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Alan Alda Biography

Birth Name:Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Actor, Writer, Director, Producer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • Was elected as a fellow of the American Physical Society in 2015
  • Received the 1980 Humanitas Prize for writing
  • Was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1994
  • Attended Fordham University
  • Is the son of fellow actor Robert Alda
  • Started acting at the age of 16 in summer theater programs
  • Quote: "Begin challenging your assumptions․ Your assumptions are the windows to the world․ Scrub them off every once in a while or the light won't come in․"
  • Quote: "Wherever I could get work, I worked․․․․ I thought I would be a stage actor․ It never occurred to me that I'd have some big success on television․"
  • Well known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the series "M*A*S*H․"
  • Released the "New York Times" best-seller "Never Have Your Dog Stuffed and Other Things I've Learned" in 2005
  • Has worked as a visiting professor at Stony Brook University

Awards

  • 1969Golden Globe-Most Promising Newcomer - Male: nominated
  • 1973Golden Globe-Best TV Actor - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1973Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1974Golden Globe-Best TV Actor - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1974Primetime Emmy-Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1974Primetime Emmy-Best Lead Actor in a Drama: nominated
  • 1974Primetime Emmy-Actor of the Year - Series: winner
  • 1975Golden Globe-Best TV Actor - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1975Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1975Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1976Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1976Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1976Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1977DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: winner
  • 1977Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1977Humanitas Prize-30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television: nominated
  • 1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1977WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Comedy: winner
  • 1978DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1978Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1978Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1978Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1978Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special: nominated
  • 1978Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1979Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1979Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1979Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series: nominated
  • 1979Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1979Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series: winner
  • 1980Marquee-Best Actor: winner
  • 1980Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1980Humanitas Prize-30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television: winner
  • 1980Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1980Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1981Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1981Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1981Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1981WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Drama: nominated
  • 1982Bodil-Best Non-European Film (Bedste ikke-europæiske film): winner
  • 1982DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: winner
  • 1982Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1982Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1982Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1982Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1982WGA Award (Screen)-Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
  • 1983DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series: winner
  • 1983Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1983Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1983Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1984WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Comedy: nominated
  • 1989NBR Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1989NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1991BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1993Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1994Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
  • 1995Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2000OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2003TV Land Award-Classic TV Doctor of the Year: winner
  • 2004ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 2005Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2005Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2005BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2005Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2005Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2005INOCA-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Film Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
  • 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2006OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2006TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2009Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2009OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2009Impact Award-: winner
  • 2015OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2016Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2016INOCA TV-Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie: nominated
  • 2019IFJA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2020Robert Altman Award-: winner
  • 2021OFTA TV Hall of Fame-Character: winner