He_PNP was_VBD ,_PUN in_PRP a_AT0 sense_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 last_ORD great_AJ0 angry_AJ0 man_NN1 ._SENT Or_CJC ,_PUN at_PRP least_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 last_ORD funny_AJ0 version_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 species_NN0 ._SENT 
Charles_NP0 Grodin_NP0 turned_VVD crankiness_NN1 into_PRP a_AT0 genuine_AJ0 art_NN1 form_NN1 ._SENT Whether_CJS he_PNP was_VBD flashing_VVG his_DPS signature_NN1 sour-lemon_AJ0 grimace_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 big_AJ0 screen_NN1 or_CJC deadpanning_VVG his_DPS way_NN1 through_PRP a_AT0 quietly_AV0 fuming_AJ0 guest_NN1 spot_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 cushy_AJ0 embrace_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 late-night_AJ0 couch_NN1 ,_PUN no_AT0 one_PNI was_VBD drier_AJC or_CJC deadlier_AJC or_CJC more_AV0 disarming_AJ0 at_PRP turning_VVG slow-burn_AJ0 hostility_NN1 into_PRP laughs_NN2 ._SENT He_PNP was_VBD ,_PUN in_PRP a_AT0 sense_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 last_ORD great_AJ0 angry_AJ0 man_NN1 ._SENT Or_CJC ,_PUN at_PRP least_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 last_ORD funny_AJ0 version_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 species_NN0 ._SENT Sadly_AV0 ,_PUN Grodin_NP0 passed_VVD away_AV0 on_PRP Tuesday_NP0 from_PRP bone_NN1 marrow_NN1 cancer_NN1 at_PRP his_DPS home_NN1 in_PRP Wilton_NP0 ,_PUN Conn._NP0 He_PNP was_VBD 86._CRD 
During_PRP the_AT0 past_AJ0 year_NN1 of_PRF seemingly_AV0 interminable_AJ0 quarantine_NN1 ,_PUN many_DT0 of_PRF us_PNP used_VVN that_DT0 time_NN1 to_TO0 take_VVI up_AVP new_AJ0 hobbies_NN2 ,_PUN learn_VVB new_AJ0 skills_NN2 ,_PUN or_CJC nostalgically_AV0 re-visit_VVI the_AT0 pop-culture_AJ0 cul_NN1 de_NP0 sacs_NN2 that_CJT brought_VVD them_PNP joy_NN1 before_CJS we_PNP knew_VVD what_DTQ the_AT0 term_NN1 "_PUQ herd_NN1 immunity_NN1 "_PUQ meant_VVN ._SENT I_PNP indulged_VVD in_PRP the_AT0 latter_DT0 ._SENT And_CJC one_PNI of_PRF my_DPS most_DT0 enjoyable_AJ0 detours_NN2 was_VBD plummeting_VVG down_AVP the_AT0 rabbit_NN1 hole_NN1 of_PRF Grodin_NP0 's_POS filmography_NN1 ._SENT Clearly_AV0 ,_PUN he_PNP was_VBD a_AT0 lot_NN1 more_AV0 than_CJS just_AV0 a_AT0 comic_AJ0 actor_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 movies_NN2 ._SENT He_PNP wrote_VVD books_NN2 and_CJC plays_NN2 ,_PUN appeared_VVN on_PRP stage_NN1 ,_PUN provided_CJS weekly_AJ0 disgruntled_AJ0 radio_NN1 commentaries_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC even_AV0 briefly_AV0 hosted_VVN a_AT0 late-night_AJ0 talk_NN1 show_NN1 of_PRF his_DPS own_DT0 in_PRP the_AT0 '_PUQ 90s_CRD ._SENT But_CJC it_PNP 's_VBZ his_DPS work_NN1 on_PRP celluloid_NN1 that_CJT was_VBD my_DPS gateway_NN1 drug_NN1 to_PRP his_DPS particularly_AV0 hilarious_AJ0 strain_NN1 of_PRF