Jeremy Yaffe is best known as Alan Arkin’s first wife and the mother of actors Adam and Matthew Arkin. Their marriage lasted from 1955 to 1961, during the early years of his career. She also appears in the history of The Baby Sitters, a children’s folk music group.
Published family accounts identify her as a nurse and describe her role in Matthew’s early upbringing in California. These details give her story dimensions beyond her former marriage. Her music work, motherhood, and nursing background provide a fuller picture of her place within the Arkin family.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jeremy Yaffe |
| Known For | Being Alan Arkin’s first wife and the mother of Adam and Matthew Arkin |
| Published Occupation | Nurse, as identified in a 1999 family profile |
| Music Background | Original member of the children’s folk group The Baby Sitters |
| Former Husband | Alan Arkin, actor, filmmaker, and musician |
| Marriage Years | 1955–1961 |
| Children | Two sons, Adam Arkin and Matthew Arkin |
| Older Son | Adam Arkin, born in 1956, actor and director |
| Younger Son | Matthew Arkin, born in 1960, actor, author, and educator |
| Early Family Location | Raised Matthew in California during his early childhood |
| Name Used in a 1999 Profile | Jeremy Wakefield |
A 1999 profile of Matthew Arkin identifies his mother as Jeremy Wakefield, describes her as a nurse, and recounts his early years with her in California.
Her Reported Age and Early Background
The Independent reported that Jeremy Yaffe was 18 when she married Alan Arkin in December 1955. That suggests a birth year around 1937 and an approximate age of 89 in 2026. An exact birthday is not established by that account.
The same report identifies her as Arkin’s former classmate at Bennington College in Vermont. Their relationship developed before his major professional success, during his early years of music and acting work. Established reporting provides less detail about her childhood, parents, or specific college studies, leaving those parts of her background less securely documented.
Her Marriage to Alan Arkin in 1955
Jeremy Yaffe and Alan Arkin married in December 1955 after meeting as students at Bennington College. The Independent describes her as 18 and pregnant with their first son, Adam, at the time. Alan, born in 1934, was 21 and still working toward a steady career.
Their early married life included a move to St Louis, where Alan tried to establish himself as an actor. Adam was born in 1956, and their second son, Matthew, followed in 1960. The marriage therefore began during a period of young parenthood and professional uncertainty, well before Alan’s later Hollywood recognition.
Their Early Family Years Before Alan’s Hollywood Fame
Jeremy and Alan’s early family years coincided with his efforts to find dependable work in entertainment. The Independent describes him taking occasional music jobs and selling science-fiction stories while pursuing acting. They were raising a young family during this period, before the awards and major film roles that later defined his career.
In 1960, Alan joined Chicago’s Second City, an important step in his development as a performer. His Tony-winning role in Enter Laughing followed in 1963, with major film recognition coming later. These milestones place his marriage to Jeremy within the earlier, less established years of his career.
Her Music Work With The Baby Sitters
Jeremy Yaffe was an original member of The Baby Sitters, performing under the married name Jeremy Arkin. Alongside Alan Arkin, Lee Hays, and Doris Kaplan, she helped make folk recordings for children and parents. A May 1959 review names her among the group’s four adult performers.
The reviewed album, Folk Songs for Babies, Small Children, Parents and Baby Sitters, featured familiar material such as “This Old Man” and “Over in the Meadow.” Young Adam Arkin also participated, including a duet with his father. This contemporary review provides a direct record of Jeremy’s musical work during her marriage.
Their Two Sons, Adam and Matthew Arkin
Jeremy and Alan became parents twice during their marriage. Their first son, Adam Arkin, was born on August 19, 1956. Their second son, Matthew Arkin, was born on March 21, 1960, the year before the couple’s divorce. Both children arrived during Alan’s early years in music and acting.
The brothers appeared together in the short film People Soup, directed by their father. Adam’s career later encompassed acting and directing, while Matthew’s included acting, writing, and teaching. They also have a younger paternal half-brother, Anthony, whose mother is Alan’s second wife, Barbara Dana.
Their 1961 Divorce and the Family’s Next Chapter
Jeremy and Alan’s marriage ended in 1961, while Adam and Matthew were still young. The Independent’s retrospective describes financial pressure and uncertain work during these early family years. The divorce coincided with Alan’s developing career with Chicago’s Second City, an important step toward his later success.
The same report says Jeremy remarried and retrained as a nurse after her marriage to Alan ended. Alan married actress Barbara Dana in 1964. Matthew spent his early childhood with Jeremy in California before later moving to live with his father and stepmother in New York at around seven.
Raising Matthew in California During His Early Childhood
Matthew Arkin was born in Brooklyn in 1960 and spent his earliest years with Jeremy in California after his parents separated. A 1999 New York Post profile says she raised him until about seven, providing a clear timeframe for her role in his early upbringing.
He later went to live with his father and stepmother, Barbara Dana, in Greenwich Village, New York. The profile identifies Jeremy by the surname Wakefield and describes her as a nurse. These details connect Matthew’s childhood account with Jeremy Yaffe, while offering little information about their everyday household life in California.
The Jeremy Wakefield Name in a 1999 Profile
A New York Post profile published on November 17, 1999, identifies Matthew Arkin’s mother as Jeremy Wakefield. It also describes her as a nurse and recounts her role in his California childhood. These family connections link the name to Jeremy Yaffe, Alan Arkin’s first wife.
