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Alan Alda

Person Score

 
9.4 Superb
163 votes

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Biography

Recent Role:
Himself on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Gender:
Male
Born:
1-28-1936
Birthplace:
New York City, New York, USA
Birth Name:
Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo
AKA:
Alphonso D'Abruzzo, Alan D'Abruzzo, Alphonso Alda
Alan Alda, born on January 28, 1936, began his acting career at the age of 16 in Barnesville, Pennsylvania. While in college at Fordham University, Alda was able to perform on stage in Rome with his father, the late Robert Alda, on television. However, his acting career began with "Secret File, U.S.A." Afterwards, his acting career slowly began to build up, until he finally joined M*A*S*H, of which became his biggest success. Since More href="http://www.tv.com/mash/show/119/summary.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabssh&tag=tabs;summary">M*A*S*H, Alda has won well over 25 awards, including 6 Golden Globes, 5 Emmys, and 7 People's Choice Awards.



Not only has Alda starred on television and the silver screen, but he has also appeared on Broadway multiple times. His performance on Broadway's Fair Game of Lover won him a Theatre World Award, and his acting on The Apple Tree earned him a Toby Nomination.



Nearly fifteen years before his success on M*A*S*H, Alda married Arlene Weiss on March 17, 1957. Since then, they have had three daughters: Eve, Elizabeth, and Beatrice. Besides acting, Alda has written two books: Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned and The Last Days of M*A*S*H, of which he co-wrote with his wife, Arlene.

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    6.5 Fair
    Alan Alda's Favorite Books hide show

    Don't hate! I've read a bit about him from his wiki to books that influenced him: favaholic.com/people/49-alan-alda. Seems like he's done so o o o o o o o o o ooo o o o o o o o o o o o o o oo o o o o o o o o o o o o o ooo o o o o o o o o o o o o o oo o o o o o o o o o o o o o ooo o o o o o o o o o o o o o oo o o o o much :)))

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  •  
    10 Perfect
    Well, I have the pleasure of being the fifth editor for this comedic genius. hide show

    I'll be honest, the majority of what I know about Alan comes from his work on MASH and his book, "Never Have Your Dog Stuffed". Alan is quick witted and has a charisma that just overflows with oneriness.
    But with his background with his actor father and mentally ill mother...Alan gained the ability to read ppl and a situation quite quickly abd clearly.
    He also has a keen interest in how the world works and continues doing shows on science or supporting work on the sciences.
    I may not share all of his liberal political views but I can respect him for keeping an open mind.

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  •  
    5 Mediocre
    I think he's overated hide show

    I don't know how this guy ever got a gig on television. Okay, he was funny in the beginning but his delivery was alawys the same. I now it was part of the charachter but his role hardly grew with him in it during the entire run of Mash. If you compare him to the great Carroll O'Connoor in "All in the family" (on around the same time, Archie Bunker's role changed quite a lot over the course of the series. I searched and searched for some glimpse of Hawkeye's insight into his own character and ther was nothing. The crowning insult was the final episode. Confusing a chicken for a child? What the devil were the writers thinking? I saw Alda in one seriously good movie called "Kill me if you can" a brilliant expose of the stupidity of the U.S. so called justice system. It was overplayed (as usual) but the performance demanded that kind of approach. That movie that he did with Ellen Burstyn "Sme time next year" was okay but still left me wanting more (except for the song which was perfect - Jane Olivor and Johnnie Mathis singing "The last time I felt like this") and don't get me started on "The seduction of Joe Tynan" - plain awful. I'll give you this, he might be okay as a director and I have enjoyed him lately on 30 Rock. As a "everyman" kind of actor he doesn't even come close to the greats like Jimmy Stewart. I give Alda a five out of ten and I should tell you, I'm feeling generous.

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    10 Perfect
    One of the all time greats! hide show

    Alan Alda is one of the all-time greats. As we know him as Hawkeye Pierce from MASH. As he was the star and producer of the show as the show revolved around him. And that if he left MASH earlier, then there wouldn't be a MASH. No MASH means no Alan Alda and vice versa. Sure he has done great things and great work. Both post and pre-MASH. But I think that when he is long gone, MASH will still be around. As I think that Alda is a legend that will forever be linked to the show that made him a household name. Liked him also in a short role in ER!

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  •  
    10 Perfect
    Alan Alda is the best actor I've ever seen. hide show

    When I first seen Alan Alda, I was watching TV with my dad and he had it on the show, M*A*S*H. Alan Alda played Hawkeye Pierce and he is just absolutely amazing. I've never seen a person so into there character like Alan Alda. He is just a terrific actor and he is definitely one of the all time greats. If I had to pick between some of my favorite actors and Alan Alda, it would definitely be Alan Alda because I've seen nobody act like he does. He is just absolutely great. :) I've seen him in educational films that I've seen in school where he went to the Gallapago Islands and talked about the many birds and animals there. I recently seen him in the movie, The Aviator and he was just brilliant. He will definitely get more great roles in the future and I wish him the best.

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