---
name: "Charles Grodin"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/charles-grodin"
fi1m_id: "charles-grodin"
imdb_id: "nm0001301"
tmdb_id: 28164
wikidata_id: "Q467570"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "21 April 1935"
died: "18 May 2021"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-04T23:23:10.457617+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Charles Grodin

## Identity

Charles Grodin

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/charles-grodin
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** charles-grodin
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001301
- **TMDB ID:** 28164
- **Wikidata ID:** Q467570
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Grodin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467570, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001301/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/28164

Actor. Born 21 April 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 18 May 2021.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 21 April 1935, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Died:** 18 May 2021
- **Active:** 1968–1993
- **Frequently works with:** [Elaine May](https://film.one/person/elaine-may.md), [Bonnie Hunt](https://film.one/person/bonnie-hunt.md), [Joe Medjuck](https://film.one/person/joe-medjuck.md), [Michael C. Gross](https://film.one/person/michael-c-gross.md), [Neil Simon](https://film.one/person/neil-simon.md), [Nicholle Tom](https://film.one/person/nicholle-tom.md), [Warren Beatty](https://film.one/person/warren-beatty.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 92 (1), 1970s 76 (3), 1980s 76 (3), 1990s 58 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 68 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 5 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 8, Romance 3, Drama 2, Family 2, Thriller 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $500m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Grodin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467570, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001301/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/28164

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Ishtar*](https://film.one/film/ishtar.md) (72), [*Seems Like Old Times*](https://film.one/film/seems-like-old-times.md) (68)
- **Apple TV:** [*Rosemary's Baby*](https://film.one/film/rosemarys-baby.md) (92)
- **Pluto TV:** [*Heaven Can Wait*](https://film.one/film/heaven-can-wait.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Charles Grodin

> Charles Grodin could make quiet persistence funny and infuriating at once. His deadpan works best when a film lets him do more than react, and we recommend starting with his patient torment of Robert De Niro in *Midnight Run*.

In *Midnight Run* (1988), Charles Grodin keeps answering Robert De Niro calmly when an argument would plainly be more convenient. His embezzler, Jonathan Mardukas, makes things personal with De Niro’s bounty hunter, Jack Walsh, who would prefer to get on with the job. We laughed at Grodin’s quiet persistence because he never concedes that he might be the source of the irritation. He listens, replies and leaves the other man to become more annoyed. Martin Brest gives both actors enough time for the exchange to matter.

The leading part in Elaine May’s *The Heartbreak Kid* (1972), as self-absorbed newlywed Lenny Cantrow, came before a long stretch of supporting comedy roles in the 1970s and 1980s. He became a familiar choice for anxious professionals and put-upon straight men, often opposite more flamboyant performers. Such casting made use of his small reactions, but risked leaving him to supply the prompts for somebody else’s jokes. *Beethoven* (1992) gave him a family-film lead as the exasperated father George Newton.

George Gallo’s screenplay helps by giving the two men things to disagree about without making either incapable of listening. Grodin’s calm would become a routine if De Niro merely kept shouting at it; their exchanges allow the irritation to develop. Donald E. Thorin’s cinematography lets us read Walsh’s annoyance alongside Mardukas’s composure, rather than losing either response in the pursuit. Angelo P. Graham’s production design keeps the surrounding crime-comedy business plausibly ordinary. Grodin benefits from that setting: his persistence is funny enough without making every encounter look like a comic turn.

Brest does sometimes interrupt them too readily: parts of the pursuit are less interesting than the conversations they cut short. We would happily lose some chasing from those 126 minutes. The qualification matters because Grodin’s contribution depends on being given time to listen and persist, rather than merely appear between bursts of action. Start with *Midnight Run*, and allow for the occasions when everyone has to stop talking and run.

## Biography

Charles Grodin was an American actor, comedian, author and television host. He began his career in the 1950s with television appearances and made his film debut in an uncredited role in *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea* (1954). He studied at the University of Miami and trained at the Actors Studio.

