Charles Grodin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charles Grodin
Grodin in 2013
Born	Charles Sidney Grodin (1935-04-21)April 21, 1935 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	May 18, 2021(2021-05-18) (aged 86) Wilton, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, author, comedian
Years active	1954–2017
Known for	The Heartbreak Kid (1972) Midnight Run (1988) King Kong (1976) Beethoven (1992)
Spouse(s)	Julie Ferguson (divorced) Elissa Durwood (m. 1983)
Children	2

Charles Sidney Grodin (April 21, 1935 – May 18, 2021) was a talented American actor, comedian, and author. He was also a television talk show host. Grodin was famous for his calm, serious acting style, often playing characters who were the "straight man" in comedies. This means he played the normal person reacting to funny situations.

He started acting in the 1960s, appearing in TV shows like The Virginian. He had a small but important role in the movie Rosemary's Baby in 1968. Later, he became well-known for his lead role in The Heartbreak Kid (1972). He also had big roles in movies like King Kong (1976) and Heaven Can Wait (1978).

Charles Grodin was a familiar face in many Hollywood comedies. These included The Great Muppet Caper (1981), where he played a jewel thief. He also starred in the action-comedy Midnight Run (1988) with Robert De Niro. Kids especially remember him as George Newton, the dad in the popular family movie Beethoven (1992). He often appeared on famous talk shows like The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman.

In the mid-1990s, Grodin took a break from acting. He wrote books about his life and became a talk show host on CNBC. He also worked as a political commentator for 60 Minutes II. He returned to acting in the 2010s, appearing in TV shows like Louie and films like While We're Young (2014).

Grodin won several awards during his career. He received an Emmy Award in 1978 for the Paul Simon Special. He also won Best Actor at the 1988 Valladolid International Film Festival for Midnight Run. For his role in Dave (1993), he won the American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor.

Early life and education

Charles Grodin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 21, 1935. His parents, Theodore and Lena, were from an Orthodox Jewish family. His father owned a store that sold supplies, and his mother helped with the business. Charles had an older brother named Jack.

He was a very good student and graduated at the top of his class from Peabody High School. He was even elected class president every year. He went to the University of Miami for a while. However, he left college early to follow his dream of becoming an actor. He studied acting in New York City with famous teachers like Uta Hagen.

Acting career highlights

Starting out in the 1950s and 1960s

Charles Grodin's very first movie role was a small, uncredited part in Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in 1954. He made his first appearance on Broadway in a play called Tchin-Tchin. In the 1960s, he also worked as an assistant director and appeared in several TV series.

A notable early role was in the 1968 horror film Rosemary's Baby, where he played an obstetrician (a doctor who delivers babies). He also co-wrote and directed some plays on Broadway. He even directed a TV special for the music duo Simon and Garfunkel in 1969. Interestingly, he turned down the main role in the famous movie The Graduate, which later made Dustin Hoffman a big star.

Becoming a comedy star in the 1970s and 1980s

After a supporting role in the 1970 comedy Catch-22, Grodin became widely known for his comedic acting. His big breakthrough was playing the lead in the 1972 film The Heartbreak Kid. Throughout the 1970s, he appeared in many films, including the 1976 version of King Kong and the popular comedy Heaven Can Wait (1978). He also wrote the screenplay for and starred in 11 Harrowhouse (1974).

In 1981, he joined the beloved Muppets in The Great Muppet Caper, playing Nicky Holiday, a jewel thief who falls for Miss Piggy. He also starred with Lily Tomlin in The Incredible Shrinking Woman. In the 1980s, he was in Seems Like Old Times with Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn. A very popular role was in the 1988 comedy Midnight Run, where he played a health-conscious accountant alongside Robert De Niro.

Grodin was often cast as serious, somewhat awkward white-collar professionals in his 1980s movies. However, he also played a tricky CIA agent in Ishtar. Critics often praised his unique acting style, describing it as "inspired spinelessness" and a "sly scene-stealer." He was known for his subtle, understated comedy, similar to Bob Newhart.

He was also a frequent guest on TV talk shows. In 1977, he hosted Saturday Night Live and played a character who pretended to forget the show was live. His appearances on The Tonight Show and Late Night With David Letterman were often funny because he would act confrontational or mock-angry. Many viewers didn't realize he was playing a character!

Family films and talk show host in the 1990s and 2000s

Grodin at BookExpo 2007 in New York City, 2007

In 1992, Grodin's career took a new direction when he starred as George Newton, the dad in the family comedy Beethoven. The movie was a huge success, and he played the role again in the sequel, Beethoven's 2nd (1993). He also appeared in the acclaimed comedy Dave and the much-delayed film Clifford (1994) with Martin Short.

From 1995 to 1999, Grodin hosted his own talk show called The Charles Grodin Show. It started on CNBC and later moved to MSNBC. From 2000 to 2003, he worked as a political commentator for 60 Minutes II. He also wrote a play and provided commentaries for radio stations. After a 12-year break from movies, he returned to acting in the 2006 comedy The Ex.

Return to acting in the 2010s

In the 2010s, Grodin started acting more often. He made guest appearances on TV shows like Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. He also had supporting roles in films such as The Humbling (2014) and While We're Young (2015). In While We're Young, he played a famous documentary filmmaker.

In 2015, Grodin had a recurring role as Dr. Bigelow in the TV show Louie. He played a wise doctor and mentor to the main character. His final movie role was in An Imperfect Murder: The Private Life of a Modern Woman in 2017. Besides acting, Charles Grodin was also a successful author and published his last book in 2013.

Personal life

Charles Grodin had two children. His daughter, Marion, is a comedian, and she is from his first marriage to Julie Ferguson. His son, Nicholas, is from his marriage to Elissa Durwood. For a time in the 2000s, Grodin stepped away from show business. He wanted to be a stay-at-home dad and spend more time with his children.

Death

Charles Grodin passed away from multiple myeloma, a type of cancer, at his home in Wilton, Connecticut, on May 18, 2021. He was 86 years old.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Charles Grodin para niños