Alan Alda Was a Cab Driver as He Raised 3 Kids in Tiny Home Made Career Sacrifices to Keep Them in School

Alan Alda became a household name thanks to his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the hit show “M*A*S*H.” Yet, before his big break, the actor had a tough life. When he married, he struggled to keep his family afloat, working three jobs. Now, he tries to help others struggling as he once did.

Alan Alda had his breakout role with the show “M*A*S*H” in the early 1970s. He played a hilariously cynical yet brilliant surgeon called Captain Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce. After his starring role as Hawkeye, the actor played in various shows, including “30 Rock” and “The West Wing.”

But Alan has never really been a stranger to the life of fame. His father, Robert Alda, acted in vaudeville and burlesque and frequently stashed the young Alan backstage. Although being surrounded by fame and the theatre inspired his love of acting, stage life was not conducive to his early development.

Alan Alda in a scene from the film “The Moonshine War,” 1970 | Source: Getty Images

Alan recounts seeing the half-naked stage girls, both on- and offstage. The boy would often be in the room while they undressed. He still remembers the smell of perfume and sweat from their costumes. In response to this, Alan says, “My parents came from a time and from families that didn’t look under the surface too much.”

Unfortunately, Alan was diagnosed with polio when he was seven years old. The treatment involved wrapping him in unbearably hot blankets, which left him in agony. Luckily, though, the actor survived the illness without lasting effects. But, soon after, his mother was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.

Alan opens up about his mother’s disorder’s effects on him, saying it was like not having a mother. The actor elaborates on his feelings towards his mom, saying, “You can hate people you love. I mean, it goes on all the time.” He writes about all his experiences in his book, “Never Have Your Dog Stuffed.”

Alan Alda at “Marriage Story” New York Premiere at Paris Theater on November 10, 2019 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Nonetheless, the “Glengarry Glen Ross” actor didn’t let his past come in the way of building himself a healthy future. In the late 1950s, he married. Around the age of 21, he already had children. He was on his way to the happy family he so wanted. But the young actor had one obstacle in his way, namely finding work as an actor.

Surviving as a Starving Artist

Alan remembers the early days of his career and how tough they were. Even a four-pack of beer was expensive. Without any acting work, he had four mouths to feed, his daughters, Beatrice, Eve, and Elizabeth, along with his wife, Arlene. To support his family, he says:

“To pay the rent, I was a cab driver, I sold mutual funds – mainly to myself – and I was a doorman. Our first apartment was so tiny that the kitchen was actually located in a closet.”

Finally, after working a myriad of different jobs that each paid very little, Alan’s big break seemed to come in the form of “M*A*S*H.” Everything seemed perfect. The script was excellent, and the character appealed to him greatly. The only problem was that the show would be shot in California while he lived in New Jersey.

Alan Alda, wife Arlene Alda and daughters, Beatrice Alda and Eve Alda circa 1981 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

At the time, the actor’s children were in high school, and he believed moving to California would be too disruptive. For a while, he considered turning the part down, but ultimately, he decided to commute to the set every day. So, he made his way from the east coast to California each day for eight years.

The philanthropic Alan has also taken part in gaining support for the Equal Rights Amendment and is an outspoken feminist.

With the role of Hawkeye, Alan’s money problems were getting better. But he never did it for the fame. He says, for him, it was all about passion. The 86-year-old Alan is impressively still working. He claimed that without his wife, Arlene, he would not have had the willpower to persist as long as he has.

From second left: Loretta Swit, Mike Farrell, David Ogden Stiers, Jamie Farr, Harry Morgan, Alan Alda, William Christopher and Judy Farrell at the shooting of the last episode of “M*A*S*H” on Fox Ranch on June 18, 1984 | Source: Getty Images

Alan has overcome a vast amount of challenges in his life, from childhood illness to a distant mother and, later, struggling to break into acting. But the actor never gave in. Recently, the actor has turned to philanthropic projects to help those in need, as he once was.

Alan Alda’s Humanitarian Projects

Over the years, Alan’s work with humanitarian causes and philanthropic projects has taken many forms. The actor and his wife, Arlene, created the Jenjo Foundation, which aims to help low-income women and children. Alan has also been involved with St. Jude Children’s hospital. He comments on the hospital:

“I work a lot with St. Jude’s, a wonderful research hospital that helps children and doesn’t charge families anything.”

As an avid believer in the accessibility of science, Alan has also taken part in projects that aimed to educate the general public. He participated in BBC coverage of the Large Hadron Collider, and he is on the Advisory Board of the Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University.

Alan Alda speaks during a National Women’s Political Caucus event at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, Washington DC, October 23, 1985 | Source: Getty Images

The philanthropic Alan has also taken part in gaining support for the Equal Rights Amendment and is an outspoken feminist. Over the years, he has also supported gender neutrality and the acceptance of individual identity.

Alan has also participated in a range of different organizations that aim to help the less fortunate. Considering his background, it seems fitting that the actor has been involved with associations such as Feeding America, Clothes Off Our Back, Help USA, and Mentoring USA.

But what Alan hopes to pass on to his many offspring the most is probably improvising. He talks about how he has taught them improvisation and how it has changed his life. He claims that not only has it helped him trust himself more, but also to censor himself less.

Gary Burghoff and Alan Alda in an episode of “M*A*S*H,” California, 1976 | Source: Getty Images

Alan also believes that improvisation can change other people’s lives for the better. He explains that the act of improvising can teach people to listen to others and strengthen people’s ability to communicate effectively.

He’s delighted he can impart this skill to his grandchildren and says, “I have three daughters and eight grandkids, and a lot of us have improvised together. I love that they have an interest in it because it certainly changed my life.”