Alec Baldwin to retire

Actor Alec Baldwin has announced his plans to retire in 2012, and considers his acting career to date "a total failure". Say it ain't so, Arec!

Actor, comedian and winner of the Best Baldwin Brother award for 28 years in a row, Alec Baldwin has announced he is to wind down his acting career before packing it all in at age 54 in 2012.

Baldwin, speaking to Men's Journal, claims he's lost his passion for his craft.

It's hard to tell whether or not he's being serious with that last remark - he is delightfully deadpan in 30 Rock as I'm sure you know - but if he is, Baldwin is doing himself a serious disservice. I'm hard-pressed to think of anyone who can steal a movie with small cameo roles like he does. Think The Departed and Glengarry Glen Ross. Fuck you, that's his name.

Thankfully, he'll stick with 30 Rock until its duration but says he'll officially retire from acting at the wrap party. This is clearly the entertainment industry's loss: watch this clip below and tell me the man doesn't have a gift for comedy.

RIP Alec Baldwin. Retire in peace.