David Arkin
Encyclopedia
David G. Arkin was an American actor best known for his numerous supporting appearances in the films of Robert Altman
. These roles were part of Altman’s frequent ensemble and included Staff Sergeant Vollmer in MASH
(where he also wrote and voiced the PA Announcements), Harry in The Long Goodbye
, Norman in Nashville, The Mailman/The Police Officer in Popeye
. Arkin was known among his friends and colleagues for having introduced his friend Arnold Schwarzenegger
(then Arnold Strong) to Robert Altman, at the time The Long Goodbye was being cast. This began Schwarzenegger’s career in film (a story re-told recently by Mitchell Zuckoff
in his 2009 book Robert Altman: An Oral Biography).
Before MASH he had brief appearances in Valley of the Dolls
, All the President's Men
, Cannonball
, and then had an “introducing” credit co-starring with Peter Sellers
in I Love You, Alice B. Toklas
(1968). His television credits include Hawaii Five-O
, Whitney and the Robot, and a season-long appearance as the character Gabriel Kaye in the CBS television series Storefront Lawyers, co-starring Robert Foxworth
and Sheila Larken
. He also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
and on the Joey Bishop
and the Steve Allen
late night shows with the Hollywood Sunset Strip improvisational comedy troupe The Session (which included Richard Dreyfuss
, Rob Reiner
, Larry Bishop
, Bobbie Shaw-Chance, Marj Dusay
, and Phil Mishkin); he later performed with The Second City
touring troupe.
He was married three times, the last time to actress Anne E. Curry at the time of his death in 1991. Arkin wrote Human Cargo: Great Escapes, which Curry later produced with their company Old Dime Box Productions for the Showtime television network; it starred Treat Williams
and was filmed in Israel
. She also produced and directed One Man’s Opinion, a politically incorrect take on newly released films; it starred David Arkin and Professor Tyrone Shaw, now on the faculty of Journalism at Johnson State College
in Vermont
.
David G. Arkin was not related either to Alan Arkin
, the actor, to Adam Arkin
(his son; also an actor), or to Alan Arkin’s father (David I. Arkin, deceased 1980), who moved to Los Angeles in 1945, with his family and who worked behind the camera in the entertainment industry. Ironically, David I. Arkin lived in old Hollywood’s Silverlake neighborhood, where David G. Arkin’s brother, Robert M. Arkin (now a social psychologist on the faculty at Ohio State University
in Columbus, Ohio
) was also living at the same time; though the two families were not acquainted, when it was once noted that Rob Reiner and Larry Bishop (The Session troupe) had fathers in the entertainment business, Alan Arkin was quoted as commenting on David G. Arkin that “he is at least my nephew in talent”.
Robert Altman
Robert Bernard Altman was an American film director and screenwriter known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work with an Academy Honorary Award.His films MASH , McCabe and...
. These roles were part of Altman’s frequent ensemble and included Staff Sergeant Vollmer in MASH
MASH (film)
MASH is a 1970 American satirical dark comedy film directed by Robert Altman and written by Ring Lardner, Jr., based on Richard Hooker's novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. It is the only feature film in the M*A*S*H franchise...
(where he also wrote and voiced the PA Announcements), Harry in The Long Goodbye
The Long Goodbye (film)
The Long Goodbye is a 1973 neo noir, directed by Robert Altman and based on Raymond Chandler's 1953 novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by Leigh Brackett, who co-wrote the screenplay for The Big Sleep in 1946...
, Norman in Nashville, The Mailman/The Police Officer in Popeye
Popeye (film)
Popeye is a 1980 live-action film adaptation directed by Robert Altman and adapted from E. C. Segar's Thimble Theatre aka Popeye comic strip.Marketed with the tagline, "The sailor man with the spinach can!", the film is a musical...
. Arkin was known among his friends and colleagues for having introduced his friend Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
(then Arnold Strong) to Robert Altman, at the time The Long Goodbye was being cast. This began Schwarzenegger’s career in film (a story re-told recently by Mitchell Zuckoff
Mitchell Zuckoff
Mitchell Zuckoff is a professor of journalism at Boston University. He is the author of Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II, published in April 2011 by HarperCollins...
in his 2009 book Robert Altman: An Oral Biography).
Before MASH he had brief appearances in Valley of the Dolls
Valley of the Dolls (film)
The soundtrack was released in 1967. Dionne Warwick sang the title track; however, her version is not on the soundtrack. Warwick was signed to Scepter Records at the time and could not contractually appear...
, All the President's Men
All the President's Men (film)
All the President's Men is a 1976 Academy Award-winning political thriller film based on the 1974 non-fiction book of the same name by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two journalists investigating the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post...
, Cannonball
Cannonball (film)
Cannonball, also known as Carquake, is a 1976 film starring David Carradine. The film is one of two released in 1976 that were based on a real illegal cross-continent road race that took place for a number of years in the United States...
, and then had an “introducing” credit co-starring with Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
in I Love You, Alice B. Toklas
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas is a 1968 comedy film starring Peter Sellers, directed by Hy Averback and featuring music by Harpers Bizarre. The film is set in the counterculture of the 1960s. The addition cast includes David Arkin, Jo Van Fleet, Leigh Taylor-Young, in her film debut, and a cameo by...
(1968). His television credits include Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
, Whitney and the Robot, and a season-long appearance as the character Gabriel Kaye in the CBS television series Storefront Lawyers, co-starring Robert Foxworth
Robert Foxworth
Robert Heath Foxworth is an American film, stage and television actor.-Early life and career:Foxworth was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Erna Beth , a writer, and John Howard Foxworth, a roofing contractor...
and Sheila Larken
Sheila Larken
Sheila Larken is an American television actress.-Career:She is best known for playing the role of Margaret Scully on the popular The X-Files series....
