Charles Grodin and Cybill Shepherd in The Heartbreak Kid 1972. (movie promo pic)
Legendary actor Charles Grodin has passed away at the age of 86. According to his family, Grodin died at his Connecticut home from bone marrow cancer.
Charles Grodin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Orthodox Jewish parents who ran a family store. He dropped out of college to pursue an acting career. After almost two decades he had his first breakout role in a serious picture, laying Aarfy Aardvark in 1970’s “Catch 22.” This was followed by “The Heartbreak Kid” in 1972.
In his first real starring role, Grodin played a nice Jewish boy who feels that he may have made a mistake immediately after his wedding to a Jewish woman. When on their honeymoon in Florida, Grodin meets a beautiful young blonde non-Jewish woman played by Cybill Shepherd. Of course he leaves his new wife for her.
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And of course his family is left heartbroken while Shepherd’s father hates Charles Grodin. The movie was written by the famed Jewish playwright Neil Simon.
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Grodin went on to perform countless times as either the star of a movie, or in a supporting role. He could be serious, or comedic, or both. He played a villainous fool opposite Warren Beatty in the 1978 movie “Heaven Can Wait.” He did slapstick and silly opposite a cast of puppets when he played the bad guy in “The Great Muppet Caper.” Then there was quite possibly his most brilliant performance of all, playing a wanted fugitive opposite Robert De Niro’s bounty hunter in the 1988 buddy film “Midnight Run.”
Then there were all the famous leading ladies who starred opposite Grodin. In addition to Cybill Shephard there were, Lilly Tomlin, Farrah Fawcett, Goldie Hawn, and of course, Miss Piggy.
And he was always a great talk show guest too. You can find countless clips of his appearances on all of them from over the years on YouTube.
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In a 2009 interview with AV Club Grodin said, “I never complain about anything, because I’m aware of what’s going on around me, and I’m also aware that there are a lot of very gifted people that never even get a job in show business. It’s just because they can’t handle the rejection, and I can handle it, and I’m used to it.”
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My beloved Charles Grodin was a fabulous friend to moi onscreen and off. Debonair, handsome, talented, charming – and great taste! I’ll miss him dearly. pic.twitter.com/V4o2CxKZnM
— Miss Piggy (@MissPiggy) May 18, 2021
The sentiments of regret at Charles Grodin’s passing by his colleagues is innumerable.
Charles Grodin, Robert De Niro in Midnight Run 1988 (movie promo pic)
Steve Martin Tweeted, “So said to hear. One of the funniest people I ever met: Charles Grodin, Star of ‘Beethoven’ and ‘Heartbreak Kid,’ Dies at 86.”
Albert Brooks tweeted his condolences saying, ““A brilliant comedy actor. I had the wonderful experience of working with him in my first feature ‘Real Life’ and he was amazing. Rest In Peace, Chuck.”
Marc Maron tweeted, “RIP Charles Grodin. One of the great cranky comedic geniuses.”
