Jeremy Yaffe is an American former nurse best known as the first wife of actor Alan Arkin. They met at Bennington College and married in 1955. They had two sons, Adam Arkin and Matthew Arkin, before divorcing in 1961.
After the divorce, Jeremy trained as a registered nurse and lived away from Hollywood. She has kept her later life private, and her exact current location is not publicly known.
Jeremy Yaffe’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jeremy Yaffe |
| Later Name | Jeremy Yaffe Wakefield |
| Birth Year | 1937 |
| Birthplace | Massachusetts, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Bennington College |
| Studies | Dance, theater, and music |
| Profession | Registered nurse |
| Known For | First wife of Alan Arkin |
| Ex-Husband | Alan Arkin |
| Marriage | 1955–1961 |
| Children | Adam Arkin and Matthew Arkin |
| Current Location | Not publicly known |
| Net Worth | Not reliably known |
Jeremy Yaffe’s Early Life
Jeremy Yaffe was reportedly born in 1937 in Massachusetts.
Her exact birthday has not been publicly confirmed. The names of her parents and siblings are also not widely known.
One source says she grew up in a Jewish-American family.
How Old Is Jeremy Yaffe?
Jeremy’s exact age cannot be confirmed because her full date of birth is not publicly available.
If the reported 1937 birth year is correct, she would be around 88 or 89 years old in 2026.
Education at Bennington College
Jeremy attended Bennington College in Vermont.
She reportedly studied dance, theater, and music.
It was at Bennington that she met her future husband, Alan Arkin. Both were students at the college.
How Did Jeremy Yaffe Meet Alan Arkin?
Jeremy and Alan met while attending Bennington College.
They started a relationship and married in December 1955.
Jeremy was reportedly 18 years old, while Alan was 21.
According to Alan’s memoir An Improvised Life, the college was not pleased about their decision to marry.
The couple left college and moved to New York City.
Jeremy Yaffe and Alan Arkin’s Early Marriage
Alan initially struggled to find steady acting work.
He joined the folk group The Tarriers, which gave him a more stable income. The group also toured Europe, and Jeremy and their young family reportedly joined him.
Alan later left the group because he wanted to focus again on acting and theater.
Jeremy became pregnant with their second child in 1959.
Their son Matthew Arkin was born on March 21, 1960, in Brooklyn.
Why Did Jeremy Yaffe and Alan Arkin Separate?
The family’s uncertain financial situation and Alan’s career reportedly put pressure on their marriage.
In his memoir, Alan wrote that the insecurity of their lifestyle became too much for Jeremy.
She reportedly left with their children when Matthew was around three months old.
Jeremy and Alan divorced in 1961.
What Did Jeremy Yaffe Do After the Divorce?
Jeremy returned to school after her marriage ended.
She retrained as a registered nurse and built a career outside the entertainment industry.
One source says she worked in healthcare for decades. Specific hospitals, nursing specialties, and employment dates are not publicly documented.
Her nursing career became her main known profession.
Jeremy Yaffe’s Later Marriages
Jeremy reportedly remarried after her divorce from Alan Arkin.
One source claims she married three more times by around 2000. However, the names and dates of all her later marriages are not clearly documented.
She has also been identified as Jeremy Yaffe Wakefield or Jeremy Wakefield, suggesting Wakefield became one of her later surnames.
A 2000 report reportedly described her as single at that time.
Her current relationship status is not publicly known.
Jeremy Yaffe’s Two Sons
Jeremy had two children with Alan Arkin:
- Adam Arkin
- Matthew Arkin
Both later entered the entertainment industry.
Alan also had another son, Anthony Arkin, with his second wife, Barbara Dana. Anthony is not Jeremy Yaffe’s son.
Adam Arkin
Adam Arkin was born on August 19, 1956, in Brooklyn, New York.
He became an actor and director.
Adam is well known for playing Dr. Aaron Shutt in Chicago Hope. His acting career has brought him nominations for major awards, including the Emmys and Tony Awards.
He also became a television director.
His directing credits include Succession, Sons of Anarchy, Masters of Sex, and Billions.
In 2002, Adam won a Daytime Emmy Award for directing My Louisiana Sky.
Matthew Arkin
Matthew Arkin was born on March 21, 1960, in Brooklyn.
After his parents separated, he reportedly lived with Jeremy in California until he was seven. He later lived with Alan and his second wife, Barbara Dana, in Greenwich Village.
Matthew graduated with honors in English from Wesleyan University in 1982.
He later attended Fordham Law School and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1986.
Matthew practiced law before moving into acting.
His credits include Get Shorty, Rescue Me, NCIS, Aquarius, Law & Order, Criminal Minds, Liar Liar, and Margot at the Wedding.
He has also worked on Broadway.
Adam and Matthew Appeared in People Soup
Adam and Matthew appeared together in the 1969 short film People Soup.
Their father wrote and directed the film.
Alan reportedly changed one of the original characters so both of his sons could appear together.
People Soup received an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film.
Who Was Alan Arkin?
Alan Arkin was an American actor, director, filmmaker, and musician. He was born on March 26, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York.
Jeremy married him before he became a major Hollywood star.
Alan made his Broadway debut in Enter Laughing and won a Tony Award for his performance.
His film career included The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, Wait Until Dark, Little Miss Sunshine, and Argo.
He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Little Miss Sunshine.
Later, he appeared in the Netflix series The Kominsky Method.
Alan died on June 29, 2023, at age 89.
Alan Arkin’s Later Marriages
After divorcing Jeremy, Alan married Barbara Dana in 1964.
They had a son, Anthony Arkin, and divorced in 1994.
Alan married Suzanne Newlander in 1996. They remained together until his death in 2023.
Where Is Jeremy Yaffe Now?
Jeremy has kept her later life private.
Her exact current location is not publicly known. There is also no reliable recent information about her daily activities or whether she still works.
Given her reported birth year, she is now in her late 80s, but her current lifestyle remains private.
Jeremy Yaffe’s Net Worth
Jeremy Yaffe’s personal net worth has not been publicly confirmed.
Some websites estimate it at around $1 million, mainly based on her nursing career. There is no reliable financial evidence supporting this figure.
Does Jeremy Yaffe Have Social Media?
No verified public social media account belonging to Jeremy has been identified.
She has generally stayed outside the public spotlight despite her connection to Alan Arkin and their famous sons.
Facts About Jeremy Yaffe
- Jeremy Yaffe was reportedly born in Massachusetts in 1937.
- Her exact birthday is not publicly known.
- She studied dance, theater, and music at Bennington College.
- She met Alan Arkin while they were students.
- Jeremy married Alan in December 1955 at age 18.
- They moved to New York after marrying.
- Their first son, Adam Arkin, was born in 1956.
- Their second son, Matthew Arkin, was born in 1960.
- Jeremy and Alan divorced in 1961.
- She later trained as a registered nurse.
- Jeremy reportedly remarried several times.
- She has also been known as Jeremy Yaffe Wakefield.
- Both of her sons became actors.
- Her son Adam also became a television director.
- Matthew practiced law before focusing on acting.
- Anthony Arkin is not Jeremy’s son.
- Her current location is not publicly known.
- Her personal net worth has not been reliably confirmed.
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