|
The 82-year-old star of TV series "M*A*S*H"
told "CBS This Morning" that he had learned of the diagnosis
more than three years ago, but that so far the progressive
disease has not stopped him from acting or pursuing other career
opportunities.
"I've had a richer life than I've had up until now," Alda told
"CBS This Morning."
Alda, a six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, is
best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in "M*A*S*H," a CBS
comedy-drama set during the Korean War.
He also wrote and directed numerous episodes of the show, which
ran from 1972 to 1983, and later appeared in other TV series,
plays and films. In 2004, he was nominated for the Academy Award
for Best Supporting Actor in "The Aviator."
He told "CBS This Morning" that he got tested for the disease
after noticing what proved to be early symptoms of Parkinson's,
which affects movement and often causes uncontrollable tremors.
Alda added that he decided to go public with his diagnosis after
noticing his thumb twitching in a TV appearance, saying that he
wanted to tell people he was optimistic about his future.
"In the very beginning, to be immobilized by fear and think the
worst thing has happened to you – it hasn't happened to you,"
Alda said. "You still have things you can do."
Earlier this year, singer Neil Diamond said he was retiring from
touring after a Parkinson's diagnosis. Actor Michael J. Fox and
boxer Muhammad Ali both struggled with the disease, which
affects more than 10 million people worldwide, according to the
Parkinson's Foundation. Ali died in 2016, more than three
decades after he was first diagnosed.
(Reporting by Diana Kruzman; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
