At 89, Alan Alda remains as sharp and spirited as ever, seemingly tackling life's challenges with wit and resilience. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015 and living with face blindness, the *MASH* icon says he views each day as a puzzle to solve.
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"I'm making progress," he quipped with a sly smile during a recent Zoom interview with PEOPLE. After a pause, he added, "I didn't say in which direction."
Alda, a father of three, approaches his Parkinson's symptoms as a game. "Almost every day, I'm finding a new way to do something," he said. "If I keep at it, I can eventually solve it, and then I feel like a million bucks."
Managing the disease has become nearly a full-time job, but Alda finds joy in the process. "It keeps me always looking for the funny side," he noted, crediting his optimism to his ability to adapt.
Despite tremors visible in recent roles, Alda stays active in acting. He stole the spotlight in a cameo on Tina Fey's Netflix series The Four Seasons, a reimagining of his 1981 film. Playing a father figure to Will Forte's character, Alda delivers a comedic gem, advising Fey and Colman Domingo's characters to spice up their marriage with a "sex day."
The series, already renewed for a second season, has struck a chord with audiences, much like Alda's original film.
"I'm so happy for Tina," he said. "The movie meant a lot to me, and people are reacting to her work very much as they did to mine."
Love Story for the Ages
Alda's humor and gratitude shine through in his 68-year marriage to Arlene, 92. The couple met in 1956 at a college party in New York City, bonding over a rum cake that fell on the floor.
"There's something about flirting over food," Alda said. "That she laughed at my jokes meant a lot. She's getting funnier every day."
He added that Arlene's support has been vital through his Parkinson's journey. "She has to tear a package open for me sometimes," he said. "She's so good-natured about it. I'm always saying, 'Thank you.'"
Arlene's marriage advice -- "The secret to marriage is a short memory" -- helps guide their bond, Alda said.
"We practice being there when we're there: listening, answering, taking an interest," he said.
In other words, Alda's outlook remains grounded in gratitude, not pride. "Proud seems like a waste of time," he said. "I get glad that I can do something."
The Four Seasons is streaming now on Netflix.
