“I’m not that much in demand,” Grodin replied.
Asked why he took up such a role, he told The Associated Press he was happy to get the work. “Beethoven” brought him success in the family-animal comedy genre in 1992. “I moved a little more toward drama and he moved a little toward comedy,” Grodin said at the time. One line he threw at De Niro: “You ever had sex with an animal, Jack?” Often Grodin was genuinely trying to amuse his more intimidating co-star.
Grodin and De Niro improvised in many scenes in the film, revered as among the greatest buddy comedies. They’re being chased by police, another bounty hunter and the Mob, and because Grodin is afraid of flying, they are forced to go by car, bus, even boxcar. In 1988’s “Midnight Run,” Grodin was a bail-jumping accountant who took millions from a mobster and De Niro was the bounty hunter trying to bring him cross-country to Los Angeles. His turn in 1981’s “The Great Muppet Caper” was typically dedicated as a thief wooing Miss Piggy. He was Warren Beatty’s devious lawyer in “Heaven Can Wait,” and Gene Wilder’s friend in “The Woman in Red” (Less successfully, he appeared in May’s 1987 adventure comedy “Ishtar,” a notorious flop). In the next few years, Grodin played in a lavish 1976 film remake of “King Kong” as the greedy showman who brings the big ape to New York.
#CHARLES GRODIN AND ROBERT DE NIRO MOVIE MOVIE#
If it wasn’t for Elaine May, I probably would never have had that movie career.”
#CHARLES GRODIN AND ROBERT DE NIRO MOVIE FULL#
“I thought the character in ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ was a despicable guy, but I play it with full sincerity,” Grodin told the A.V. He commented: “After seeing the movie, a lot of people would approach me with the idea of punching me in the nose.” The movie was a hit and Grodin received high praise. He starred as a Jewish newlywed who abandons his comically neurotic bride to pursue a beautiful, wealthy blonde played by Cybill Shepherd. Grodin did have a small role in “Rosemary’s Baby” and was part of the large cast of Nichols’ adaptation of “Catch-22” before he gained wide notice in the 1972 Elaine May comedy “The Heartbreak Kid.” Grodin became a star in the 1970s, but might have broken through years earlier: He auditioned for the title role in Mike Nichols’ 1967 classic “The Graduate,” but the part went instead to Dustin Hoffman. They just gave me more time.” He spelled out that advice in his first book, “It Would Be So Nice If You Weren’t Here,” published in 1989. I did that, so I didn’t suffer from the frustration of all the rejections. He also wrote plays and television scripts, winning an Emmy for his work on a 1997 Paul Simon special, and wrote several books humorously ruminating on his ups and downs in show business.Īctors, he wrote, should “think not so much about getting ahead as becoming as good as you can be, so you’re ready when you do get an opportunity. In the 1990s, Grodin made his mark as a liberal commentator on radio and TV. Steve Martin, who co-starred with Grodin in 1984’s “The Lonely Guy,” remembered him as “one of the funniest people I ever met.” (The lawyer instead took a shine to Letterman.) Hosting “Saturday Night Live,” he pretended to not understand live television, ruining all the sketches. In his many late-night appearances, he once brought a lawyer with him to threaten David Letterman for defamation. His commitment, whether acting across De Niro or Miss Piggy, was unsurpassed. With bone-dry understatement, Grodin could steal entire scenes with just a look. Known for his dead-pan style and everyday looks, Grodin also appeared in “Dave,” “The Woman in Red,” “Rosemary’s Baby” and “Heaven Can Wait.” On Broadway, he starred with Ellen Burstyn in the long-running 1970s comedy “Same Time, Next Year,” and he found many other outlets for his talents. Grodin died Tuesday in Wilton, Connecticut, from bone marrow cancer, his son, Nicholas Grodin, said. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)Ĭharles Grodin, the droll, offbeat actor and writer who scored as a caddish newlywed in “The Heartbreak Kid” and later had roles ranging from Robert De Niro’s counterpart in the comic thriller “Midnight Run” to the bedeviled father in the “Beethoven” comedies, has died. From left, actors Adam Driver, Naomi Watts and Charles Grodin film a scene of an untitled Noah Baumbach film during the opening night of the 51st New York Film Festival on Friday, Sept.
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