Remembering Alan Arkin's acting workshops in Worcester

(Voice over the radio): Help him! Help him!

Yossarian: Help who?

(Voice over the radio): Help the bombardier!

Yossarian: I’m the bombardier. I’m all right.

(Voice over the radio): Then help him, help him!

Since his breakthrough film role in the 1966 Cold War spoof “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming,” Alan Arkin hasn’t needed any help stealing a film.

Over the years, the versatile actor has played many memorable roles, including a violent drug dealer holding a blind woman (Audrey Hepburn) hostage in 1967’s “Wait Unit Dark,” neurotic and fastidious Det. Sgt. Dan “Bean” Delgado playing opposite volatile, gratuity-seeking Det. Sgt. Tim “Freebie” Walker (James Caan) in 1974’s buddy cop film “Freebie and the Bean” and bomber pilot John Yossarian in the 1970 film version of Joseph Heller's novel ``Catch-22.''

News broke Friday from his family that Arkin has died. He was 89.

To our knowledge, the Academy Award-winning actor visited Worcester only once. However, he was here for at least three days, presenting a series of acting workshops, June 7, 8 and 9, 2002, at the Wellness Works Yoga, 65 Water St.

"Crossing the Chasm From Theater Into Life: A Forum in Improvisation with Alan Arkin'' kicked off with a 90-minute discussion about Arkin’s craft, followed by two full days of workshops.

During the kickoff discussion, the soft-spoken, laid-back Arkin was candid and personable. He offered tricks of the trade and fielded questions about his colorful career.

When asked about his role as a down-on-his-luck real estate salesman George Aaronow in 1992’s “Glengarry Glen Ross,” Arkin said he wasn’t prepared for David Mamet’s constant barrage of foul language and almost passed on the role.

The same “Glengarry Glen Ross” fan told Arkin that he initially thought his character was the weakest part of the film, compared to the stellar, scene-stealing assemble cast of A-listers, which included Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris and Kevin Spacey.

Then, after repeated views, the fan said, he had a change of heart and came to the realization that Arkin’s multifaceted character actually had the hardest role in the film, in the way he was always being distracted, befuddled and emasculated.

Not only did the fan conclude Arkin delivered the best acting job in the film, it was absolutely flawless.

Arkin, without tooting his own horn, shrugged his shoulders and softly gestured, “That’s why they call it acting.”

Arkin won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for 2006’s “Little Miss Sunshine.” He also received Academy Award nominations for "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming,” 1968’s ``The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” and 2012’s “Argo.”

In recent years, Arkin starred opposite Michael Douglas in the Netflix comedy series “The Kominsky Method,” a role that earned him two Emmy nominations.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this article.

More: Oscar-winning actor Alan Arkin, 'Kominsky Method' and 'Little Miss Sunshine' star, dies at 89

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Alan Arkin helding acting workshops in Worcester in 2002