Grodin gained notice with a small role in *Rosemary's Baby* (1968) and a lead in *The Heartbreak Kid* (1972). He appeared in supporting roles in *Catch-22* (1970), *King Kong* (1976) and *Heaven Can Wait* (1978). He co-starred in *Midnight Run* (1988) as Jonathan Mardukas and played George Newton in *Beethoven* (1992) and its sequel. Other credits include *Dave* (1993) and *While We're Young* (2015).

Grodin wrote and hosted television specials, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special in 1978 for *The Paul Simon Special*. He hosted a talk show on CNBC in the 1990s and served as a political commentator. He died in 2021.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, apnews.com.*

## On Fi1m (9)

- *Beethoven's 2nd* (1993), Fi1m 57, as George Newton — [page](https://film.one/film/beethovens-2nd.md)
- *Beethoven* (1992), Fi1m 60, as George Newton — [page](https://film.one/film/beethoven.md)
- *Midnight Run* (1988), Fi1m 88, as Jonathan Mardukas aka “The Duke” — [page](https://film.one/film/midnight-run.md)
- *Ishtar* (1987), Fi1m 72, as Jim Harrison — [page](https://film.one/film/ishtar.md)
- *Seems Like Old Times* (1980), Fi1m 68, as Ira Parks — [page](https://film.one/film/seems-like-old-times.md)
- *Real Life* (1979), Fi1m 77, as Warren Yeager — [page](https://film.one/film/real-life.md)
- *Heaven Can Wait* (1978), Fi1m 74, as Tony Abbott — [page](https://film.one/film/heaven-can-wait.md)
- *The Heartbreak Kid* (1972), Fi1m 78, as Lenny Cantrow — [page](https://film.one/film/the-heartbreak-kid.md)
- *Rosemary's Baby* (1968), Fi1m 92, as Dr. Hill — [page](https://film.one/film/rosemarys-baby.md)