simmering_AJ0 dyspepsia_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC if_CJS you_PNP 've_VHB been_VBN looking_VVG for_PRP an_AT0 excuse_NN1 (_PUL not_XX0 that_CJT you_PNP need_VVB one_CRD )_PUR to_TO0 watch_VVI or_CJC re-watch_NN1 classics_NN2 such_DT0 as_PRP The_AT0 Heartbreak_NN1 Kid_NN1 ,_PUN Heaven_NN1 Can_VM0 Wait_VVI ,_PUN and_CJC Midnight_NN1 Run_NN1 or_CJC slightly_AV0 guiltier_AJ0 pleasures_NN2 like_PRP Ishtar_NP0 or_CJC Clifford_NP0 ,_PUN now_AV0 's_VBZ the_AT0 time_NN1 ._SENT 
The_AT0 thing_NN1 that_CJT made_VVD Grodin_NP0 so_AV0 special_AJ0 and_CJC so_AV0 unique_AJ0 is_VBZ that_CJT you_PNP never_AV0 really_AV0 knew_VVD whether_CJS his_DPS put-upon_PRP curmudgeon_NN1 act_NN1 was_VBD just_AV0 that_DT0 –_PUN an_AT0 act_NN1 –_PUN or_CJC if_CJS it_PNP was_VBD just_AV0 his_DPS everyday_AJ0 emotional_AJ0 default_NN1 setting_NN1 ._SENT Not_XX0 that_CJT it_PNP particularly_AV0 mattered_VVD ._SENT No_AT0 one_PNI could_VM0 crack_VVI you_PNP up_AVP quite_AV0 as_CJS easily_AV0 by_PRP just_AV0 (_PUL barely_AV0 )_PUR frowning_VVG and_CJC acting_VVG like_PRP the_AT0 world_NN1 had_VHD gone_VVN mad_AJ0 except_CJS for_PRP him_PNP ._SENT He_PNP rarely_AV0 got_VVD the_AT0 spotlight_NN1 or_CJC name-above-the-title_NN1 recognition_NN1 of_PRF an_AT0 A-list_NN1 leading_AJ0 man_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC he_PNP made_VVD every_AT0 movie_NN1 he_PNP was_VBD in_PRP better_AV0 just_AV0 by_PRP turning_VVG up_AVP ._SENT Like_PRP the_AT0 best_AJS character_NN1 actors_NN2 ,_PUN he_PNP could_VM0 make_VVI good_AJ0 movies_NN2 great_AJ0 (_PUL The_AT0 Lonely_AJ0 Guy_NP0 )_PUR and_CJC bad_AJ0 movies_NN2 palatable_AJ0 (_PUL Beethoven_NP0 )_PUR ._SENT His_DPS 17_CRD appearances_NN2 on_PRP Late_AJ0 Night_NN1 with_PRP David_NP0 Letterman_NP0 will_VM0 go_VVI down_AVP as_PRP some_DT0 of_PRF the_AT0 most_AV0 perfectly_AV0 crafted_AJ0 moments_NN2 of_PRF television_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 second-half_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Twentieth_ORD Century_NN1 ._SENT 
But_CJC let_VVB 's_POS return_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 movies_NN2 ..._PUN ._SENT After_PRP cutting_VVG his_DPS chops_NN2 on_PRP long-forgotten_AJ0 TV_NN1 shows_NN2 and_CJC on_PRP the_AT0 stage_NN1 throughout_PRP the_AT0 '_PUQ 60s_CRD and_CJC early_AJ0 '_POS 70s_CRD (_PUL he_PNP would_VM0 finally_AV0 take_VVI flight_NN1 and_CJC soar_VVB opposite_PRP Ellen_NP0 Burstyn_NP0 in_PRP 1975_CRD 's_VBZ Same_DT0 Time_NN1 ,_PUN Next_ORD Yearon_NP0 Broadway_NP0 )_PUR ,_PUN Grodin_NP0 was_VBD finally_AV0 embraced_VVN by_PRP Hollywood_NP0 ._SENT His_DPS regular-guy_AJ0 appearance_NN1 and_CJC constantly_AV0 flummoxed_AJ0 mien_NN1 were_VBD hardly_AV0 a_AT0 threat_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 biggest_AJS male_AJ0 box-office_AJ0 