The New York Times reports that actor Charles Grodin, who probably appeared in a movie you love (The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run, The Great Muppet Caper, Beethoven), died from bone marrow cancer on Tuesday. He was 86 years old.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Grodin made his film debut in Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It was an uncredited part, but before long, he was a classic “that guy!” actor, someone who maybe wasn’t the leading man, but you were always happy to see him. Outside of the four films listed above, Grodin also appeared in Rosemary’s Baby, Heaven Can Wait, Ishtar, So I Married an Axe Murderer, and Clifford, a demented comedy that you should absolutely watch.
Grodin was also a late-night fixture, “making 36 appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and 17 on Late Night With David Letterman,” according to the Times. He also had his own late-night show. Here he is being effortlessly charismatic.
(Via the New York Times)