Charles Grodin, versatile American actor noted for his comedic performances in films like Beethoven, died at the age of 86, his son Nicholas reported Tuesday (May 18) to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Suffering from bone marrow cancer, he died at his home in Wilton, in the eastern United States, his son said.
Grodin had played a small role, that of the obstetrician, in the classic Rosemary’s Baby by Roman Polanski before shining alongside Robert de Niro in the detective comedy Midnight Run, and in the remake of King Kong from 1976.
But it’s mostly popular comedy Beethoven, where in 1992 he shared the poster with a bulky Saint-Bernard dog, who had made him known to the general public.
Often confined to secondary roles
“So sad to hear that. He was one of the funniest people I have ever met ”, reacted on Twitter the legendary American comic Steve Martin.
So said to hear. One of the funniest people I ever met: Charles Grodin, Star of ‘Beethoven’ and ‘Heartbreak Kid,’ D… https://t.co/cIXE9jj3do
Born in Pittsburgh in 1935, Charles Grodin had made a name for himself on the stage and had broken through to Broadway in the early 1960s before going on to roles, often secondary, in the cinema. He hosted his own talk show in the 1990s and made frequent appearances on Johnny Carson, David Letterman, and Jay Leno shows.