Actor Alan Alda, born Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo, tells the story of his life from his days as a young boy traveling the vaudeville circuit with his parents. Yes, they did have the family dog, Rhapsody (named for his father Robert Alda's film "Rhapsody in Blue") stuffed with garish results. After surviving a string of bad tutors, Catholic School, Fordham University, and travels in Europe, Alan set his sights on writing and acting with mixed results. Until his acting career took off he worked a series of odd jobs including driving a cab and as a clown who appeared at business openings. When he was offered the role of Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H. his life and career changed forever. After that show ended he wrote, acted, and produced movies and became the host of the popular PBS show Scientific American Frontiers. Since then he has had recurring roles in a number of television shows. Alda tells his life story in a matter-of-fact style while being able to look at his past with humor. But he doesn't gloss over the hard parts: his mother's alcoholism and mental illness, his bout with polio and the painful treatments, counting pennies to pay the rent, and nearly dying of an obstructed bowel while on location in Chile. This isn't a scandalous tell all because Alda is not that kind of guy. His home is still in New Jersey where he raised three daughters with his wife of 58 years. He is now the grandfather of eight.
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