stars_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 time_NN1 like_PRP Robert_NP0 Redford_NP0 ,_PUN Paul_NP0 Newman_NP0 ,_PUN Al_NP0 Pacino_NP0 ,_PUN Robert_NP0 De_NP0 Niro_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC Dustin_NP0 Hoffman_NP0 ._SENT Which_DTQ would_VM0 turn_VVI out_AVP to_TO0 be_VBI a_AT0 good_AJ0 thing_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP did_VDD n't_XX0 need_VVI to_TO0 get_VVI the_AT0 girl_NN1 to_TO0 jump_VVI off_AVP the_AT0 screen_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC when_CJS he_PNP did_VDD ,_PUN well_AV0 ,_PUN that_DT0 was_VBD even_AV0 more_AV0 interesting_AJ0 ._SENT 
Although_CJS Grodin_NP0 had_VHD appeared_VVN as_PRP Aarfy_NP0 Aardvark_NP0 in_PRP Mike_NP0 Nichols_NP0 '_POS satiric_AJ0 fiasco_NN1 Catch-22_NN1 in_PRP 1970_CRD ,_PUN it_PNP was_VBD n't_XX0 until_PRP two_CRD years_NN2 later_AV0 that_CJT audiences_NN2 finally_AV0 got_VVD a_AT0 taste_NN1 of_PRF what_DTQ he_PNP could_VM0 do_VDI ._SENT In_PRP Elaine_NP0 May_NP0 's_POS 1972_CRD 's_POS comic_NN1 romance_NN1 The_AT0 Heartbreak_NN1 Kid_NN1 ,_PUN Grodin_NP0 was_VBD electric_AJ0 (_PUL albeit_CJS ,_PUN in_PRP his_DPS usual_AJ0 low-wattage_AJ0 way_NN1 )_PUR as_CJS a_AT0 nebbishy-but-smug_AJ0 salesman_NN1 who_PNQ impulsively_AV0 marries_VVZ Jeannie_NP0 Berlin_NP0 (_PUL May_NP0 's_POS real-life_AJ0 daughter_NN1 )_PUR only_AV0 to_TO0 have_VHI his_DPS head_NN1 and_CJC his_DPS heart_NN1 stolen_VVN by_PRP a_AT0 seemingly_AV0 unattainable_AJ0 blonde_NN1 (_PUL Cybill_NP0 Shepherd_NP0 )_PUR while_CJS on_PRP his_DPS honeymoon_NN1 ._SENT If_CJS you_PNP 've_VHB never_AV0 watched_VVN the_AT0 scene_NN1 where_AVQ Shepherd_NP0 's_POS old-school_AJ0 father_NN1 (_PUL brilliantly_AV0 played_VVN by_PRP Eddie_NP0 Albert_NP0 )_PUR calmly_AV0 threatens_VVZ Grodin_NN1 after_PRP dinner_NN1 (_PUL "_PUQ There_EX0 's_VBZ no_AT0 deceit_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 cauliflower_NN1 "_PUQ )_PUR ,_PUN then_AV0 give_VVB it_PNP a_AT0 watch_NN1 below_AV0 ._SENT 
From_PRP there_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 hits_NN2 kept_VVD coming_VVG ._SENT He_PNP managed_VVD to_TO0 steal_VVI our_DPS attention_NN1 away_AV0 from_PRP the_AT0 impossibly_AV0 glamorous_AJ0 leads_NN2 of_PRF 1978_CRD 's_POS Oscar-nominated_NN1 reincarnation_NN1 rom-com_NN1 Heaven_NN1 Can_VM0 Wait_VVI ,_PUN Warren_NP0 Beatty_NP0 and_CJC Julie_NP0 Christie_NP0 ._SENT His_DPS cuckolded_AJ0 sourpuss_NN1 act_NN1 worked_VVN like_PRP a_AT0 tractor_NN1 beam_NN1 in_PRP his_DPS scenes_NN2 with_PRP Goldie_NP0 Hawn_NP0 and_CJC Chevy_AJ0 Chase_NN1 in_PRP 1980_CRD 's_POS door-slamming_NN1 Neil_NP0 Simon_NP0 farce_NN1 Seems_VVZ Like_PRP Old_AJ0 Times_NN2 ._SENT He_PNP injected_VVD the_AT0 perfect_AJ0 dose_NN1 of_PRF hangdog_NN1 heartache_NN1 alongside_PRP fellow_AJ0 loveless_AJ0 loser_NN1 Steve_NP0 Martin_NP0 in_PRP the_AT0 1984_CRD comedy_NN1 The_AT0 Lonely_AJ0 Guy_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC he_PNP 's_VBZ one_CRD of_PRF the_AT0 few_DT0 sunny_AJ0 spots_NN2 (_PUL apart_AV0 from_PRP Beatty_NP0 and_CJC Hoffman_NP0 's_POS opening_AJ0 volley_NN1 of_PRF brilliantly_AV0 terrible_AJ0 songs_NN2 )_PUR in_PRP 1987_CRD 's_VBZ fiscal_AJ0 trainwreck_NN1 Ishtar_NN1 ._SENT 
