit, LUV. In 1998, he directed, starred and co-wrote with Elaine May, the hit production of Power Plays at the Promenade Theatre. Alan began directing for the stage with the much acclaimed Eh?, starring Dustin Hoffman, at the Circle in the Square. He then won an Obie for directing Jules Feiffer's Little Murders, followed by Feiffer's The White House Murder Case, all three of which kept the Circle in the Square tied up for several years. These productions were followed by The Sunshine Boys, on Broadway, Rubbers and Yanks Three, at The American Place Theater, Joan of Lorraine, at the Hartman in Stamford, The Sorrows of Stephen, at the Burt Reynolds Theatre, starring his son, Adam, and Room Service, at the Roundabout in New York. Alan's first feature, The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming, earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, as well as an Oscar nomination. He received a second Oscar nomination, and the New York Critic's Award, for his performance in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. A second New York Critic's Award followed for his role in Hearts of the West. His other films have included City Island; Sunshine Cleaning; The Private Lives of Pippa Lee; Thirteen Conversations About One Thing; Slums of Beverly Hills; , Grosse Pointe Blank; Glengary Glenn Ross; Jakob the Liar; Gattaca; America's Sweethearts; Edward Scissorhands; Little Murders (which he also directed); Catch 22; The In-Laws; Havanna; Four Days in September; Mother Night; Joshua Then and Now; The Novice; Noel and Steal Big Steal Little. His film, The Convincer, directed by Jill Sprecher, will premiere in Sundance 2011. He has written and directed two short films, T.G.I.F. and People Soup. The first opened the New York Film Festival, and the latter received an Oscar nomination for Best Short Subject. Alan starred in the highly acclaimed A&E series 100 Centre Street, written and directed by Sidney Lumet. Other television appearances include his Emmy-nominated performances in Pentagon Papers for the FX network and Escape From Sobibor. He guest starred as the father of his real-life son, Adam Arkin, on Chicago Hope, which earned him yet another Emmy nomination and he also appeared in Showtime’s Varian’s War. Alan directed the television adaptation of the Broadway play Twigs, with Carol Burnett, and The Visitor, with Jeff Daniels, Swoozie Kurtz and Julie Haggerty, which won multiple international awards. When not occupied as an actor or director, Arkin is likely to devote his time to music or writing. He has written several books including eight children's books, the latest children’s book entitled Tony's Hard Work Day. An earlier work, The Lemming Condition, has sold steadily for thirty years, and was honored by The Book Sellers of America by being placed in the White House Library. In March 2011 to unanimous rave reviews Alan released his memoir entitled "An Improvised Life," published by DaCapo Press.