Allen Garfield, born and sometimes credited as Allen Goorwitz (born November 22 1939), is an American film and television actor.

Garfield was born in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Alice (née Lavroff) and Philip Goorwitz.Allen Garfield Biography (1939-)Allen Garfield Biography - Yahoo! Movies A graduate of Weequahic High School, he was a sports reporter and Golden Gloves boxer before becoming an actor. He studied acting at The Actors Studio in New York City, studying with both Lee Strasberg and Elia Kazan, and worked in stage before film. Garfield is a quirky and prolific actor who has appeared in over 100 films and television shows. He is known for playing nervous villains, corrupt businessmen and politicians. In addition he has appeared in two art films by German director Wim Wenders, Der Stand der Dinge and Bis ans Ende der Welt.

Selected filmography

• Bananas (1971)
• Cry Uncle! (1971)
• Get to Know Your Rabbit (1972)
• The Candidate (1972)
• The Conversation (1974)
• Nashville (1975)
• Mother, Jugs, and Speed (1976)
• Gable and Lombard (1976)
• The Brink's Job (1978)
• Skateboard: The Movie (1978)
• One Trick Pony (1980)
• The Stunt Man (1980)
• Continental Divide (1981)
• Der Stand der Dinge (1982)
• One from the Heart (1982)
• Get Crazy (1983)
• The Cotton Club (1984)
• Teachers (1984)
• Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
• Let It Ride (1989)
• Dick Tracy (1990)
• Until the End of the World (1991)
• Miracle Beach (1992)
• The Majestic (2001)