Remembering the tireless activism of Charles Grodin
Terryballard, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Charles Grodin, who died recently at the age of 86, never won a major award for acting – which is a shame considering his many memorable performances, including “The Heartbreak Kid,” “Heaven Can Wait” and yes, “Midnight Run.” He easily could have won for any of those roles, most certainly the latter two since he steals nearly every scene from his co-stars — and honestly, could and should have won something for one of his infamous “Tonight Show” appearances.
Grodin did, however, win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special for The Paul Simon Special in 1977 — an award he shared with others, including Lorne Michaels, Paul Simon, Lily Tomlin, Al Franken and Chevy Chase.
But Charles Grodin was much more than an actor-writer, even talk show host, hyphenate. He was also an outspoken activist on social issues, dedicated humanitarian and a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform, especially on behalf of non-violent female inmates.
A couple of tweets highlighting Grodin’s activism:
Grodin received the William Kunstler for Racial Justice award and was cited by former New York Governor George Pataki for helping revise New York’s Rockefeller Drug Laws, which were enacted in the early 70s and mandated harsh sentences for possession or sale of relatively small amounts of drugs.
Grodin felt these laws disproportionately affected Black and brown women and became an advocate, often highlighting their cases on his CNBC show, which ran from 1995-1998.
At one point, he took cameras inside the Bedford Hills Correctional facility in Bedford, New York and interviewed four women to bring attention to their cases. He shared those interviews with the state’s Republican leadership and Governor Pataki. All four of those women were later granted clemency.
Adam Schartoff, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
He was also a staunch opponent of the felony murder rule, which allows someone to be charged with first-degree murder for a killing that occurs during a felony, even if that person was not the killer. In particular, the case of Ryan Holle in Florida garnered Grodin’s attention, and he often wrote about it in his column for the New York Daily News.
In 2010, Grodin penned a letter to Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy on behalf of Holle’s case.
His son, Nicholas Grodin, also told The Los Angeles Times about another case involving a young man named Brandon Hein in California, who was also sentenced to life under the felony murder law. “[Hein’s ] dad came and stayed at our house, and it became a lifelong thing,” Nicholas Grodin told The Times.
Grodin, a prolific writer, even wrote a play about Hein’s case, called “The Prosecution of Brandon Hein.”
Both Hein and Holle’s sentences were later commuted, and Hein was granted parole in 2019. Holle is set to be released in 2024.
Among his other honors, Grodin was recognized by Habitat for Humanity for his humanitarian efforts on behalf of the homeless. He also founded the “Lend A Hand Foundation,” which aims to help people in need who are not covered by any other organization.
Grodin also supported numerous local organizations in Wilton, Connecticut, his home since the early 90s and became a mentor to young adults with Autism.
And even though old clips have recently resurfaced (and gone viral) of him roasting Sean Hannity during some of his Fox News appearances, Grodin eschewed political labels and rejected any attempt to brand him as a liberal or conservative.
“Politically, I think there are two kinds of people: the people that care about other people and the people who don’t. And the people that care about other people, they could be conservative, liberal, Green Party—anything,” Grodin told The Onion AV Club in 2002.
After his passing, his family requested that donations be made to The Innocence Project in his memory.
Indeed, a fitting tribute to a life well-lived and a man who spent so much of it in the service of others. Rest well, Charles Grodin.
Essential viewing:
There’s no way I was going to write something about Charles Grodin and not include some of his best (and sometimes bizarre) moments on TV and film.
“THE HEARTBREAK KID” 1972
The rights to this Elaine May classic are currently owned by a big pharma company, so it’s unlikely to see a remastered release anytime soon — unless Criterion wants to break the bank to do it (God, if only). Fortunately, a kind soul has uploaded the entire film to YouTube, and it is by definition essential viewing. It’s one of Grodin’s few leading roles, and only he could pull off such an excruciatingly cringey protagonist who’s loathsome, yet weirdly charming, but someone you can never truly root for. Plus, you’ll never look at cauliflower the same ever again.
The film also features stand out performances from May’s real-life daughter Jeannie Berlin and Eddie Albert, both of whom received Oscar nominations (Grodin got a Golden Globe nomination).
“SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” 1977 (season 3, episode 4)
Grodin hosted SNL once and really made the most of it — in an epic episode that breaks the fourth wall and ended up getting him “banned” from the show (not really). From the cold open on, Grodin stays in character as someone who hasn’t shown up to any rehearsals and has no idea the show is live. It’s bizarre, awkward and Grodin’s outward naivete completely sells it. All the while, you can tell the audience isn’t quite sure what to make of it. It’s fantastic.
It’s available to watch on Peacock and here on Archive.org.
“MIDNIGHT RUN” 1988
Perhaps his most widely-known film outside of the “Beethoven” movies (which I DO love — it’s a generational thing) came with his unlikely pairing with Robert DeNiro in — of all things — a buddy comedy from the late 80s. The script is great, but what sells the film is the chemistry between Grodin and DeNiro (the mostly improvised “litmus configuration” scene alone is worth watching). It’s like the “Odd Couple” meets “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” meets the most 80s Danny Elfman score you’ve ever heard. Again, it’s fantastic.
And even though he was nowhere near the first choice to play the role (at one point, the studio wanted Cher — no doubt that would have been much different movie) it’s impossible to think of anyone but Grodin playing the dry, neurotic Jonathan “The Duke” Mardukas.
TALK SHOW APPEARANCES — CARSON AND LETTERMAN
I honestly have only the vaguest real-time memory of Grodin’s epic late night appearances and that makes me sad. However, I’m grateful to the fine folks who have taken the initiative to upload some of them to YouTube. Although his dynamic with Letterman differs slightly from the persona with Carson (the latter typically getting the last laugh), the schtick is the same, and the banter is a masterclass of late-night TV that won’t be seen again.
Letterman archivist Don Giller recently did the world a favor and uploaded all of Grodin’s appearances onto YouTube, including Letterman’s appearance on Grodin’s CNBC show. The entire collection is in seven parts but well worth the time.
“CLIFFORD” 1994 (sort of)
“Clifford” is by no means a good movie or anywhere near some of his better films, but there was no way not to include it. The film was shot in 1990 and had an expected 1991 release date but was shelved for four years after Orion Pictures filed for bankruptcy. When it was finally released, it bombed. The idea of Martin Short playing a maniacal, 10-year-old terror (the title character, no less) is just as absurd as what you would expect. But once again, story aside, it comes down to the chemistry between Short and Grodin, who’s the quintessential cranky dad type here.
Many of the scenes were improvised, and the sincerity with which Grodin reacts to the ridiculousness around him is just epic Grodin. Like his infatuation with Miss Piggy in “The Great Muppet Caper,” he totally and convincingly leans into the part, and you don’t question him sparring with a grown man playing a 10-year-old boy any more than you question his lust for a Muppet. (incidentally, Grodin at one point wrote a piece for Vulture in which he reveals his “tryst” with Miss Piggy, and well it’s something.)
Anyway, “Clifford” is a weird but necessary part of the Grodin repertoire and deserves to be seen as much as “Ishtar,” yes, that’s right I said it. What a legend.
It’s currently streaming on HBO Max.
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