Oh, no: 'M*A*S*H' Actor (and tremendous progressive) Alan Alda Says He Has Parkinson's Disease

[hlthe2b]

He may be an entertainer, but also a great progressive, so I think this deserves a GD posting.

The 82-year-old, who was diagnosed over three years ago, said he decided to share the news “to encourage others to take action.”
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/alan-alda-parkinsons-disease_us_5b6057c6e4b0b15aba9cc021

Actor Alan Alda revealed on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

The 82-year-old, who’s best known for his role as Army Capt. “Hawkeye” Pierce in the TV series “M*A*S*H,” shared the news on CBS, saying he was diagnosed three and a half years ago but only decided now to go public about it after seeing some of the disease’s physical effects progress.

Link to tweet

[dsc]

1. I had seen him maybe even in part of that interview

and thought something was up. He is 82 but he really looked much older than the last time I had seen him in an interview. I hope he is doing well though.

[hlthe2b]

2. Yes.. he'd declined recently but is still sharp. I adore him....

[2naSalit]

3. My mom

was diagnosed at that age and she's just now starting to slip away in a really noticeable way... at 91.

I wish him well and that he's able to hang on as long as he feels up to it.

[hlthe2b]

4. Good to hear a slow progression course with your Mother. I wish her well and Alda, for sure.

[Nonhlanhla]

5. I've had a lifelong "crush" on him

I wish him well and more years of relative health despite the Parkinsons.

[calimary]

25. So have I.

We still enjoy binge watching old episodes of “M*A*S*H”. As recently as last night.

[Auggie]

6. Alda fans may want to catch-up on some of his books ...

Such as "Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned" — loved it!

[calimary]

26. AND - look up Arlene Alda, his wife.

She wrote a couple of children’s books that my kids just loved! LOVED ‘em! Perfect for bedtime reading.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Oh no!

I wish him the best and hope he can slow the progression. He is such a treasure.

[geardaddy]

8. He survived polio as a child, as well.

Good vibes to him. He really is a great liberal.

[ChazInAz]

30. Inspired me

I had a bout with it in those pre-Salk days, has left me a little gimpy to this day. When I found out Alda had been through it, too, I added him to my theatrical pantheon, along with Boris Karloff with his bad legs, back and wheelchair. They served as professional role models for years!

[geardaddy]

36. My dad had a bout with it too

as a teenager in the late 30s or early 40s. He managed to have little problem after that (joined the Navy in 1945), but it did affect him in his later years a little.

[NurseJackie]

9. The last thing I remember seeing him appear in was "The Big-C"...

The last thing I remember seeing him appear in was "The Big-C" on Showtime.

[geardaddy]

10. I think his most recent appearance was in The Good Fight

...the runoff of The Good Wife on CBS.

[kag]

13. Thanks for this.

But I think you mean "spinoff".

I'm a big Alda fan, both in life and in entertainment. Thanks for this info. I'm going to find/watch it.

[geardaddy]

15. D'oh! Yes, "spinoff"

LOL

FYI The Good Fight is on CBS Extra (or Prime or whatever). You have to pay to watch it. It's totally worth it though!

[AwakeAtLast]

11. My Dad has Parkinson's

He is 79, diagnosed three years ago, but symptomatic much longer. Severe tremor in his left hand, shuffling walk. We are going to try CBD oil on him.

I wish Mr. Alda all the best, and hope this spurs more activity towards better treatment or cure!

[lpbk2713]

12. Alda was a feminist before it was trendy for males to be feminist.

It's good to know he is approaching Parkinson's the way he is.

[renate]

34. yes! he and Phil Donahue were two of my first heroes, after my dad, for this exact reason

It's hard to imagine now, but feminism wasn't always such a major part of being liberal, at least as far as I remember the women's movement in the 70s. I really admired men who were proud and loud about declaring themselves feminists back then.

[lpbk2713]

35. Donahue never had a dull show.

I always watched whenever I could.

[Botany]

14. One of his daughters went to college in OH and was a roommate of my cousin and she told me ....

.... that even though Alda was a huge star then he was one of the kindest person
she had ever met.

[hlthe2b]

16. I have NO problem believing that. He's one reason I've not become totally cynical in recent years.

[kimmylavin]

27. He is!

He lives in my hometown, and he was always gracious when anyone would go up & talk to him.
(We tried not to, but every once in a while!)
It was always a kick to see this big guy just walking around town, running errands!

I wish him the best in this...

[imanamerican63]

17. If I remember right, he and Wayne Rogers...

never got along due to political beliefs. Sad to hear this about Alan. A great talent.

[hlthe2b]

19. Wayne Rogers was a RWer for sure, but the issues were apparently more professional jealousy.

Rogers left MASH because Alden's role as Hawkeye role subsumed his own Trapper John. Ultimately the same thing caused McLean Stevenson to leave his role as Henry Blake.

I don't know that they held Alden responsible, but it was just the way the show evolved.

[True Blue American]

23. The Wayne Rogers I

Remember was a blowhard who knew everything there was to know about investing..

Alan has always been a loving,intelligent man.

[hlthe2b]

24. yup...

[LittleGirl]

18. I love Alan

I always have. He is a brilliant artist in his acting. I consider M.A.S.H. the best show on Tv, ever. He and the crew were amazing.

[Upthevibe]

20. I saw him on The View and it did seem

like something was a little amiss.

[Mendocino]

21. I saw and heard him

back in October at an Author Author event. I wish him only the best!

[mcar]

22. My SIL's father, another good man, has Parkinson's

I hadn't seen him in quite a few years until this summer. She warned me, but I was still shocked by his deterioration.

Parkinson's is a terrible disease. I wish Alda the best.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

28. My older sister has Parkinson's

She's 72, and it showed up about four years ago. Until recently she has been able to live in her house, taking care of herself, albeit with difficulty at times. Earlier this year, however, she passed out and fell at the top of the stairs and was taken to the hospital for exam. From there it was a trip to rehab and then to assisted living, which is horribly expensive. Her son lives in Malaysia and the rest of her siblings are scattered across the country.

She doesn't have the shakes yet, but her leg muscles lock up and she falls frequently. Each time means a trip to the ER. Her fall last week resulted in a dislocated hip, which the doctors fixed by installing a pin.

From a sibling point of view, the worst thing is knowing that the disease will only get worse. I've read that practically no one dies from Parkinson's, so she could live another 15 years watching her body and mind deteriorate, along with her savings.

It's sad. Barb was so alive and vital before PD hit, always sending me pictures of her latest hike in the mountains west of Denver. Now she can't even make it to the toilet without help.

I've often asked myself how a just God can allow such horrible things happen to good people, while leaving those who are purely evil -- Trump, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Bolton -- untouched. "Life's not fair," is a cop out excuse. The day someone can convincingly explain God's capriciousness will be the day I stop being agnostic.



Until then, here's a picture of Sis taking part in "Race for the Cure" in Denver ten years ago. She may not be as famous as Alan Alda or Michael J. Fox, but she's a star to me.

[hlthe2b]

29. SO very sorry to hear that. We need better treatments/a cure and NOW!

[47of74]

33. Yeah

He takes good people like my uncle early. And leaves evil people on Earth as long as possible.

[Javaman]

31. I was in a small town in Sicily many years ago...

of all the places to spot a celebrity, it was him!

He seems like a really nice guy. Very sad to hear this.

[lame54]

32. I Luuuuuuuvvvvvvv Alan Alda...

I wish him well