Born Alan Wolf Arkin in New York City; educated at Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles State College, and Bennington College (drama). Lead singer for the 1950s group The Tarriers and founding member of Chicago's Second City improv troupe. Highly versatile performer from the stage who has turned in a bevy of superlative comic performances since making his feature debut as a stranded Soviet submariner afloat in the USA in THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING! THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING! (1966). Arkin proved his dramatic skills as the sensitive, deaf-mute protagonist of THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER (1968) and has since been in top form as Capt. John Yossarian, Bombardier, in Mike Nichols' CATCH-22 (1970), as Sigmund Freud in THE SEVEN PERCENT SOLUTION (1976), opposite Peter Falk in THE IN-LAWS (1979), and as the title character of the darkly humorous SIMON (1980). Since then, some of his notable screen credits include CHU CHU AND THE PHILLY FLASH (1981), EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and HAVANA (both 1990), THE ROCKETEER (1991), GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (1992), NORTH (1994), MOTHER NIGHT (1996), GROSSE POINTE BLANK and GATTACA (both 1997), JAKOB THE LIAR (1999), AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS and THIRTEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONE THING (both 2001), COUNTING SHEEP (2002), EROS, THE NOVICE and NOEL (all 2004), FIREWALL, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (Academy Award), THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE and RAISING FLAGG (all 2006), RENDITION (2007), and SUNSHINE CLEANING and GET SMART (both 2008). In 2001-02, he had a recurring role on the cable TV series "100 Centre Street." After writing and directing the short films T.G.I.F. (1967) and PEOPLE SOUP (1969), Arkin made his feature directorial debut with LITTLE MURDERS (1971), a competent adaptation of Jules Feiffer's stage hit, which he also directed on Broadway. He has also directed FIRE SALE (1977), SAMUEL BECKETT IS COMING SOON (1993) and ARIGO (2000). Arkin was married to Jeremy Yaffe from 1955 until their divorce in 1960, and they have two sons -- actors Adam Arkin (b. 1957) and Matthew Arkin. In 1964, Arkin married actress Barbara Dana. Their son, Anthony Arkin (b. 1967), is also an actor.  Nominated for Actor 1966: THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING! THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING!  Nominated for Actor 1968: THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER  Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 2006: LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 3 nominations, 1 Award