## Complete filmography (71)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Charles Grodin: Rebel With a Cause* (2025), Actor
- *An Imperfect Murder* (2017), as Arthur
- *The Comedian* (2016), as Dick D'Angelo
- *Madoff* (2016), series, as Carl Shapiro
- *While We're Young* (2015), as Leslie Breitbart
- *The Humbling* (2014), as Jerry
- *The Michael J. Fox Show* (2013), series, as Steve Henry
- *Brazzaville Teen-Ager* (2013), as Father
- *Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen* (2012), as (archive footage)
- *The Ex* (2006), as Bob Kowalski
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Brett Forrester
- *The World of Jim Henson* (1994), as Nicky Holiday (archive footage)
- *It Runs in the Family* (1994), as Mr. Parker (The Old Man)
- *Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!* (1994), as Chaz
- *Clifford* (1994), as Martin Daniels
- *Beethoven's 2nd* (1993), as George Newton — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/beethovens-2nd.md)
- *Heart and Souls* (1993), as Harrison Winslow
- *So I Married an Axe Murderer* (1993), as Commandeered Car Driver
- *Dave* (1993), as Murray Blum
- *Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories* (1992), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Beethoven* (1992), as George Newton — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/beethoven.md)
- *Taking Care of Business* (1990), as Spencer Barnes
- *The Muppets at Walt Disney World* (1990), as Quentin Fitzwaller
- *Cranium Command* (1989), as Left Brain (voice)
- *Midnight Run* (1988), as Jonathan Mardukas aka “The Duke” — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/midnight-run.md)
- *You Can't Hurry Love* (1988), as Mr. Glerman
- *The Couch Trip* (1988), as George Matlin
- *Ishtar* (1987), as Jim Harrison — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/ishtar.md)
- *Fresno* (1986), series, as Cane Kensington
- *Last Resort* (1986), as George Lollar
- *Movers & Shakers* (1985), as Herb Derman · Writer, Producer
- *The Woman in Red* (1984), as Buddy
- *The Lonely Guy* (1984), as Warren
- *Charley's Aunt* (1983), as Lord Fancourt Babberly
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Lord Fancourt Babberly
- *The Great Muppet Caper* (1981), as Nicky Holiday
- *The Incredible Shrinking Woman* (1981), as Vance Kramer
- *Seems Like Old Times* (1980), as Ira Parks — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/seems-like-old-times.md)
- *It's My Turn* (1980), as Homer
- *Sunburn* (1979), as Jake
- *Real Life* (1979), as Warren Yeager — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/real-life.md)
- *The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank* (1978), as Jim Benson
- *Heaven Can Wait* (1978), as Tony Abbott — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/heaven-can-wait.md)
- *Just Me and You* (1978), as Michael Lindsay
- *The Meanest Men in the West* (1978), as Arnie Doud, Harge Gang
- *It Happened One Christmas* (1977), as Joseph
- *The Paul Simon Special* (1977), Writer
- *Thieves* (1977), as Martin Cramer
- *King Kong* (1976), as Fred S. Wilson
- *Laverne & Shirley* (1976), series, Actor
- *11 Harrowhouse* (1974), as Howard R. Chesser · Adaptation
- *Paradise* (1974), Director
- *Acts of Love and Other Comedies* (1973), Director
- *The Heartbreak Kid* (1972), as Lenny Cantrow — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-heartbreak-kid.md)
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Jake
- *Catch-22* (1970), as Captain Aarfy Aardvark
- *Simon and Garfunkel: Songs of America* (1969), Producer, Director
- *Rosemary's Baby* (1968), as Dr. Hill — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/rosemarys-baby.md)
- *The Guns of Will Sonnett* (1967), series, as Bells Pickering
- *Judd, for the Defense* (1967), series, Actor
- *Captain Nice* (1967), series, as News Vendor
- *Felony Squad* (1966), series, Actor
- *Shane* (1966), series, as Jed
- *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Carl Platt
- *The Big Valley* (1965), series, as Mark Dunigan
- *My Mother the Car* (1965), series, Actor
- *The Young Marrieds* (1964), series, as Matt Crane Stevens
- *Sex and the College Girl* (1964), as Bob
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Arnie Doud
- *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Thomas Martin
- *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea* (1954), as Drummer Boy (uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![At the Paley Media Center, NYC.2/6/2013.](https://film.one/media/person/119317/gallery-bae4088066c4.jpg) At the Paley Media Center, NYC.2/6/2013. — Adam Schartoff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Charles_Grodin_%26_Art_Garfunkel.jpg/1280px-Charles_Grodin_%26_Art_Garfunkel.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Charles Grodin](https://film.one/media/person/119317/gallery-45e6eb511742.jpg) Charles Grodin — Adam Schartoff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Charles_Grodin_2013.jpg/1280px-Charles_Grodin_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![At the Paley Media Center, NYC.2/6/2013.](https://film.one/media/person/119317/gallery-0d58f077bb19.jpg) At the Paley Media Center, NYC.2/6/2013. — Adam Schartoff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Charles_Grodin_2013_%28headshot%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![At the Paley Media Center, NYC.2/6/2013.](https://film.one/media/person/119317/gallery-bd9301ac29f6.jpg) At the Paley Media Center, NYC.2/6/2013. — Adam Schartoff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Charles_Grodin_2013_%28headshot%29_%282%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Charles Grodin](https://film.one/media/person/119317/gallery-6dcef694408e.jpg) Charles Grodin — Image via TMDB
- ![Charles Grodin](https://film.one/media/person/119317/gallery-c9d85f16debd.jpg) Charles Grodin — Image via TMDB
- ![Charles Grodin](https://film.one/media/person/119317/gallery-b4fec0e343e9.jpg) Charles Grodin — Image via TMDB
- ![Charles Grodin at Book Expo in 2007 at New York's Javits Center](https://film.one/media/person/119317/gallery-fdac5d474571.jpg) Charles Grodin at Book Expo in 2007 at New York's Javits Center — Terryballard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Charlesgrodin.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Charles Grodin](https://film.one/media/person/119317/gallery-65ccf8dda1b6.jpg) Charles Grodin — Image via TMDB
- ![Charles Grodin](https://film.one/media/person/119317/gallery-160f1dc60190.jpg) Charles Grodin — Image via TMDB
- ![Charles Grodin](https://film.one/media/person/119317/gallery-d8874973af21.jpg) Charles Grodin — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award 1981: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award (nominated), for *Seems Like Old Times*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/charles-grodin