'M*A*S*H's Alan Alda Wife of 65 Years Are 'Crazy Kids' at Almost 90 after His Parkinson's Diagnosis

“M*A*S*H” star Alan Alda fell in love with his wife of 65 years, Arlene Alda, when they ate a fallen cake sitting on the floor.
The couple raised three daughters while struggling with money in a small apartment.
The pair are almost 90 years old and lead an enjoyable life despite Alan’s Parkinson’s diagnosis.

Veteran actor Alan Alda is celebrating his 87th birthday with his wife of 65 years, Arlene Alda. Alan was born on January 28, 1936, in New York.

He and his wife of six decades became a couple most unconventionally. In April 2015, Alan and Arlene appeared on the “TODAY” show and revealed it only took one disastrous dessert for them to fall for each other.

The screenwriter visited the musician’s house, who had made dessert for her guests. “The hostess of the evening had made a rum cake, and she put it on the refrigerator to cool. The refrigerator shook, and the cake fell off the refrigerator and hit the floor,” Alan recalled.

At that moment, he and Arlene separated themselves from the rest of the guests and went to dig into the said dessert, and sparks flew from that point:

“Arlene and I were the only two people who went in with spoons and ate it off the floor. That’s how you know. When two people eat a cake off the floor, that’s it for life.”

Musician Arlene Alda and her husband actor Alan Alda during “The Four Seasons” New York Premiere Press Party at Lincoln Center Library in New York City, New York ┃Source: Getty Images

Following that encounter, Alan admitted he fell madly in love with his future wife but could not bring himself to contact her afterward:

“I was so intensely shy and inexperienced. I felt I needed to ask her out on the perfect date.”

**Raising Three Daughters, Money Struggles & ”MAS*H” Start**

Alan and Arlene walked down the aisle in 1957 in the local church in Houston and honeymooned in Mexico. The “Tower Heist” star revealed they did not have enough money for their getaway trip and had to chip in to save up:

“We could barely afford a wedding trip. We added up her savings and mine, figuring out how much we had to start life with; it came out to six hundred dollars between us.”

Arlene Alda and Alan Alda during Post Opening Night Party for “Jake’s Women” at Columbia Bar & Grill on April 15, 1993 in Hollywood, California ┃Source: Getty Images

The newly wedded couple rented a small apartment in Manhattan, and they each hustled to make ends meet. Arlene and Alan later welcomed three daughters, Elizabeth, Eve, and Beatrice, whom they raised while struggling financially and did their utmost best. They took “turns” staying home with their children.

Alan then landed his most notable role as Captain Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce in the American sitcom, “M*A*S*H” in 1972. During that period, his kids were in their pre-teens.

He had to work away from home as he commuted daily from the couple’s house in New Jersey to the West Coast. Alan explained during an interview in April 2013 that he traveled “four months out of the year for about six years” when asked whether he went to and from work daily for eleven years. The TV show ended in 1983.

The father of three divulged that his daughters were still young and living at home, and he and Arlene did not “want to uproot them. I was in a constant state of jet lag. But for several years, towards the end, I didn’t have to commute. My wife had to come out with me, and the kids would visit when they could,” Alan recalled.

The six-time Emmy Award winner’s children followed in his acting and directing footsteps. Beatrice and her older sister Elizabeth became actresses until they switched.

Alan Alda with Arlene Alda and daughters, Elizabeth, Beatrice and Eve on January 1, 1981 in New York City ┃Source: Getty Images

The oldest of the three siblings, Elizabeth, left show business to become “a teacher of the deaf and a special education teacher in general,” said the doting dad.

Meanwhile, her younger sister Beatrice is now “a writer/director” and has an award-winning documentary called “Out Late” under her belt. “They all have advanced degrees and I’m very proud of them,” Alan noted his kids’ accomplishments.

Parkinson’s Diagnosis & Fun Life in Their 80s

Alan and the mother of his children, Arlene, are still married 65 years later – over the years, they faced a health issue. In July 2018, the director revealed on Facebook that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

However, Alan noted his positive reaction to the diagnosis and said he wanted to share with others “to encourage” them “to take action.” The celebrated star said although it had been years since his diagnosis, he remained physically active.

Alan Alda and Arlene Alda attend the premiere screening of the HBO Special Alan Alda: YoungArts MasterClass With Discussion By Alda And YoungArts Alumni on September 5, 2014 in New York City ┃Source: Getty Images

“My life is full. I act, I give talks. I help with the Alda Center for Communicating Science, and I do my podcast, which I love,” wrote the “Ray Donovan” alum. He advised his followers, saying if one of them ever got diagnosed with Parkinson’s, they should “keep moving!”

Alan heeds his advice as he takes part in sports activities daily. He does “boxing lessons three days a week, plays singles tennis twice a week, and take a mild pill – all Dr. recommended. I even juggle a bit,” he penned on his social media post.

Alan even dances with his grandchild for fun. In August 2019, he posted a video of the duo tap dancing in the garage and tweeted: “I love this video. My granddaughter and I trying a way-under-rehearsed tap routine when she was about 9. One performance only in the garage.”

Meanwhile, in December of that year, the six-time Golden Globe Award winner posted a photo of a “menorah with candles and potatoes” Arlene had made for the couple and marveled at it. He also posted a snap of his beloved spouse holding a dish meal in their kitchen while smiling for the camera.

Besides that, the television star also has fun playing wheel spins as he shared a clip doing it on a beach back in February 2017 on Twitter.

Alan also catches up with former co-stars from “M*A*S*H,” such as actor Mike Farrell. The two Hollywood elites reunited to celebrate the “50th anniversary” of the TV series in September 2022. Alan posted a picture of him and Farrell holding wine glasses while beaming at the camera and wrote on Instagram:

“Mike Farrell and I today toasting the 50th anniversary of the show that changed our lives – and our brilliant pals who made it what it was. MASH was a great gift to us.”

Alan Alda and Arlene Alda walk in Midtown Manhattan on November 3, 2010 in New York City ┃Source: Getty Images

Apart from meeting up with old friends, Alan also shared what a typical Sunday looks like for him at this stage. He joked that he goes through the motions daily:

“I usually forget what day it is, so I can’t tell Sunday from the other day. I play; I work; I make my wife laugh six times; I write all the time.”

Alan is now a full-time podcaster and has since released 200 episodes of “Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda.” When the movie star is not podcasting, he spends time with his wife, Arlene, playing chess at their Long Island home, including ladder ball and binge-watching TV shows. When asked how he was holding up in June 2022, since the Parkinson’s diagnosis, Alan revealed, “Surprisingly well.”

He and Arlene celebrated their wedding anniversary on March 15, 2022, and their youngest daughter, Eve, paid tribute to them on social media.

“These two crazy kids are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary today. Happy anniversary Mom and Dad! Love you both!” penned Eve.

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