Charles Grodin Dies: ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ Actor, Unrivaled Talk Show Curmudgeon Was 86

https://deadline.com/2021/05/charles-grodin-dead-obituary-the-heartbreak-kid-actor-talk-show-host-was-86-1234759382/ ^ | 5/18/21 | Greg Evans

[Borges]

Charles Grodin, the comic, scene-stealing actor of such films as The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run and Beethoven who later established himself as a curmudgeonly talk show guest without rival, died today at his home in Wilton, Conn. He was 86.

His son, Nicholas, told The New York Times that the cause of death was bone marrow cancer. A spokesperson said Grodin died peacefully at his home.

Born Charles Sidney Grodin in Pittsburgh, Grodin, who studied under Lee Strasberg, made his big-screen debut in the small role as the duped obstetrician who turns Mia Farrow’s Rosemary over to a coven of witches in Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Grodin graduated to leading man by 1972’s The Heartbreak Kid, the Elaine May film that established his career and set the hapless, dry-wit style that would become his signature.

[ClearCase_guy]

RIP
I never really felt like I “got him”.

[Borges]

Watch Midnight Run. So great and he was perfect. He and DeNiro turned a completely formulaic scenario into comedy gold.

[Larry Lucido]

RIP

I wonder if Jerry ever got the Charles Grodin barbecue sauce.

[spacejunkie2001]

I absolutely loved him. such a good actor. love ‘Midnight Run’ with DeNiro (who’s an idiot) but the the movie is fantastic.

[Skywise]

I always liked him in Clifford.

[Peter W. Kessler]

He had the personality of a baked potato.

[Borges]

And he played characters where it fit!

[Carriage Hill]

I don’t remember him, but RIP anyway.

[LizzieD]

He was as vile and nasty a lefty as any you can think of. No tears here.

[greeneyes]

He also was in the TV series The Virginian, IIRC.

[PghBaldy]

He was in two of my favorite films: “Heaven Can Wait,” & “Seems Like Old Times.” R.I.P.

[PROCON]

Was Charles Grodin ever in a Seinfeld episode?

[al_c]

Yep. In an episode titled “The Doll”.

[liberalh8ter]

Me neither. I got the distinct impression his career was based solely on some kind of nepotism.

[Borges]

Not at all. His parents were Orthodox Jews. He studied acting Uta Hagen and Lee Strasberg.

[Hambone 1934]

No,but his BBQ sauce was

[nickcarraway]

Did anyone ever see him on Johnny Carson? It was hilarious, they would slam each other.

I was never sure if they really hated each other. I mean, Jack Benny and Fred Allen were really friends, but I wasn't sure about Grodin and Carson.

[DouglasKC]

Great role in “Heaven Can Wait”.

[nesnah]

He was as vile and nasty a lefty as any you can think of. No tears here.

---

Why, yes, yes he was.