Charles Grodin has passed away at the age of 86. Best known for starring in popular films and his comedic acting chops, Grodin starred in The Heartbreak Kid, Beethoven, and Midnight Run during his acting career. His family stated that the cause of death was due to bone marrow cancer and that he passed away in his home in Wilton, Connecticut. Grodin leaves behind two children, a daughter named Marion from his first marriage to Julie Ferguson and a son named Nicholas from his second marriage to Elissa Durwood.
Grodin, who also performed as a comedian, was also a talk show favorite, appearing on The Tonight Show 36 times with Johnny Carson and had 17 Late Night appearances on David Letterman. The actor also performed on Broadway having performed in Tchin-Tchin and Absence of a Cello in the early 1960s. He would later direct 1968’s Lovers and Other Strangers, 1974’s Thieves, and Unexpected Guests.
After retiring from acting in the 90s, Grodin hosted a talk show on CNBC and became a political commentator for 60 Minutes II. He returned to acting in the past decade, having appeared in five episodes of Louie in a recurring role and most recently portrayed Carl J. Shapiro in ABC’s miniseries Madoff.
Grodin won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1978 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special on The Paul Simon Special, Valladolid International Film Festival’s Best Actor award for Midnight Run, and received the American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor – Film in 1993 for his role in Dave.
ComingSoon sends our condolences to Grodin’s friends and family during this difficult time.
