Matthew Arkin

Arkin was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Jeremy Yaffe, a nurse, and actor Alan Arkin. He is the younger brother of actor Adam Arkin. After his parents separated when he was an infant, Arkin was raised by his mother in California until age 7. He then lived with his father and stepmother, actress Barbara Dana, and half-brother Anthony Dana Arkin, in Greenwich Village. In 1968, Arkin and his brother were directed by their father in the Academy Award nominated short film People Soup. Arkin attended Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York. Arkin graduated from Wesleyan University and earned a J.D. degree from Fordham University School of Law. Although he was raised in a non-denominational household, Arkin is Jewish and identifies with Jewish culture.

For five years Arkin practiced law with small firms in Tarrytown and White Plains, New York. He quit to pursue a career in acting. When asked why he would give up a career in law, Arkin pointed out a laughing audience and said, ""You hear that sound? You know how many people I made laugh when I was a lawyer? None... well, maybe a few judges."