Alan Alda, known for his work in Hollywood as an actor, director, and writer, is a devoted husband and father. On the other hand, he had a rough childhood and a hard time getting along with both of his parents.
Alan Alda was given the name Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo on January 28, 1936, in New York. He is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce on the television series “M*A*S*H,” which aired from 1972 until 1983.
Growing up with his actor and singer father, Robert Alda, and his singer and actress mother, Joan Browne, was difficult for Alan Alda before he began his successful career as an actor, writer, and director. His childhood was marked with ups and downs.
Alan Alda at the Television Critics Association Summer Tour, 2001, Pasadena, California. | Source: Getty Images
Alda describes his childhood in his memoirs, titled “Never Have Your Dog Stuffed—and Other Things I’ve Learned,” including his attendance at burlesque performances in which his father performed and his relationship with his parents.
ALDA’S CHILDHOOD
The performer who played “The Four Seasons” also wrote about his mother and the difficulties she had with her mental health. In the 1940s and 1950s, mental illness was taboo, so Alda had to deal with his mother’s problem on his own.
“How much easier it could have been for my father and me to face her illness together, compare notes, and figure out strategies. Instead, each of us was on [our] own.”
Alan Alda and Mike Farrell pictured in onset for “M*A*S*H.” | Source: Getty Images
The performer who played “The Four Seasons” also wrote about his mother and the difficulties she had with her mental health. In the 1940s and 1950s, mental illness was taboo, so Alda had to deal with his mother’s problem on his own.
When Robert arrived home, his wife began accusing him of having an affair with another woman. Because of the fight, Alda’s mom pulled out a paring knife and tried to hit Alda’s dad.
However, Alda, who was only six years old then, snatched the knife from his parents and slammed it into the table, causing the blade to become deformed. This prevented anyone from being injured.
Alan Alda was pictured in 1978. | Source: Getty Images
Later, when Alda attempted to share the harrowing experience with his parents, his mother told him that he had imagined the incident, and his father said nothing about the situation. Alda’s efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
Alda had a very interesting childhood, even though he had to deal with his mother’s unstable mental health. He began going to burlesque shows when he was very young and made his stage debut when he was just a baby.
Another interesting anecdote that Alda included in his memoir was about the time when, when he was only two years old, his father posed him for a photo with a tobacco pipe for a newspaper to gain publicity for the burlesque club where he worked.
Alda revealed the details of the article that discussed his smoking as a young child. He also wrote that his mother had mentioned to the publication that he aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps as a performer.
Alan Alda pictured at the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium, 2019, Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
The write-up also featured photographs of Alda showing an array of emotions, all of which were instructions from his mother. In retrospect, Alda wrote:
“The caption under them reads, ‘Alphonse wants to be an actor.’ It might just as accurately have read, ‘Alphonse wants to please.'”
Alda was destined to have a career in the entertainment industry and would do so with remarkable skill. In 1959, he made his Broadway debut in the play “Only in America,” which is considered the beginning of his career.
HIS CAREER
A few years later, in 1963, he made his debut in the film “Gone Are the Days,” an adaptation of the theater play “Purlie Victorious,” in which he had also starred. This was his first role in the film industry.
Alan Alda and Arlene Alda pictured at a memorial service for broadcasting executive William Paley, 1990, New York City. | Source: Getty Images
After that, Alda played many different roles on Broadway and in movies, including “Fair Game for Lovers” in 1964, “Paper Lion” in 1968, and “Jenny,” which starred Marlo Thomas, in 1970.
Two years later, he was cast in the lead role of his most famous role, Hawkeye Pierce, in the comedy and drama series “M*A*S*H,” set during the war. During its run, Alda appeared in some other features and films.
PERSONAL LIFE
In the same way that Alda was successful in his professional life, he was also successful in his personal life. In 1957, before his professional life took off, he tied the knot with the woman who would become his wife, Arlene Wiess. The couple had three children: Eve, Elizabeth, and Beatrice.
Arlene is another talented artist in the family. She was an exceptionally talented clarinetist, so she was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue her education in music in Cologne, Germany. Later, she became an associate first clarinetist with the Houston Symphony.
Alan Alda and Arlene Alda pictured at an award ceremony in 1999, New York City. | Source: Getty Images
The devoted mother focused all her attention on raising her and Alda’s three daughters, so she gave up her profession as a musician. On the other hand, she switched jobs entirely and became a photographer.
Her photographs have been displayed in various exhibitions and publications over the years, including Vogue, New York magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, People, and Good Housekeeping. Her work has also been published in various publications.
Arlene contributed her considerable skills to the film “The Four Seasons.” Alda not only created, directed, and starred in the film, but his two youngest daughters also appeared in it. This was truly a family movie in every aspect.
Alan Alda, his wife Arlene, and two of their daughters in 1981, New York City. | Source: Getty Images
HIS DAUGHTERS
Elizabeth and Beatrice, now in their early 60s, both started as actresses, but as they matured, their careers followed different paths.
After another movie credit in “Nights of Creeps” in 1986, Elizabeth decided to pursue a career in special education. Alda shared about his daughter’s career:
“Elizabeth decided she didn’t care for acting. She became a teacher of the deaf and a special education teacher in general.”
Beatrice Alda at the 2014 “CMEE In The City” fundraiser at Riverpark, 2014, New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Following her performance in “The Four Seasons,” Beatrice moved on to star in a number of films, including “A New Life” and “Men of Respect.” Later on, however, she began working behind the camera.
Beatrice made her debut as a director with the documentary titled “Out Late” in the year 2008. Additionally, she is the proprietor of a production industry that goes by the name Forever Films Studios.
Eve, the oldest of Alda’s daughters, did not follow in her father’s footsteps in the film industry and chose to live a comparatively private life compared to that of her younger siblings.
Alan Alda at the 41st Annual Gracies Awards Luncheon at Cipriani 42nd Street, 2016, New York City. | Source: Getty Images
According to Closer Weekly, Eve got her degree in psychology from Connecticut College.In addition to that, she received training in social work from the Simmons School in Boston.
Because of their daughters’ many accomplishments, Arlene and Alda have reason to be pleased with themselves. The duration of the couple’s relationship is another reason they have reason to be pleased.
Throughout their respective careers, Alda and Arlene have often shared kind words about one another and offered advice on maintaining a healthy and happy marriage.
Alan Alda and Arlene Alda pictured walking in Midtown Manhattan, 2010, New York City. | Source: Getty Images
At the New York Film Festival, Alan Alda joked about how his wife Alrene believed the secret to a happy marriage had a “short memory.” Having said that, he also disclosed that they are both encouraging of one another.
It is noteworthy that Alda and Arlene have maintained a successful relationship despite working in a business in which stable, long-term partnerships are not necessarily the norm.
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