Separate reporting in The Independent states that she remarried after her divorce from Alan. However, the 1999 profile does not name a later husband or provide a wedding date. Wakefield is a documented name in the published record, while the details and timing of its adoption remain unclear in the sources reviewed.
Adam Arkin’s Acting and Directing Career
Jeremy’s older son, Adam Arkin, built a career across television, film, and theatre. His acting credits include Dr. Aaron Shutt in Chicago Hope and the recurring character Adam in Northern Exposure. He also received a Tony nomination for his performance in I Hate Hamlet in 1991.
His Wikipedia biography documents directing credits for Sons of Anarchy, Justified, and Fargo. He won the 2002 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Children’s Special for My Louisiana Sky. His work has also included a co-executive producer role on Get Shorty.
Matthew Arkin’s Acting, Writing, and Teaching Work
Jeremy’s younger son, Matthew Arkin, has worked across television, film, and theatre. His credits include Get Shorty, NCIS, and Liar, Liar, alongside Broadway productions such as The Sunshine Boys. He also originated the role of Gabe in Dinner with Friends, earning a Drama Desk nomination.
Matthew is also the author of the suspense novel In the Country of the Blind. His official biography records five years directing South Coast Repertory’s Acting Intensive Program and nine years as an adjunct professor at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.
Barbara Dana and the Extended Arkin Family
Barbara Dana became Alan Arkin’s second wife in 1964 and was stepmother to Adam and Matthew. An actress and writer, she also replaced Jeremy in The Baby Sitters’ lineup. Their son, Anthony Dana Arkin, was born in 1967 and is Adam and Matthew’s younger paternal half-brother.
Matthew joined Alan and Barbara’s household in Greenwich Village, New York, at around seven, after his early childhood with Jeremy in California. Alan and Barbara divorced in 1994, and he married psychotherapist Suzanne Newlander in 1996. That marriage lasted until his death in 2023.
Her Later Life and Limited Public Updates
A 2008 Princeton Info profile of Matthew Arkin identifies his mother as Jeremy Wakefield and describes her as a retired nurse. Matthew discussed the family’s history of remarriage and divorce, while describing generally good relationships among its members. This provides a dated glimpse of her later family circumstances.
Bennington College’s fiftieth-reunion booklet for the class of 1958 also lists Jeremy Yaffe Wakefield under “Without Update.” These records provide historical reference points for her name and professional background. They offer limited information about her present circumstances, which remain unestablished in the sources reviewed.
Personal Net Worth Claims and Alan Arkin’s Wealth
Some online biographies put Jeremy Yaffe’s net worth at around $1 million. Legit.ng notes that this estimate comes from fan sources and lacks authoritative verification. The reviewed material provides no transparent calculation or financial records supporting that amount, so it remains an unsubstantiated claim.
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Alan Arkin’s wealth at $10 million at the time of his death in 2023. This is a separate estimate of his finances. Their former marriage and their sons’ careers do not establish Jeremy’s income, assets, or financial position, which require their own evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jeremy Yaffe?
She was Alan Arkin’s first wife and is the mother of actors Adam and Matthew Arkin. Her documented background includes nursing and children’s folk music.
How old is Jeremy Yaffe?
The Independent reported that she was 18 when she married in December 1955. That suggests birth around 1937 and an approximate age of 89 in 2026.
What did Jeremy Yaffe do for a living?
Published family profiles identify her as a nurse, later described as retired. She also performed with The Baby Sitters, a children’s folk music group.
When did Jeremy Yaffe marry Alan Arkin?
She married Alan Arkin in December 1955 after they met as Bennington College classmates. She was reportedly 18, and Alan was 21 at the time.
When did Jeremy Yaffe and Alan Arkin divorce?
Their marriage ended in 1961, after they had two sons. The divorce came before Alan’s major Broadway and Hollywood successes during the following years.
Who are Jeremy Yaffe’s children?
Her sons are Adam Arkin, born in 1956, and Matthew Arkin, born in 1960. Adam became an actor and director, while Matthew also writes and teaches.
Was Jeremy Yaffe a member of The Baby Sitters?
Yes. She performed as Jeremy Arkin alongside Alan Arkin, Lee Hays, and Doris Kaplan. A 1959 record review documents her participation in the group’s recordings.
Is Jeremy Yaffe also referred to as Jeremy Wakefield?
Yes. A 1999 New York Post profile identifies Matthew’s mother as Jeremy Wakefield. Bennington College reunion material also records her with the Wakefield surname.
Did Jeremy Yaffe raise Matthew Arkin in California?
Yes. A 1999 profile says Matthew lived with her in California until around seven, then moved to his father and stepmother’s household in New York.
What is Jeremy Yaffe’s estimated net worth?
An estimate of around $1 million appears online, but it lacks a transparent financial basis. It should be treated as an unsubstantiated claim.
Conclusion: Jeremy Yaffe’s Nursing Background, Music, and Family Story
Her story includes a young marriage to Alan Arkin, the birth of Adam and Matthew, participation in The Baby Sitters, and a later nursing career. Contemporary recording reviews, family interviews, and college records provide evidence for these different chapters. Together, they show how her life intersected with music and an established acting family.
The strongest account combines that family timeline with Jeremy’s own professional background. Her later circumstances and personal finances remain less clearly documented, so these parts of her story require careful, dated sourcing. For more reading, visit Updated Magazine.
