Alan Alda’s Time with 8 Grandkids Gives Him ‘The Most Pleasure’ — He Teaches Them to Value Love

“M*A*S*H” star Alan Alda is living the American dream after years of hard work and discipline. The actor is blessed with an enviable marriage with his long-term spouse, successful adult kids, and the grandkids he hoped for. He is vocal about his joys of grandparenting; consequently, his eight grandkids admire him.

The world fell in love with the witty Army doctor Hawkeye Pierce on “M*A*S*H.” Asides from acting in the comedy series, Alan Alda, who played the charismatic role, also wrote and directed some of its episodes.

Throughout his career, he has proven to be an ambitious fellow, racking up more than four Grammy awards, many Tony nominations, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.

Alan Alda on January 11, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images

Alda’s success is not limited to the film industry; despite his age, the actor is seemingly unwilling to take the back burner of fame as he evolves with time churning out new and interesting projects, including his podcast, “Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda.”

Surprisingly, with an overwhelming resume including his international fame as an actor, awards, books, and podcast, the Hollywood celebrity has one of the most enduring relationships in the industry.

Work has not been the only place he has invested in. Alda’s marriage to his college sweetheart Arlene Weiss has lasted for many years, thanks to their commitment.

Alan Alda on November 20, 2019 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Their love story dates to the first time Alda witnessed a pleasant young lady play Mozart at an apartment party. He was smitten by the act and complimented his fellow student.

A few weeks later, they met again for dinner at the same apartment. This time, the duo bonded over a rum cake that fell on the kitchen floor. “From that time on we were almost inseparable,” he gushed.

Behind this successful actor was a woman who was not only great at playing Mozart but also knew how to love her man the way he needed, catapulting him to success.

Alan Alda on November 19, 2019 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Alda credited his soulmate for teaching him to read the newspaper, enlightening his thoughts. She was supportive as a partner and did not force him to join the bandwagon by finding a white-collar job during his years of unstable work.

The lovebirds have been going strong for almost seven decades, living a fairytale romance in Hollywood. The “M*A*S*H” star never feigned ignorance about how rare his perfect romance is, especially as a successful entertainer.

While he is grateful for a happy ending with his wife, Alda does not intend to stop growing. Instead, he is interested in learning and finding motivation from various sources to impact his life.

Alan Alda on November 11, 2019 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Despite his will to be a better man, his records show that he is a brilliant, awe-inspiring figure! “The West Wing” star juggled Hollywood, a healthy marriage, and fatherhood scoring brilliantly on all fronts.

Fame and fortune never induced him to neglect his family. With a gruesome schedule on “M*A*S*H,” he still found a way to be with his own, commuting weekly from his New Jersey home to Hollywood.

Alan Alda, Arlene Alda and guest on November 5, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

Many years later, his efforts were rewarded as his three daughters, Eve, Elizabeth, and Beatrice, became successful women. But the icing on the cake for Alda was for his children to give him grandkids. In 1991, he shared:

“I’m looking forward to becoming a grandfather.”

Alan Alda Gets His Wish to Become a Grandfather

Doting on his family has been effortless for the movie veteran, who never gets bored of speaking about his brood. But apart from fatherly duties, the “Marriage Story” actor is a huge fan of grandparenting his eight grandkids.

Alan Alda on November 05, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

To fans, he is a seasoned actor, but at home, he is the good cop grandparent whose delight is spending time with the younger generation. In response to his lovingness, Alda’s grandchildren are making him proud, as some have inherited his ambition.

Incredibly, every grandchild has a place in his heart as he tries to inspire them differently, no matter their ages. In the past, he has enjoyed driving, laughing, spoiling them with gifts, and dancing with them

One of his grandsons, Scott Alda Coffey, is an actor, and another works for a PR firm. Irrespective of their different careers, they have emerged successful, as their jobs align with their passion.

Alan Alda on October 4, 2019 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Despite their success ratio, the veteran actor is always there to advise them on their choices, especially when it is Hollywood-based. Speaking of how much his grandfather influenced him, Jake Alda Coffey, his other grandson, a screenwriter, and filmmaker, revealed via a Tiktok clip:

“Growing up, he was always a family man. In the summertime as a kid, we could go to his summer home in the Hamptons and film movies for fun … All these people I looked up to as a kid told me they looked up to my grandpa.”

Jake’s relationship with his grandpa is truly fun as the screenwriter shares different exciting moments of the family partially online. In one of his content on Tik Tok, Alan and Weiss were seen laughing as they sat next to each. The accompanying caption read:

“Still laughing after 64 years together.”

Alan Alda’s Joy at Grandparenting

Alda may feel proud of his family for inheriting his work ethic and creativity as a Hollywood celebrity, but he never quite encouraged it initially, especially for his daughters.

Actor Alan Alda at the 57th New York Film Festival on October 04, 2019 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Without mincing words, the movie star established that women do not enjoy the same privileges as men because, as they age, they are viewed as less interesting on TV. However, he supported his daughters as it was their dream.

Amid allowing them to follow their hearts, the “Flirting With Disaster” star was conscious of their values and hopes to pass on some life lessons that would keep them soaring—one of the ways is to bask in their creativity. He explained that improvisation should be a way of life as it helps to harness one skill and maximize creativity if explored.

As he journeyed through life, influencing his kids and grandkids, Alda celebrates their wins no matter how little. Via a Twitter post, he shared how proud he felt over Jake’s directing and editing prowess following the documentary based on the singer Adam Wright.

Alan Alda, Arlene Weiss and daughters Elizabeth Alda, Eve Alda and Beatrice Alda on August 15, 1979 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Creating memories with his eight grandkids has always been pleasurable. Following an almost tragic event—a near-death experience, Alda confessed in his book” “Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself” how he cherishes every moment. He wrote:

“Those moments, driving in a car with my grandkids, when I say something to them or they say something to me and something comes out that we didn’t expect, but we’re there for each other and we experience it — I think that gives me the most pleasure in life. That’s what I hope for.”

Incredibly, every grandchild has a place in his heart as he tries to inspire them differently, no matter their ages. In the past, he has enjoyed driving, laughing, spoiling them with gifts, and dancing with them.

In 2019, an old video of the actor teaching his 9-year-old granddaughter tap dance surfaced on the internet. This drove fans to acknowledge his attentiveness to grandparenting.

Ultimately, the iconic film star wants his family to invest in human relationships—learning from his marriage and using it as a yardstick to show that “it takes a lot to be with the person you love.” For him, charity begins at home.

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