Alan Alda, born Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo in New York City on January 28, 1936, is best remembered for his role as Hawkeye Pierce on “M*A*S*H,” which aired from 1972 to 1983.
Before his remarkable career as an actor, writer, and director, Alda had a difficult childhood with his actor and singer father, Robert Alda, and his mother, Joan Browne.
Alda discussed his youth in his book, “Never Have Your Dog Stuffed — and Other Things I’ve Learned,” including visiting burlesque concerts where his dad performed and his connection with his parents.
The “Four Seasons” star also talked about his mother’s mental health difficulties. Since mental illness was taboo in the 1940s and 1950s, Alda had to handle with his mother’s problem on his own.
He described one instance in which he had remained up with his mother because Robert was late for his performance at the club below them.
When Robert returned home, his wife accused him of having an affair with another lady. During the dispute, Alda’s mother attempted to assault his dad with a paring knife.
But, Alda, who was only six years old at the time, seized the knife from his parents and drove it into the table, bending the tip.
Later, when Alda attempted to bring up the horrific scenario with his parents, his mother informed him that he had dreamt the incident, and his dad said nothing about it.
Aside from having to deal with his mother’s unstable mental health, Alda had an interesting childhood. As a toddler, he saw burlesque shows and made his first appearance on stage when he was a newborn.
Another unusual tale in Alda’s biography was when, as a two-year-old, his dad posed him with a tobacco pipe for a newspaper in order to get notoriety for the burlesque club where he worked.
Alda provided the facts of the story about him smoking as a baby, writing that his mom informed the news source that he aspired to be an actor like his dad.
The article also included images of Alda expressing various emotions, all of which were directed by his mom.
Naturally, Alda would become an actor, and a very great one at that. His professional career began in 1959, when he made his Broadway debut in “Only In America.”
A few years later, in 1963, he made his film debut in “Gone Are the Days,” a film adaptation of the stage drama “Purlie Victorious,” in which he also appeared.
Alda went on to feature in a number of Broadway plays and films, including “Fair Game for Lovers” in 1964, “Paper Lion” in 1968, and “Jenny” in 1970, in which he co-starred with Marlo Thomas.
He won his most known role as Hawkeye Pierce in the wartime comedy and drama “M*A*S*H” two years later. Alda appeared in additional films and movies during its run.
Alda’s personal life was as successful as his work life. Before his career took off, he married Arlene Wiess in 1957, and the couple had three daughters, Eve, Elizabeth, and Beatrice.
Arlene is a similarly gifted artist. She was a good clarinet player, and she got a Fulbright grant to study music in Cologne, Germany. She then became the Houston Symphony’s deputy first clarinettist.
The adoring mom quit her singing career to raise her and Alda’s three kids. She did, though, find a new job as a photographer.
Her photographs have appeared in periodicals such as Vogue, New York magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, People, and Good Housekeeping, as well as in many exhibits throughout the years.
Arlene used her skills on the film “The Four Seasons.” The film was a family affair since Alda wrote, directed, and appeared in it, as did his two youngest daughters.
Both Elizabeth and Beatrice, who are now in their early 60s, began their careers as actors, but as they grew older, their careers diverged.
After her role in “Nights of Creeps” in 1986, Elizabeth decided to become a special education teacher. Alda said of his daughter’s career that Elizabeth concluded she didn’t like acting. She went on to become a deaf teacher and a special education teacher in general.
After her debut in “The Four Seasons,” Beatrice went on to star in other films, including “A New Life” and “Men of Respect.” She eventually stepped behind the camera, though.
Beatrice made her directing debut with the 2008 documentary “Out Late.” She is also the proprietor of Forever Films Studios, a production firm.
In contrast to her younger siblings, Alda’s eldest daughter, Eve, did not follow in her dad’s footsteps in cinema and kept her life very quiet.
Eve attended Connecticut College and majored in psychology. She also attended Boston’s Simmons School of Social Work.
Arlene and Alda may be proud of their daughters’ accomplishments. The pair may also be proud of the fact that they have been together for 65 years.
During their careers, Alda and Arlene have talked affectionately of one another and discussed the secret to a long and happy marriage.
Alda quips at the New York Film Festival that Alrene feels having a “limited memory” is the secret to a long marriage. He did, though, clarify that they are both supportive of one another.
Alda and Arlene’s relationship is notable because they made it work in a profession where long-term partnerships are not often the norm.
