Many of us know him as Hawkeye Pierce, rebellious and fun-loving military surgeon from the 1970s television series, M*A*S*H*, however he was born Alphonso D’Abruzzo on January 28, 1936, and would become known to millions of fans as Alan Alda. Exploring a mild interest in acting during his youth, he appeared in a play just after college and acted with his father in foreign television series before he joined the Army and took a six month tour during the North Korean war.
Alda joined the Compass Players comedy troupe during the 1950s and appeared in a variety of musical productions, but he didn’t make his big splash in Hollywood until taking on a supporting role in the 1963 film, Gone are the Days. This role led to a number of other film productions, and numerous appearances on the revival of What’s My Line?
In 1972, just six hours before filming for the pilot of M*A*S*H*, Alda took on the role of Hawkeye Pierce, commuting every weekend from his family and home in New Jersey to Los Angeles to film the series. Of all the series regulars, Alda was the only actor to have appeared in all 251 episodes of the show. He also contributed as a writer and director.
Over the years, Alda made a major contribution to a number of television series and movies, like ER, 30 Rock and The West Wing. As a highly active participant in the Women’s Rights Movement, Alda has been highly active in a number of political movements, and even contributed stories and vocal talents to the popular empowerment television series Free to Be You and Me.
Throughout the course of his career, Alda has been nominated for and won numerous awards, including thirty-one Emmy nominations and six Golden Globe Awards. Since 2005, Alda has written two books of memoirs, the first of which was a New York Times Bestseller.
In the 1970s, when I was just five years old, I can honestly say that Alan Alda was one of my earliest girlhood crushes. With his soft, yet piercing eyes, quirky but dangerous grin and that signature rebelliousness that women can’t resist, its no wonder. No one’s ever asked me for my vote, but even today at nearly 77-years old, I still mark Alan Alda as one of television’s sexiest men.
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