Beloved actor Alan Alda has been on our screens for over five decades but is probably best known for playing “Hawkeye” Pierce in TV hit show M*A*S*H.
At 83 years old the six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner appeared in the award-winning movie Marriage Story last year.
But the legendary actor, director, comedian and author has revealed he is suffering with a disease that has left his fans shocked.
Alan told several media outlets that he was suffering with Parkinson’s disease and thought it best to let everyone know as his tremors were noticeable. Parkinson’s is a progressive nervous system disorder
“The reason I want to talk about it in public is that I was diagnosed three and a half years ago and I’ve had a full life since then,” Alan told CBS This Morning.
‘I’ve had a full life since then’
He said he’d noticed tremors and wanted to reveal the news in his own words instead of being the subject of a “sad” story.
“I’ve had a full life since then,” he said. “I’ve acted, I’ve given talks, I help at the Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook.”
He added, “I noticed that – I had been on television a lot in the last couple of weeks talking about the new podcast – and I could see my thumb twitch in some shots and I thought, it’s probably only a matter of time before somebody does a story about this from a sad point of view, but that’s not where I am.”
Since he was diagnosed he said he’ notice a few twitches here and there but had taken up boxing.
“I’m taking boxing lessons three times a week. I do singles tennis a couple of times a week. I march to Sousa music because marching to music is good for Parkinson’s,” he said.
‘It’s like a puzzle to be solved’
“You know how I look at it? It’s like a puzzle to be solved. What do I have to adapt to carry on a normal life. I enjoy solving puzzles.”
He says in highlighting Parkinson’s he hopes to inspire other sufferers to stay positive.
“You’ve got to cross the street, there are cars coming. How do you get across the street? You don’t just sit on the pavement and say, well, I guess I’ll never cross the street again. You find a way to do it.”
Such a great attitude to have and we wish Alan all the best.
Please share this story so Alan’s positive outlook can inspire others.
