Allen Garfield, an American film and television actor, succumbed to Covid-19 on April 7, 2020.
Garfield was born in Newark, New Jersey, to a Jewish family, the son of Alice (née Lavroff), and Philip Goorwitz. He had one sister, Lois. A 1957 graduate of Weequahic High School, he was a sports reporter and Golden Gloves boxer before becoming an actor. He attended The Actors Studio in New York City, studying with both Lee Strasberg and Elia Kazan, and worked on stage before acting in film.
Garfield appeared in over 100 films and television shows. He is known for having played nervous villains, corrupt businessmen and politicians. In addition he appeared in two art films by German director Wim Wenders, Der Stand der Dinge and Bis ans Ende der Welt. Quentin Tarantino once studied with Garfield when Tarantino was beginning his career as a filmmaker. Garfield's only lead role was in the 1978 film "Skateboard" with Leif Garrett.
For a year after his father's death and in tribute to him, Allen used his family name, Goorwitz, for his screen credits.
When Garfield suffered a stroke prior to filming his role in The Ninth Gate (1999), director Roman Polanski opted to use Garfield's paralyzed face for his character rather than conceal it or recast the role. Garfield suffered a massive stroke in 2004 and thereafter was a long-term nursing care resident at The Motion Picture Home.
On April 7, 2020, Garfield died of Covid-19. He was 80 years old.