Midnight Run actor Charles Grodin dies at age 86 of bone marrow cancer at his home in Connecticut after starring in a string of hits including Seems Like Old Times and Beethoven
- Hollywood deadpan comedian Charles Grodin has died at the age of 86
- The character actor passed away at his home in Wilton, Connecticut on Tuesday
- The cause of death was bone marrow cancer, his son Nicholas told NYT
- The Pennsylvania native was best known for his 1988 film Midnight Run with Robert De Niro
- And he was also in the 1980 comedy Seems Like Old Times with Goldie Hawn
- Grodin also played the put-upon father in the two Beethoven films
- He was known for his deadpan comedy that made him a solid sidekick in Hollywood movies and also helped him score roles in theater
Hollywood staple Charles Grodin has died at the age of 86.
The character actor passed away at his home in Wilton, Connecticut on Tuesday. The cause of death was bone marrow cancer, his son Nicholas told The New York Times.
The Pennsylvania native was best known for his 1988 film Midnight Run with Robert De Niro and the 1980 comedy Seems Like Old Times with Goldie Hawn.
He was known for his deadpan comedy style that made him a solid sidekick in Hollywood movies and also helped him score roles in plays such as Broadway’s Same Time Next Year.
Sad loss: Hollywood staple Charles Grodin has died at the age of 86. The character actor passed away at his home in Wilton, Connecticut on Tuesday. Seen in 2006
Big hit: The Pennsylvania native was best known for his 1988 film Midnight Run with Robert De Niro. He was the accountant who stole from the mafia next to De Niro’s tough talking bounty hunter
The actor left University Of Miami to get his start in theater where his greatest success was Same Time Next Year with Ellen Burstyn.
Then he moved to Los Angeles to take a stab at Hollywood films: he got his start in a small role as a drummer boy in 20,00 Leagues Under the Sea in 1954.
He landed his first big part in the TV show The Marrieds in which he played Matt Crane Stevens.
After several guest starring roles on shows like The Felony Squad, Iron Horse, NYPD and The Big Valley, he secured a role as Dr Hill in the 1968 thriller Rosemary’s Baby from Roman Polanski that starred Mia Farrow.
A classic: He stood out more in the 1972 movie The Heartbreak Kid where he played Lenny Cantrow opposite Cybill Shepherd. The film was about a newlywed man on his honeymoon who has second thoughts about his marriage and falls for a different woman
Hot pairing: In 1979 he starred with Charlie’s Angels vet Farrah Fawcett in the film Sunburn from director Richard Sarafian Hemdale
He stood out more in the 1972 movie The Heartbreak Kid where he played Lenny Cantrow opposite Cybill Shepherd. The film was about a newlywed man on his honeymoon who has second thoughts about his marriage to his wife (played by Jeannie Berlin) and falls for a beautiful blonde (Shepherd).
That led to a role as Fred Wilson in 1976’s mega hit King Kong with Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange.
In 1978 he had a supporting role in the big-budget Heaven Can Wait with Warren Beatty.
The following year Charles starred with Charlie’s Angels vet Farrah Fawcett in the film Sunburn from director Richard Sarafian Hemdale.
Dog-gone good: And he landed a blockbuster in 1992 with Beethoven about an unruly dog that wreaks havoc on a family living in suburbia. That film got a sequel in 1993. Seen with Christopher Castile, Sarah Rose Karr, Bonnie Hunt, Nicholle Tom
Another one: A look at the sequel Beethoven’s 2nd from 1993. The director was Rod Daniel
And in 1980, he was the stuffed suit next to to Chevy Chase’s smooth talker in the film Seems Like Old Times which had as its star Hawn. The film was a box office dynamo.
Next came 1981’s The Incredible Shrinking Woman and The Great Muppet Caper.
In 1986 he tried his hand at TV again with Fresno in which he played Cane Kensington.
Smart trio: And in 1980, he was the stuffed suit next to to Chevy Chase’s smooth talker in the film Seems Like Old Times which had as its star Goldie Hawn. The film was a box office dynamo
He went back to movies in 1987 with the massive flop Ishtar with Beatty; he played Jim Harrison.
But one of his biggest hits came just a year later with Midnight Run. He was the accountant who stole from the mafia next to De Niro’s tough-talking bounty hunter.
And he landed a blockbuster in 1992 with Beethoven about an unruly dog that wreaks havoc on a family living in suburbia. That film got a sequel in 1993.
Hilarious pairing: One of his highlights toward the end of his career was working with Ben Stiller on the comedy While We’re Young in 2014
He also stood out for his roles in Clifford and The Humbling. Other TV shows included Louise and Madoff. And he even took a stab at being a talk show host in the Nineties.
One of his highlights toward the end of his career was working with Ben Stiller on the comedy While We’re Young in 2014.
His last role was in the 2017 film An Imperfect Murder.
With a friend: Charles with actress Naomi Watts at the Captain Phillips film premiere in New York in 2013