Alan Alda’s Bizarre First Parkinson’s Symptom | The Bedroom Incident That Changed Everything

Alan Alda discovered something was wrong in a surprisingly unusual way. Before he had a tremor, twitch or problems with his voice, he began acting out his dreams in his sleep, once throwing a pillow at his wife, Arlene, while dreaming that someone was attacking him. After reading that this behaviour could be linked to Parkinson’s disease, he sought medical testing and eventually received the diagnosis.

More than a decade later, Alda is 90 and still refuses to let Parkinson’s become the story of who he is. The M*A*S*H star, whose life has taken him from a difficult childhood and a battle with polio to one of television’s most celebrated careers, recently opened up about the practical realities of the disease, from struggling to button a shirt to joking that Parkinson’s has become “just a hobby.” His approach remains characteristically Alda: face what is happening, find the humour in it, and keep moving.

How Old Is Alan Alda? Inside His Life with Parkinson’s at 90

Alan Alda is 90 years old, having celebrated his birthday on January 28, 2026. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s more than a decade ago, when he was 79, and publicly revealed the diagnosis in 2018. Rather than letting Parkinson’s define him, Alda continues to approach life with humor, curiosity, and a focus on what he can still do. He has been open about the everyday challenges Parkinson’s brings and often finds a way to laugh at difficult moments. His honest approach has made his journey an inspiring part of his life story.

Alda’s first warning sign was far from the usual image of Parkinson’s. He noticed that he was acting out his dreams while asleep, including one in which he threw a pillow at Arlene while dreaming that someone was attacking him. After reading that acting out dreams could be associated with Parkinson’s, Alda sought medical testing despite having none of the more familiar symptoms at the time. He was eventually diagnosed with the disease at 79.

Some everyday tasks have also become more difficult for him. He has said that he sometimes needs his wife, Arlene, to help with things such as buttoning his shirt. Still, he looks at these challenges as small problems to work through rather than reasons to give up. He told CBS that even successfully putting on his own socks recently felt like “a tremendous moment to celebrate”, a small example of how he approaches Parkinson’s as a series of problems to work through rather than reasons to stop trying.

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His wife, Arlene, has remained an important source of love and support throughout this journey. They married March 15, 1957, and Alda told CBS, “In March, we'll be married 70 years.” After nearly seven decades together, their shared sense of humour continues to play an important role in their relationship.

Alda also remains closely connected to his family, including his three daughters and eight grandchildren. He continues to approach life with the same curiosity and positive spirit that have shaped his long career. At 90, his story is not only about living with Parkinson’s, but also about finding joy, laughter, and purpose in everyday moments.

“It’s Just a Hobby”: Alan Alda Explains How Laughter Helps Him Fight Parkinson’s

Alda has developed a simple way to face the difficult moments: he looks for the humour in them. He has even joked that Parkinson’s is “just a hobby,” a line that reflects his determination not to let the disease become his identity. In his latest CBS interview, he again explained that humour helps him deal with the frustrations of everyday life.

Living with Parkinson’s still takes a lot of work. Alda follows a daily routine that includes vocal exercises, physical movement, and getting enough sleep.

Alda has even found humour in the way Parkinson’s affects his computer work. When tremors make his hand move the mouse across the screen and delete things he needs, he jokes that “Dr Parkinson” is taking control. He sometimes gets frustrated, but he looks for what is funny about the moment and then shares it with Arlene.

For Alda, humour does not mean ignoring the reality of Parkinson’s. He has learned to accept the condition while focusing on what he can still do. He says that “reality is my friend” and believes accepting the situation is better than wishing it were different.

That outlook has been shaped by difficult experiences earlier in his life, including childhood polio and his mother’s severe schizophrenia. Those experiences taught him to face difficult situations honestly rather than run from them. Rather than withdrawing from public life, Alda has remained involved in communication and science education and continues his work with the Clear+Vivid podcast.

For Alda, laughter is more than a way to make people smile. It has become one of the ways he stays connected to himself while living with Parkinson’s.  Alda’s ability to find humour in everyday struggles shows why he continues to approach life with curiosity, honesty, and a sense of joy.

From Polio Survivor to Hawkeye Pierce: Inside Alan Alda’s Remarkable Rise

Alan Alda’s journey to becoming Hawkeye Pierce began long before M*A*S*H. As a child, he survived polio and went through a difficult recovery that required months of intense physical therapy. The experience taught him patience, strength, and determination at a very young age.

Alda also grew up in a difficult family environment. His mother, Joan, struggled with schizophrenia, and Alda has spoken about the challenges her illness created at home. Those experiences gave him an early understanding of how complicated people and emotions can be.

Alda also grew up around show business because his father was a performer. He spent much of his childhood around theatres and began performing on stage as a teenager. These early experiences helped him develop his natural timing, humour, and confidence.

All of these experiences became part of Alda’s acting style. When he took on the role of Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H in 1972, he brought humour, emotion, and empathy to the character. The role turned him into one of television’s most beloved stars and became a defining moment in his career.

Alan Alda Net Worth, 69-Year Marriage to Arlene, and Legacy Beyond Television

Alan Alda’s net worth is widely estimated at around $50 million, built through his long career as an actor, writer, director and producer. At the height of M*A*S*H, he became one of television’s highest-paid actors, earning as much as $300,000 per episode during the show’s final seasons.

But Alda’s life is about much more than money. His 69-year marriage to Arlene has been one of the most important parts of his life. The couple married on March 15, 1957, after meeting at a dinner party where they famously shared a rum cake that had fallen on the floor.

Alda and Arlene have three daughters, Eve, Elizabeth, and Beatrice. Even during his years of M*A*S*H fame, Alda made family a priority and travelled home regularly to spend time with them. Today, Arlene continues to be a major source of support as he lives with Parkinson’s disease.

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Alda’s legacy also reaches beyond television. He hosted Scientific American Frontiers for 14 years and helped create the Alan Alda Centre for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University. The centre uses acting and improvisation techniques to help scientists explain their work in a clearer and more engaging way.

He has also supported women’s rights and continues to speak openly about Parkinson’s. Through Clear+Vivid and his work in science communication, Alda has used his public platform to encourage clearer conversations and greater connection. His legacy now reaches well beyond Hawkeye Pierce, covering acting, storytelling, science communication, and a very personal journey with Parkinson’s.

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