His son Matthew Arkin said that Mr. Arkin, who had heart ailments, died at home. Mr. Arkin was not quite a show-business neophyte when he was cast in the 1963 Broadway comedy “Enter Laughing,” Joseph Stein’s adaptation of Carl Reiner’s semi-autobiographical novel about a stage-struck boy from the Bronx. He had toured and recorded with the Tarriers, a folk music group, and he had appeared on Broadway with the Second City, the celebrated improvisational comedy troupe. In a cast that included established professionals like Sylvia Sidney and Vivian Blaine, Mr. Arkin stole the show and won the hearts of the critics. “‘Enter Laughing’ is marvelously funny, and so is Alan Arkin in the principal role,” Howard Taubman wrote in The New York Times.

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Persons: Alan Arkin, Matthew Arkin, Mr, Arkin, Joseph Stein’s, Carl Reiner’s, Sylvia Sidney, Vivian Blaine, “, ” Howard Taubman Organizations: Broadway, Calif, Second, The New York Times Locations: San Marcos, Bronx, Second City