‘MAS*H’ Star Alan Alda Makes Blunt Admission About His Parkinson’s Diagnosis

Michelle Stein October 5, 2026, 9:51 am

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Alan Alda, star of M*A*S*H, discussed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in a new interview.
Alda emphasized accepting reality and not letting Parkinson’s define him, describing the disease as “just a hobby.”
M*A*S*H, which aired from 1972 to 1983 and featured Alda as Hawkeye Pierce, is available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

M*A*S*H star Alan Alda made a blunt admission about his Parkinson’s diagnosis —specifically, how he chooses to cope with it.

During a chat with CBS News Sunday Morning that aired on October 4, the actor, 90, opened up about his health and the impact the progressive neurological movement disorder has on his life.

In his CBS sit-down, he revealed one of his surprising first symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed at 79 in 2015.

“I had a symptom, which at the time was not that well-known: Acting out your dreams,” he said. “I had a dream that somebody was attacking me. And I picked up a sack of potatoes and threw it at ’em. What I was really doing was throwing a pillow at Arlene, my wife.”

The actor who played Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce in M*A*S*H added, “I had no twitch, no tremor, no problems with my voice.”

Alan Alda Reveals Unexpected Way 'MAS*H' Role Impacted Fans' Lives

In 2018, Alda publicly revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Although there is no cure for the disease, treatments and medications can help manage it.

“I really think reality is my friend,” he explained, referring to his approach to living with Parkinson’s. “I don’t want to wish it away. I can’t wish it away. I can’t hope for a better future. I gotta accept what is.”

Alda added, “I don’t let Parkinson’s define me. It’s not who I am. He then joked, “It’s just a hobby.”

Additionally, he said humor is “very important” to him “because the best way to deal with anything that’s a little bit of a problem is to find out what’s funny about it and laugh at it.”

M*A*S*H aired for 11 seasons from 1972 to 1983. In addition to Alda, the series starred Wayne Rogers, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr, William Christopher, Harry Morgan, Mike Farrell, Gary Burghoff, Kellye Nakahara, David Ogden Stiers, and Larry Linville, among others.

M*A*S*H, streaming on Hulu and Disney+