. He also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
and on the Joey Bishop
The Joey Bishop Show (talk show)
The Joey Bishop Show is an American talk show which was first broadcast on ABC on April 17, 1967, hosted by Joey Bishop and featuring Regis Philbin in his first concentrated national television exposure, as Bishop's sidekick/announcer...
and the Steve Allen
The Steve Allen Show
The Steve Allen Show is an American variety show hosted by Steve Allen from June 1956 to June 1960 on NBC, from September 1961 to December 1961 on ABC, and in first-run syndication from 1962 to 1964....
late night shows with the Hollywood Sunset Strip improvisational comedy troupe The Session (which included Richard Dreyfuss
Richard Dreyfuss
Richard Stephen Dreyfuss is an American actor best known for starring in a number of film, television, and theater roles since the late 1960s, including the films American Graffiti, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Goodbye Girl, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Stakeout, Always, What About...
, Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner
Robert "Rob" Reiner is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and political activist.As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence as Archie and Edith Bunker's son-in-law, Michael "Meathead" Stivic, on All in the Family. That role earned him two Emmy Awards during the 1970s...
, Larry Bishop
Larry Bishop
Larry Bishop is an American actor, screenwriter and movie director. He is the son of Sylvia Ruzga and comedian Joey Bishop...
, Bobbie Shaw-Chance, Marj Dusay
Marj Dusay
Marj Dusay is an actress known for her roles on American soap operas...
, and Phil Mishkin); he later performed with The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
touring troupe.
He was married three times, the last time to actress Anne E. Curry at the time of his death in 1991. Arkin wrote Human Cargo: Great Escapes, which Curry later produced with their company Old Dime Box Productions for the Showtime television network; it starred Treat Williams
Treat Williams
Richard Treat Williams is a Screen Actors Guild Award–nominated American actor and children's book author who has appeared on film, stage and television...
and was filmed in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. She also produced and directed One Man’s Opinion, a politically incorrect take on newly released films; it starred David Arkin and Professor Tyrone Shaw, now on the faculty of Journalism at Johnson State College
Johnson State College
Johnson State College is a small public liberal arts college, founded in 1828 by John Chesamore at Johnson in the U.S. state of Vermont. Johnson's president is Barbara E. Murphy and its board chair is Gary M. Moore.- History and governance :...
in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
David G. Arkin was not related either to Alan Arkin
Alan Arkin
Alan Wolf Arkin is an American actor, director, musician and singer. He is known for starring in such films as Wait Until Dark, The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Catch-22, The In-Laws, Edward Scissorhands, Glengarry Glen Ross, Marley & Me, and...
, the actor, to Adam Arkin
Adam Arkin
Adam Arkin is an American television, film and stage actor and director. He played the role of Aaron Shutt on Chicago Hope. He has been nominated for numerous awards, including a Tony as well as 3 primetime Emmys, 4 SAG Awards , and a DGA Award...
(his son; also an actor), or to Alan Arkin’s father (David I. Arkin, deceased 1980), who moved to Los Angeles in 1945, with his family and who worked behind the camera in the entertainment industry. Ironically, David I. Arkin lived in old Hollywood’s Silverlake neighborhood, where David G. Arkin’s brother, Robert M. Arkin (now a social psychologist on the faculty at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
) was also living at the same time; though the two families were not acquainted, when it was once noted that Rob Reiner and Larry Bishop (The Session troupe) had fathers in the entertainment business, Alan Arkin was quoted as commenting on David G. Arkin that “he is at least my nephew in talent”.
Filmography
- I Love You, Alice B. ToklasI Love You, Alice B. ToklasI Love You, Alice B. Toklas is a 1968 comedy film starring Peter Sellers, directed by Hy Averback and featuring music by Harpers Bizarre. The film is set in the counterculture of the 1960s. The addition cast includes David Arkin, Jo Van Fleet, Leigh Taylor-Young, in her film debut, and a cameo by...
(1968) .... Herbie Fine - Hawaii Five-OHawaii Five-OHawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
TV Series – "Killer Bee" episode (1970) .... George Loomis - Storefront Lawyers (1970) TV Series .... Gabriel Kaye
- Up in the Cellar (1970) .... Hugo Caine
- MASHMASH (film)MASH is a 1970 American satirical dark comedy film directed by Robert Altman and written by Ring Lardner, Jr., based on Richard Hooker's novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. It is the only feature film in the M*A*S*H franchise...
(1970) .... Staff Sergeant Vollmer/PA Announcer - The Long GoodbyeThe Long Goodbye (film)The Long Goodbye is a 1973 neo noir, directed by Robert Altman and based on Raymond Chandler's 1953 novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by Leigh Brackett, who co-wrote the screenplay for The Big Sleep in 1946...
(1973) .... Harry - Nashville (1975) .... Norman
- Medical Story TV Series
- Cannonball!Cannonball (film)Cannonball, also known as Carquake, is a 1976 film starring David Carradine. The film is one of two released in 1976 that were based on a real illegal cross-continent road race that took place for a number of years in the United States...
(1976) .... TV Producer Anchorman - All the President's MenAll the President's Men (film)All the President's Men is a 1976 Academy Award-winning political thriller film based on the 1974 non-fiction book of the same name by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two journalists investigating the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post...
(1976) .... Eugene Bachinski - Whitney and the Robot (1979) TV Series .... David
- PopeyePopeye (film)Popeye is a 1980 live-action film adaptation directed by Robert Altman and adapted from E. C. Segar's Thimble Theatre aka Popeye comic strip.Marketed with the tagline, "The sailor man with the spinach can!", the film is a musical...
(1980) .... The Mailman/Police Officer