Alan Alda (born Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo; January 28, 1936 in The Bronx, New York) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author.
A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he's enjoyed a highly accomplished career with a litany of roles under his belt. However, his best-known role is likely the iconic part of Captain Hawkeye Pierce in the long-running TV series M*A*S*H. In contrast to the fun-loving and rebellious Hawkeye, Alda has mostly played staunch authority figures and/or villains in his later career (this can partially be explained by an incident with an overzealous dentist when Alda was in his 50s; the man cut through the frenum of Alda's upper lip, removing part of its support and movement structure and making it all but impossible for Alda to smile correctly).
He's also known for his simultaneously thick and nasally voice and his outspoken political views. Most definitely a Cool Old Guy.
Film roles
- Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) as Lester
- And the Band Played On (1993) as Dr. Robert Gallo
- Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) as Ted
- Canadian Bacon (1995) as the President of the United States
- Flirting with Disaster (1996) as Richard Schlichting
- Everyone Says I Love You (1996) as Bob
- Murder at 1600 (1997) as Jordan
- The Object of My Affection (1998) as Sidney Miller
- What Women Want (2000) as Dan Wanamaker
- The Aviator (2004) as Senator Ralph Owen Brewster
- Flash of Genius (2008) as Gregory Lawson
- Tower Heist (2011) as Arthur Shaw
- Bridge of Spies (2015) as Thomas Watters
Television roles
- M*A*S*H (1972-83) as Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce
- ER (1999) as Dr. Gabriel Lawrence
- The West Wing (2004-06) as Senator Arnold Vinick (R-California)
- 30 Rock (2009-11) as Milton Greene
- The Big C (2011-13) as Dr. Atticus Sherman
- The Blacklist (2013-14) as Alan Fitch
Other Roles
- World War Z audiobook (2006) as Arthur Sinclair, Jr.
Tropes Associated With Alan Alda
- Playing Against Type: His bad-guy roles were initially playing against type, but over time they've become his type.
