Alan Alda is, quite simply one of America's most beloved actors. And he's hugely accomplished as well!
Born under the name Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo, he is also a comedian, film director, producer and screenwriter. It just seems to be in his blood. His father was the Italian-American actor Robert Alda.
Alda's best known role was playing chief surgeon Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce in the landmark medical-themed sitcom M*A*S*H for 11 seasons. Today that show is considered a television classic. He twice won the "Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series" for this role. Alda was later nominated for the "Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor", for his portrayal of career politician Ralph Owen Brewster in the biographical film "The Aviator".
Alda was born in the Bronx, New York City in 1936. By that time, his father Robert Alda had already started performing in vaudeville and burlesque theaters. Alda's mother was former beauty queen Joan Browne. Alda spend much of his childhood touring the United States with his father, as his father's acting job required frequent travel.
In 1943, Alda contracted polio. His parents chose to administer a painful treatment regimen, "consisting of applying hot woolen blankets to his limbs and stretching his muscles". This treatment had been developed by the Australian nurse Elizabeth Kenny and was based on the principle of muscle rehabilitation. Though the treatment was considered controversial, it seemingly helped Alda to recover his mobility.
In 1956, Alda was introduced to Jewish-American musician Arlene Weiss (a clarinetist). They soon bonded due to their similar tastes in humor, and started dating each other. They were married in 1957. and have three daughters.
Alda honed his craft as part of the the improvisational group Second City, and the regional theater company Cleveland Play House. He made his film debut in the comedy-drama film "Gone Are the Days!". The film was a satire of segregation and bigotry, based on a play written by Ossie Davis. Alda was part of the recurring cast of "That Was the Week That Was", a political satire series which targeted various political figures of the era.
In 1968, Alda had his first starring role in a film. He portrayed sports journalist George Plimpton in the sports comedy "Paper Lion". After that Alda appeared in many film roles.
Alda got the biggest break in his career when cast to play chief surgeon Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce in M*A*S*H . The series depicted life within a "Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" (MASH) during the Korean War. It was based on the novel "MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors" by military surgeon H. Richard Hornberger. The series often questioned the United States' role in the Cold War, and satirized authority figures. Alda appeared in all 256 episodes of the series, which helped him become a household name. Alda eventually served as the series' producer, creative consultant, and co-writer.
Alda made his directorial debut with the romantic comedy film "The Four Seasons", depicting the relationships between three upper middle-class married couples. Alda had a hiatus in his acting and directing career during the early 1980s, as he had to take care of his terminally-ill parents. He attempted a comeback by directing the comedy film "Sweet Liberty" , which parodies Hollywood filmmaking. Alda's next directing effort was the romantic comedy "A New Life" in 1988 which depicted the problems faced by middle-aged divorced people.
Alda had his final directing credit with the romantic comedy "Betsy's Wedding" in 1990. Alda played the main role of Eddie Hopper, a construction contractor. From 2018 to 2020, Alda had a recurring role in the crime drama television series "Ray Donovan". The series depicted the life and career of a professional "fixer" of the entertainment industry, in charge of bribes, payoffs, threats, crime-scene clean-up, and other illegal activities. Alda also appeared in the spin-off film "Ray Donovan: The Movie" , which concluded remaining plot-lines from the series. Alda is now 86-years-old -- a rich and full life with no announced plans to retire!
H/T: IMDb
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