The Kominsky Method, an acclaimed Netflix comedy, featured Michael and Alan as co-stars.

After learning that his buddy and fellow Oscar winner Alan Arkin had passed away at 89, Michael Douglas sent a touching tribute to him.

Michael said under a photo of the two of them in The Kominsky Method, “Today we lost a brilliant actor whose brilliance, sense of humor, and excellent professionalism over the past 70 years has left an indelible mark on our business.”

“Working with Alan was one of my most cherished experiences. He is greatly missed. Sincere sympathies to his family and his wife, Suzanne,” Michael said.

Michael and Alan co-starred in the Emmy-nominated comedy The Kominsky Method for two seasons. Alan played Norman Newlander, the agent to Sandy Kominsky (played by Michael), a former actor who now works as an acting instructor.

Alan was nominated for Best Supporting Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy at the 2019 Golden Globes, but Michael was named Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy for his performance. Both received nominations for their work on the program at the 2019 and 2020 Emmy Awards.

“This is terrible.” One admirer said on Michael’s post, “You were a wonderful couple in The Kominsky Method Mr. Arkin will be remembered,” while another hailed their “pure genius” working together on the show.

“I’m devastated and immediately thought of you. You two were wonderful in The Kominsky Method. A superb actor was Alan Arkin. Sincere condolences,” a third follower said, adding that they hoped his memory would bring them blessings. “There has been a great actor lost to the world.”

Before the start of their comedy’s filming in 2018, Alan and Michael initially spoke. “I urged that we eat lunch together. About 55 times, he said no.” At the time, Michael reacted to Alan’s joke by saying, “I was a little in awe of him as an actor. He finally agreed.”

“I haven’t necessarily done a lot of comedy,” he subsequently said to the Star Tribune. “I feel like I’m learning something new every time I have the opportunity to work with someone like Alan, who is incredibly skilled in timing and knowledge of it. It has truly been a treat.”

The well-liked actor Alan, who starred in many movies and plays and won an Oscar for his portrayal in 2006’s Little Miss Sunshine, passed away at the age of 89. In a statement, his family confirmed the sad news, saying:

“Our father was a force of nature, both as an artist and a person. He was adored and will be sadly lost for being a devoted husband, father, grandpa, and great-grandfather.

The irritated family patriarch Edwin Hoover in the comedy about a family road trip stole the show and won him the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in Little Miss Sunshine, where he only had a brief 14-minute cameo.

Born in 1934, Alan relocated to Chicago in 1960 at 26 and honed his comedy chops with the legendary improvisational troupe Second City. By 1961, he’d moved on to Broadway to star in a Second City-themed show, and he won his Tony Award two years later in Enter Laughing. 

His big-screen breakthrough came in 1967 via Norman Jewison’s comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming. Other notable onscreen turns, among many, include the Audrey Hepburn thriller Wait Until Dark,  Grosse Pointe Blank, and several Pink Panther films, where he’d replaced Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau.