Charles Grodin
Charles Grodin was a multifaceted American actor, writer, and humanitarian, born on April 21, 1935, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to an Orthodox Jewish family. He began his career in theater and made notable early appearances in television before gaining fame with his role in Roman Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby" (1968). Grodin was recognized for his unique comedic style, particularly in films like "The Heartbreak Kid" (1972) and "Midnight Run" (1988), where he often underplayed his characters to deliver subtle humor. In addition to acting, Grodin was a talented writer and commentator, contributing to various platforms including "60 Minutes II" and publishing several books. He paused his acting career for 17 years to focus on raising his son, during which he also engaged in social justice work, advocating for issues such as wrongful imprisonment and drug law reform. Grodin's later work included roles in films and a return to television, showcasing his enduring talent until his passing on May 18, 2021, at the age of 86. Known for his curmudgeonly persona on talk shows, he used humor to address serious topics, leaving a lasting impact on both entertainment and social advocacy.
Charles Grodin
- Born: April 21, 1935
- Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Died: May 18, 2021
- Place of death: Wilton, Connecticut
Actor, writer, and activist
Beginning his career as an actor, Grodin excelled at directing, writing, and producing for film and the stage.
Areas of achievement: Entertainment; social issues
Early Life
Charles Grodin was born into an Orthodox Jewish family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 21, 1935. His father owned a wholesale goods store, and his mother was a volunteer who aided veterans with disabilities. Grodin was impeached as fifth-grade class president because he talked too much, and he was expelled from Hebrew school for asking too many questions. He credited these early rejections with making him tough enough to succeed in his future careers.
In high school, Grodin joined the drama club, even though he could not act in plays because he had to work at his father’s store. He decided then that acting was his future, and he dropped out of the University of Miami after one semester to pursue a career in the theater.
Grodin left Florida to study acting at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, which he disliked, and he departed for New York, where he studied with famed acting coaches Uta Hagen and Lee Strasberg. At the Actors Studio, Grodin refused to participate in many of the exercises, which he considered ridiculous. He did not like acting classes and found them mostly useless.
In 1956, Grodin debuted Off-Broadway in Don’t Destroy Me. This was followed by television roles on Armstrong Circle Theatre (1958), Have Gun, Will Travel (1960), and The Defenders (1962). In 1962, Grodin made his Broadway debut in Tchin-Tchin (1962), starring Anthony Quinn and Margaret Leighton, a well-received production.
Life’s Work
In 1964, Grodin appeared on Broadway in Absence of a Cello (1964) and in his first film, Sex and the College Girl (1964). Grodin continued to work in television, guest-starring on such shows as The Virginian, The Big Valley, and The FBI, among others. In 1967, Grodin was considered for the role of Benjamin Braddock in Mike Nichols’s The Graduate (1967), but ultimately the role went to Dustin Hoffman.
Grodin’s first big break came when he was cast in Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby (1968). Then, in 1970, Grodin played Aarfy Aardvark in Nichols’s Catch-22 (1970). In 1972, Grodin got the lead in Elaine May’s The Heartbreak Kid (1972), a satiric romantic comedy, in which Grodin perfected his trademark style. He underplayed his character, never going for big laughs, but subtly unleashing the comedy. This part earned Grodin a Golden Globe nomination. Grodin’s other important film roles were Heaven Can Wait (1978), Real Life (1979), and The Great Muppet Caper (1981). In 1988, Grodin played his most popular role, The Duke, opposite Robert De Niro in Midnight Run (1988), a buddy comedy about a bounty hunter and a criminal. This was followed by two successful turns as the father in the Beethoven films (1992 and 1993). In 1993, Grodin had a starring role in Heart and Souls (1993). Grodin stayed active in theater, writing, directing, acting, and producing: Lovers and Other Strangers (1968), Thieves (1974), Same Time, Next Year (1975), The Price of Fame (1990), and The Right Kind of People (2006).
Grodin, a popular storyteller, was one of Johnny Carson’s favorite guests, and he appeared many times with David Letterman.
In 1993, Grodin gave up film acting for seventeen years in order to be home to rear his son. During this time, Grodin began a career as a journalist and a commentator on television and radio. He contributed segments on 60 Minutes II (1999–2005) and hosted The Charles Grodin Show (1995–98), which received four CableACE nominations. He provided an Andy Rooney–style commentary heard on radio and was a frequent guest on news talk shows. Grodin was also the best-selling author of memoirs, nonfiction books, advice books, and a children’s book.
Though it was largely in the form of supporting film roles or brief television guest roles, Grodin could once again be seen on the big and small screens beginning in 2006 with his part in the ensemble romantic comedy The Ex. Following his casting in the comedic drama The Humbling (2014), which featured Al Pacino in the lead, he joined Ben Stiller and other high-profile actors for the comedic drama While We're Young (2014). In addition to landing a recurring role between 2014 and 2015 on the series Louie, he had multiple appearances in a 2016 TV miniseries, titled Madoff, that covered the fraudulent investment scheme perpetrated by infamous real-life financier Bernie Madoff. His final on-screen roles came in 2016's The Comedian and 2017's An Imperfect Murder.
Much of Grodin’s life was devoted to humanitarian and charitable work. He worked with the Innocence Project to repeal unjust sentences and to free inmates wrongfully imprisoned under the felony murder rule, which expands the definition of murder. Grodin was instrumental in the dismantling of New York’s Rockefeller drug laws, which inflicted harsh penalties for the sale or possession of narcotics. He worked for the Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation, Help USA, the Robert Kennedy Foundation, and other charities. In 2006, he received the William Kuntsler Award for Social Justice.
On May 18, 2021, Grodin died of bone marrow cancer at his Wilton, Connecticut, home; he was eighty-six.
Significance
Afraid that he would be uninteresting, Grodin came on The Tonight Show in character as a boorish, annoying, and antagonistic guest. He was not polite to the host Carson, and rather than answering questions, Grodin asked sarcastic questions of Carson. Carson so loved the routine that he had Grodin on many times. Grodin maintained this persona for all future talk-show appearances. He became known as a curmudgeon, which was both negative and positive. Many viewers who did not know his behavior was a joke thought him rude and angry. Grodin, however, was nothing like this persona in real life. He devoted his life to ensuring social justice.
His early experiences being chastised for asking questions helped Grodin to face the rejection and anxieties that were part of his life as a performer. They also set the stage for his second career in journalism. On his shows and as a guest on others’ shows, Grodin asked difficult, often uncomfortable questions. Using the confrontational character he created for his appearances on The Tonight Show, Grodin did not shy away from controversy in his books and on his shows.
Bibliography
Genzlinger, Neil. "Charles Grodin, Star of 'Beethoven' and 'Heartbreak Kid,' Dies at 86." The New York Times, 18 May 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/movies/charles-grodin-dead.html. Accessed 6 Sept. 2022.
Grodin, Charles. How I Got to Be Whoever It Is Am. New York: Springboard Press, 2009. This memoir includes anecdotes about Grodin’s life and professional experiences.
Grodin, Charles. It Would Be So Nice If You Weren’t Here: My Journey Through Show Business. New York: Vintage Books, 1989.
Grodin, Charles, ed. If I Only Knew Then . . . Learning from Our Mistakes. New York: Springboard Press, 2009.
Tallmer, Jerry. “From Fleabag Room to Co-op Board to Stage.” The Villager 75, no. 39 (February 15-21, 2006).