By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty
Actor Alan Aida spent years making people laugh. The 90-year-old is all about being clean and honest.
Being honest led him to open up about his battle with Parkinson’s disease. He revealed this to the public in 2018. It took him years to share the diagnosis with the world. Now, he’s more open about his fight.
“I can’t hope for a better future,” Aida said. “I got to accept what is.”
Aida won’t let Parkinsons define him. Aida tries to find humor in everything, even with his health. That’s what keeps him going and smiling every day.
Aida is known for many roles, but his most famous is portraying Captain Hackeye Pierce in eleven seasons of the legendary comedy series M.A.S.H. Aida won five Emmys for his work.
“I have doctors coming up to me on the street all the time telling me that seeing me in the show made them want to become a doctor,” Aida said.
Aida got his inspiration to become an actor from learning from his father. His dad was an actor. Aida’s mother won a beauty pageant. It wasn’t always easy in the Aida household.
“My mother was mentally ill,” Aida said. “She had schizophrenia and was paranoid. Sometimes the communication would be the crack in the wall, which is where they had a camera taking pictures of us.”
Aida developed a real sense of curiosity. It helped him throughout his acting career. The cast of M.A.S.H. had a strong connection on and off the set. The connection made it a beloved show. The series finale broke records.
Aida loves science. He values connection and communication. In 2009, Stony Brook University founded the Alan Aida Communicating Science. Aida believes that improvising is important for every actor. He always used it in his work.
“Improvisation really puts you in touch with the other person,” Aida said. “That’s when I realize the value of connection.”
Aida has been married for almost 70 years. He has three kids and eight grandchildren.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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