Alan Alda’s stint as Hawkeye Pierce on “MAS*H” elevated him to the status of a Hollywood legend. He became famous not only for his acting, but also for bouncing back from adversity as a child.
The role of the astute doctor Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce catapulted this 86-year-old actor, director, and writer to international fame.
Unfortunately, now we learn that he is dealing with Parkinson’s illness. He has just spoken about the major challenges of living with this disease.
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The American audience adored the 1972–1983 television series “MAS*H,” which had elements of both humor and drama set during World War II. Fans rank it among the finest series of all time, and the series finale ranks among the most-watched in television history.
A member of the cast, Alan Alda, was named Best Actor in a Television Series six times by the Golden Globes. His upbringing was challenging despite his family’s prominence in show business. It began when he was a little boy and was full of upheaval, difficulties, and new experiences.
In 1936, Alan came into this world in the Bronx. Robert Alda’s career as a burlesque theater actor and singer allowed his parents to travel extensively throughout the United States when he was a child. His mother, Joan Browne, was a former beauty pageant winner who also took care of the family.
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(“Never Have Your Dog Stuffed— and Other Things I’ve Learned”), Alan revealed some private information in his autobiography. He described his parents’ struggles: his dad’s late nights at the office and his mom’s emotional struggles. In the 1940s and 1950s, when this occurred, few people would openly discuss their struggles with mental illness, and those who did often had limited access to treatment. Therefore, Alan’s family had to figure it out independently.
Alan regretted that they were not able to confront his mom’s illness as a team. However, as he detailed in his 2005 book, the family members were left to deal with it individually.
Even at the tender age of six, he recalled a trying time in his boyhood. While his dad was at work late, he and his mom stayed up. Mom accused dad of being with another woman when he returned home. When things escalated too far, Alan’s mother threatened to use a knife on his father. The knife was about to cut someone, but luckily Alan stepped in, grabbed it, and stabbed the table to stop it.
Alan David
When Alan brought up the knife incident with his parents later on, they denied knowing anything about it and his mom even suggested he had dreamt it.
Alan was diagnosed with polio the next year, at the age of seven. A severe case of this disease might render you bedridden and severely impaired in your mobility.
Telling AARP magazine, “I got it when I was 7,” was his explanation. At Warner’s movie theater, I honked the entire evening due to my congested nose. I was unable to blow my nose. My legs were shaky and I felt sick when I got home. I woke up the following day with a stiff neck. Nothing could get me out of bed.
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Alan had to endure six months of challenging therapy following his two weeks in the hospital. As part of his treatment, they utilized heated cloths to wrap around his limbs, increasing blood flow and strengthening his muscles to combat the polio-induced weakness.
Whenever Alan thought back on it, he recalled wrapping extremely heated blankets around his legs and arms. I found it challenging. My parents had it tough; they couldn’t afford to bring in outside help, so they had to administer the harsh treatment themselves. It’s more reasonable to hire a professional to handle the difficult tasks related to your child.
Alan made a miraculous recovery, thanks to the treatment. It was as if the sickness had never touched him.
Aside from overcoming numerous challenges, Alan had an extraordinary upbringing. At a very young age, he began to enjoy burlesque performances, and he even had his first public performance at the tender age of one.
In 1979, Alan Alda and Meryl Streep were photographed in New York City / Getty Images.
Alan recounts in his autobiography his frequent family vacations from a young age. As a toddler, Alan would occasionally watch their risqué acts as many as five times a day, as his dad was a burlesque singer.
His dad wanted some burlesque club publicity when he was just two years old. To get the newspaper’s attention, a photographer snapped a photo of Alan acting as if he were puffing on a pipe. Wearing his woolen coat, Alan carried a pipe brimming with tobacco, projecting an air of seriousness.
Alan succeeded academically despite a troubled upbringing and a near-fatal illness. He attended New York City’s Fordham University to major in English. He honed his abilities as a performer and as a comedian by joining a group.
The 1959 Broadway production of “Only in America” marked the beginning of his official career.
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After waiting a few more years, Alan finally got his big screen debut in 1963’s “Gone Are the Days.” He had previously been in the stage production of “Purlie Victorious,” which was adapted for the big screen. His breakout role as Hawkeye Pierce in “MAS*H” was after he had already appeared in a number of films and Broadway productions.
He kept acting on television after “MAS*H,” appearing in series such as “The West Wing” and “30 Rock.” Acting in films like “Same Time, Next Year” and directing his debut feature, “The Four Seasons,” garnered him critical acclaim. For his outstanding performance in 2004’s “The Aviator,” Alan received an Academy Award nomination.
Photograph by Jim Spellman/WireImage
His private life was equally successful; in 1957, he wed Arlene Wiess, a writer, photographer, and musician. They are still wed and doing well after 65 years.
After meeting the love of his life, Alan knew immediately that she was the one he would spend the remainder of his life with.
The two first set eyes on each other at a Manhattan party, many years before Alan would become famous as the legendary Hawkeye.
