'M*A*S*H' Star Alan Alda Reveals He's Been Silently Battling Parkinson's Disease
Famed actor and writer Alan Alda has revealed that he has Parkinson’s disease.
The 82-year-old appeared on “CBS This Morning” on July 31 to talk about his diagnosis, and why he’s chosen to go public about it.
Alda is perhaps best known for his role as Army Capt. “Hawkeye” Pierce in the TV series “M*A*S*H,” which ran from 1972 to 1983.
Alda said he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s three-and-a-half years ago, but his pace of life hasn’t slowed, and his attitude has not soured.
“I’ve had a full life since then,” he said. “I’ve acted, I’ve given talks, I help at the Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook.”
The award-winning actor has even launched a podcast called Clear+Vivid, which explores the topic of human communication.
The new podcast led to multiple TV appearances, and Alda figured it was only a matter of time before someone noticed the slight twitches of his body.
“I could see my thumb twitch in some shots and I thought, it’s probably only a matter of time before somebody does a story about this from a sad point of view, but that’s not where I am,” Alda said.
I decided to let people know I have Parkinson’s to encourage others to take action. I was Diagnosed 3 and a half years ago, but my life is full. I act, I give talks, I do my podcast, which I love. If you get a diagnosis, keep moving!
More>> pic.twitter.com/zHrNxvlwcS— Alan Alda (@alanalda) July 31, 2018
Alda said he sought a diagnosis when he started to experience one of the early signs of Parkinson’s — acting out dreams.
“I was having a dream that someone was attacking me and I threw a sack of potatoes at them,” he said. “But what I was really doing was throwing a pillow at my wife.”
I take boxing lessons 3 days a week, play singles tennis twice a week, and take a mild pill – all Dr. recommended. I even juggle a little. And I’m not entering dementia. I’m no more demented than I was before.
Maybe I should rephrase that.
Really, I’m good.— Alan Alda (@alanalda) July 31, 2018
Since the diagnosis, Alda has focused on what he can control, like staying active. He has decided not to spend time worrying about the aspects of the disease he cannot control.
“I’m not going to worry,” he said. “While I’m trying to say something else, I’m not going to be thinking, is my thumb on a life of its own? You know, that’s just one of the realities of my life.”
Alda said he wanted to go public about his diagnosis as a way to encourage others to take action. “If you get a diagnosis, keep moving!” he said on Twitter.
In addition to his weekly boxing and tennis playing, Alda is focused on his podcast and is even doing some acting. He hopes to use his platform to help ease other’s fears, and encourage them to keep living life.
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