The former M*A*S*H star Alan Alda is speaking out this week to give a sad update about his health as he continues to battle Parkinson’s disease. Indeed, the 89 year-old Oscar-nominated star has revealed that his Parkinson’s battle has become a “full-time job.”
Alda’s Health Update
Despite his health struggles, Alda has maintained his legendary sense of humor. He showed this when he was asked how he’s doing in a new interview with People Magazine.
“Making progress,” Alda said with a smile. He paused before adding, “I didn’t say in which direction.”
Alda was diagnosed with Parkinson’s back in 2015. Since then, life has been “a never-ending series of puzzles” for him.
“Almost every day I’m finding a new way to do something,” Alda explained. “It’s a little like a game. I’ve found whatever the little problem is, if I keep at it, I can eventually solve it, and then I feel like a million bucks. It’s a way to have a good time under poor circumstances.”
Alda went on to say that over the past decade, managing his Parkinson’s has “gone from a part-time job to almost a full-time job keeping track of all these little solutions. But it keeps me always looking for the funny side.”
Related: Alan Alda Announces Devastating Disease But He’s Optimistic
Alda Makes Cameo In Netflix Show
Despite his grueling health battle, Alda hasn’t let Parkinson’s stop him from continuing to do what he loves, which is act. In fact, he just made a scene-stealing cameo in Tina Fey’s new Netflix series adaptation of his 1981 film The Four Seasons.
“I’m so happy for Tina,” says Alda. “The movie meant a lot to me, and people are reacting to her work very much as they did to mine.”
Parkinson’s has caused Alda to have full-body tremors that were visible in his cameo. However, he wasn’t about to let this prevent him from doing his scene. Watch Alda congratulate Fey on the success of The Four Seasons in the video below.
Related: Sally Kellerman, ‘M*A*S*H’ Film Star And Oscar Nominee, Has Died At 84
Alda’s Beloved Wife
Throughout his Parkinson’s battle, Alda has been supported by his wife Arlene, who he’s been married to for 68 years.
“She always says, ‘The secret to marriage is a short memory,’” he said of his beloved wife. “We both try to practice being there when we’re there: listening, answering, taking an interest. You can get used to somebody no matter who it is. I’ve always thought if the Pope and Mother Teresa were a couple, after a few years, they’d have to work it out.”
Alda met Arlene, 92, at a mutual friend’s party in New York City back in 1956. They bonded when they were the only two attendees who had no problem eating the party’s the rum cake after it fell on the floor.
“[I knew she was the one] when we ate the cake off the floor,” Alda recalled. “There’s something about flirting over food, and that she laughed at my jokes meant a lot. We still laugh at each other’s jokes a lot, and she’s getting funnier every day.”
These days, Alda is leaning on Arlene more than ever. Luckily, she’s more than happy to help the love of her life in any way that she can.
“I don’t have dexterity with my fingers the way I used to, so sometimes she has to tear a package open for me,” Alda admitted. “She’s so good-natured about it. I’m always saying, ‘Thank you.’”
Alda Stays Humble
Throughout his decades in Hollywood, Alda has won six Emmys, a Golden Globe, and he’s been nominated for an Oscar. Despite all of his success, however, Alda has always stayed humble.
“I don’t get proud. I get glad that I can do something,” Alda concluded. “Proud seems like a waste of time.”
Now that’s something you don’t hear from Hollywood stars every day, isn’t it?!
Unlike many of his fellow Hollywood stars, Alda has always seemed like a genuinely kind person who has a good head on his shoulders. Please join us in saying a prayer for him as he continues his Parkinson’s battle!
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