Alan Alda Manages Parkinson’s While Acting, Finds Humor

At 89, Alan Alda continues to manage his Parkinson's disease, diagnosed in 2015, with optimism and humor, describing his daily efforts as a challenging yet playful puzzle. He also lives with prosopagnosia, which affects his ability to recognize faces, adding complexity to his condition. Alda explains that managing Parkinson's has evolved from a part-time to an almost full-time job of finding new solutions to daily problems, which he approaches with a positive attitude. Despite the physical challenges, including reduced dexterity, Alda remains active in acting, recently making a notable cameo in Tina Fey's Netflix adaptation of his 1981 film The Four Seasons, which has been renewed for a second season. He credits much of his resilience and progress to the support of his wife Arlene, with whom he has been married for 68 years, highlighting their shared humor and partnership. Alda's reflections emphasize finding joy and maintaining a sense of humor while confronting the difficulties of Parkinson's and face blindness.