Veteran actor Charles Grodin has died aged 86, his heartbroken family has confirmed.
The actor and talk-show host, known for his roles in films like Beethoven and The Heartbreak Kid, died on Tuesday at his home in Wilton, Connecticut.
In a statement shared with The New York Times, Grodin’s son Nicholas confirmed the US star died after a battle with bone marrow cancer.
Born in Pennsylvania, Grodin went to university in Miami, but quickly dropped out to pursue his passion for acting and the stage.
After studying drama in NYC, he landed his very first gig with an uncredited part in Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
(Image: Getty Images)
More established roles followed, playing a doctor in Rosemary’s Baby, and appearing in the comedy flick Catch-22.
Playing the lead in The Heartbreak Kid, he proved to be a talented comedic actor, eventually bagging roles in The Great Muppet Caper and Heaven Can Wait.
When the 90s rolled around, he played the dad in Beethoven, family man George Newton, reprising the role for the subsequent sequel.
(Image: WireImage)
In the mid-90s, he also landed his own talk show, The Charles Grodin Show, on CNBC, giving voice to issues of the day.
The years that followed saw Grodin take a step out of the spotlight, becoming a stay-at-home dad to raise his two children.
Grodin is survived by his daughter Marion and son Nicholas, who were born from his two marriages to Julie Ferguson and Elissa Durwood respectively.
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Since news of his death broke, tributes have flooded in from his many fans across the globe, remembering his talent as a comedic actor and presenter.
One fan took to Twitter to write: “Midnight Run, the rare actual perfect movie. RIP Charles Grodin, a great.”
“RIP Charles Grodin, the only man to truly rival Kermit for the love of Miss Piggy,” wrote another fan.
And a third weighed in: “RIP Charles Grodin, an absolute genius.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
