Alan Arkin is an award-winning actor, who's starred in films, plays and on TV. A founding member of the famed Second City improv troupe, he's equally comfortable in comedy and dramatic roles. He's ... directed projects for all media. Arkin began his career as a singer-songwriter and co-wrote "The Banana Boat Song," which Harry Belafonte made into a mega-hit. The New York native is the author of a number of books, including The Lemming Condition, which is in the White House Library.