Alan Alda (born Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo) is an American actor, director, and screenwriter. He was born in New York City in 1936 and began his career as a stage actor in the 1950s. He made his Broadway debut in “The Great White Hope” in 1969, and won a Tony award for his role in “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1977.
Alda is perhaps best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the long-running TV series “MAS*H” (1972-1983), for which he won five Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe. He also starred in the TV series “The West Wing” (1999-2006) and “The Blacklist” (2013-2021).
In addition to his work in television, Alda has appeared in many films, including “The Seduction of Joe Tynan” (1979), “Crimes and Misdemeanors” (1989), and “Flirting with Disaster” (1996). He has also directed several films, including “Sweet Liberty” (1986) and “A New Life” (1988).
Alda has also been involved in science communication, he is a founding board member of the World Science Festival and host of the PBS series “Scientific American Frontiers.”
Alda has been honored with numerous awards throughout his career, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2019. He continues to act, write and direct, and is currently in the process of working on various projects.