But_CJC it_PNP was_VBD the_AT0 next_ORD year_NN1 when_AVQ Grodin_NP0 delivered_VVD what_DTQ remains_VVZ his_DPS greatest_AJS accomplish_VVB on_PRP the_AT0 silver_NN1 screen_NN1 :_PUN the_AT0 role_NN1 of_PRF neurotic_AJ0 fugitive_NN1 mob_NN1 accountant_NN1 Jonathan_NP0 "_PUQ The_AT0 Duke_NN1 "_PUQ Mardukas_NP0 in_PRP Martin_NP0 Brest_NP0 's_POS 1988_CRD cross-country_AJ0 caper_NN1 ,_PUN Midnight_NN1 Run_NN1 ._SENT Thanks_NN2 to_PRP the_AT0 unlikely_AJ0 (_PUL but_CJC inspired_AJ0 )_PUR pairing_NN1 of_PRF Grodin_NP0 and_CJC Robert_NP0 De_NP0 Niro_NP0 (_PUL who_PNQ plays_VVZ a_AT0 snake-bitten_AJ0 cop-turned-bounty_NN1 hunter_NN1 tasked_VVN with_PRP collaring_VVG Mardukas_NN2 and_CJC bringing_VVG him_PNP from_PRP New_NP0 York_NP0 to_PRP LA_NP0 as_PRP the_AT0 clock_NN1 ticks_NN2 )_PUR ,_PUN the_AT0 movie_NN1 is_VBZ ,_PUN in_PRP my_DPS estimation_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 greatest_AJS buddy_NN1 action_NN1 comedy_NN1 in_PRP a_AT0 decade_NN1 of_PRF great_AJ0 buddy_NN1 action_NN1 comedies_NN2 ._SENT Midnight_NN1 Run_NN1 is_VBZ loaded_VVN with_PRP a_AT0 bottomless_AJ0 quiver_NN1 of_PRF quotable_AJ0 one-liners_NN2 ,_PUN action-flick_AJ0 mayhem_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC even_AV0 –_PUN and_CJC perhaps_AV0 most_AV0 surprisingly_AV0 –_PUN heartbreaking_AJ0 poignancy_NN1 ._SENT At_PRP the_AT0 time_NN1 ,_PUN Paramount_NP0 was_VBD pushing_VVG Brest_NP0 to_TO0 cast_VVI the_AT0 more_AV0 bankable_AJ0 Robin_NP0 Williams_NP0 as_PRP De_NP0 Niro_NP0 's_POS foil_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC while_CJS I_PNP adore_VVB Robin_NP0 Williams_NP0 ,_PUN that_DT0 movie_NN1 would_VM0 n't_XX0 have_VHI –_PUN could_VM0 n't_XX0 have_VHI –_PUN been_VBN nearly_AV0 as_CJS memorable_AJ0 ._SENT 
Because_CJS Grodin_NP0 ,_PUN as_CJS only_AV0 Grodin_NP0 can_VM0 ,_PUN never_AV0 lets_VVZ you_PNP see_VVI what_DTQ his_DPS character_NN1 is_VBZ thinking_VVG ,_PUN and_CJC scheming_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC feeling_VVG behind_PRP his_DPS worrywart_AJ0 veneer_NN1 ._SENT For_PRP me_PNP ,_PUN that_DT0 's_VBZ when_AVQ I_PNP finally_AV0 realized_VVD that_CJT Grodin_NP0 was_VBD more_AV0 than_CJS just_AV0 his_DPS lovably_AV0 abrasive_AJ0 shtick_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP was_VBD ,_PUN in_PRP fact_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 truly_AV0 talented_AJ0 leading_AJ0 man_NN1 trapped_VVN in_PRP a_AT0 grumpy_AJ0 character_NN1 actor_NN1 's_POS persona_NN1 ._SENT 
