Two-thirds of American movies are extensions of commercials — they tell you how to feel and they tell you how to think — rather than letting you figure it out on your own," said Arkin, who has been acting since the 1960s and won the supporting actor Oscar for "Little Miss Sunshine." "Ben treats the audience like adults. He doesn't shove you into endless close-ups, and the music doesn't tell you what's going to happen next, which is something I hate in American movies.

Arkin attended Bennington College in Vermont. The band members co-composed the group's 1956 hit "The Banana Boat Song" a reworking with some new lyrics of a traditional Jamaican calypso folk song of the same name combined with another titled "Hill and Gully Rider". Writing
Arkin is the author of many books including the children's stories Tony's Hard Work Day (illustrated by James Stevenson 1972) The Lemming Condition (illustrated by Joan Sandin 1976) Halfway Through the Door: An Actor's Journey Toward Self (1979) and The Clearing (1986 continuation of Lemming).

He is the father of actors Adam Arkin Anthony Arkin and Matthew Arkin. Alan Wolf Arkin (born March 26 1934) is an American actor director musician and singer.