She Is the Wife of a Hollywood Star & Has Been by His Side for 68 Years, Supporting Him as He Battles Parkinson's Disease

At a college party, a rum cake fell to the floor, and out of everyone there, only two people stepped forward to eat it. That split-second decision sparked a nearly 70-year bond now defined by humor, resilience, and unwavering support.

For 68 years, she's remained quietly in the background, steadfast, supportive, and rarely seeking the spotlight. Her husband, a prominent figure in entertainment, now faces each day with determination, as his condition advances.

But it's her presence — patient, practical, and full of humor — that has anchored him. Their story reveals not only the personal side of living with a chronic disease but also the deep resilience of a lifelong partnership.

A Sudden Clue in a Dream

The earliest sign of the disease came not during waking hours, but in the middle of the night. Long before any outward symptoms appeared, the actor experienced a vivid dream where someone was attacking him. In his sleep, he reacted, throwing what he believed was a sack of potatoes at his assailant.

In reality, he had tossed a pillow at his wife. That incident stayed with him. Later, while reading a column by "The New York Times" health writer Jane Brody, he learned that physically acting out dreams could be an early warning sign of Parkinson's disease.

Intrigued and slightly unsettled, he brought the article to his doctor and requested a scan. "The doctor said, 'Why do you want a scan? You don't have any symptoms,'" he recalled in a past interview. "And I said, 'I want to know if there's anything I can do — I want to do it.'"

That proactive step led to his diagnosis in 2015. By recognizing a little-known symptom and acting quickly, he gave himself a chance to prepare for what lay ahead.

Catching It Early and Refusing to Slow Down

After receiving his Parkinson's diagnosis, he didn't let it shake his outlook. Instead of retreating from the spotlight or succumbing to fear, he leaned into activity, both physical and mental. The award-winning actor chose to stay ahead of the disease rather than wait for it to catch up.

He built a disciplined routine that included boxing two to three times a week, playing tennis, riding a stationary bike, juggling, practicing tai chi, and marching. "I'm feeling good and charging ahead," he once shared. "Doing everything I can to slow the progression of Parkinson's, which really can be slowed with work."

He made it a point to emphasize that a diagnosis wasn't the end of a meaningful life. For others facing the same reality, he offered, "The only valuable thing I have to say about it is that for people who just got a diagnosis, it's important not to get depressed and think your life is over... You can hold off the worst of the worst of it for a long time in most cases."

Understanding the Life-Changing Disease

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that causes part of the brain to deteriorate gradually. As the disease progresses, symptoms become more severe. It's best known for affecting muscle control, balance, and movement, but it can also interfere with senses, mental health, sleep, and thinking ability.

The most visible signs are known as motor symptoms, and these can vary from person to person. One of the key symptoms doctors look for when diagnosing Parkinson's is slowed movements, or bradykinesia. While people may describe it as weakness, it stems from impaired muscle control rather than actual loss of strength.

Another common symptom is resting tremor — rhythmic shaking that occurs even when muscles aren't being used. This appears in about 80 percent of cases. The actor has shown visible tremors in recent TV appearances and has spoken openly about their impact.

Rigidity or stiffness is also common. This can take the form of lead-pipe rigidity, which causes constant resistance in the muscles, or cogwheel stiffness, a jerky, stop-and-go sensation that combines tremor with resistance, like the ticking of a clock's second hand.

As the disease progresses, it often leads to unstable posture and changes in walking gait. Movements become smaller, strides shorten, and the person may stop swinging their arms while walking. Turning may take multiple small steps, and the overall posture tends to become stooped.

But the effects go beyond movement. People living with Parkinson's can also experience problems with sleep, mood, memory, and concentration. In "The Aviator" actor's case, he has also been diagnosed with prosopagnosia, or face blindness, which makes it difficult to recognize familiar people.

Despite the disease's complexity, he remains focused on finding solutions. His approach reflects one of the most powerful tools in managing Parkinson's: staying mentally and physically engaged. Catching the disease early, as he did, can make a real difference.

He pursued testing after recognizing an early sleep disturbance, a sign experts now believe may appear well before traditional motor symptoms. For others, his story offers a clear message: the sooner Parkinson's is understood, the better it can be managed.

From Wartime Surgeon to Award-Winning Star

Even when Parkinson's began affecting his motor skills, he didn't step away from his craft. While managing the condition became a full-time job, acting became his side gig. He continued to take on roles, speak publicly, and pursue creative projects with the same energy that first made him a household name.

That energy was most famously seen in his 11-season run as Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce on "M*A*S*H," one of television's most iconic medical sitcoms. His role as a wisecracking army surgeon earned him two Primetime Emmys and cemented his reputation as a performer.

Behind the scenes, he directed and wrote for the series, helping shape its unique blend of humor and social commentary. His success carried into film as well.

In 2004, he was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Senator Ralph Owen Brewster in "The Aviator," going toe-to-toe with Leonardo DiCaprio's Howard Hughes. Even decades into his career, he remained a creative force.

That hasn't changed in recent years. He appeared in a Netflix reboot of his 1981 film "The Four Seasons," now adapted by Tina Fey into a series about long-term relationships. Although his Parkinson's tremors were visible in his cameo, he embraced the moment with characteristic wit and professionalism.

But while his professional life continues to evolve, the foundation of his personal life remains unchanged: a marriage that has endured for almost seven decades.

A Rum Cake Fall and a Forever Kind of Love

Their story began in New York City in 1956 at a college party. He was a student with a sharp sense of humor; she was confident and quick to laugh. When a rum cake fell on the floor, most guests stepped back. The two of them stepped forward and ate it.

"[I knew she was the one] when we ate the cake off the floor," he recounted. "There's something about flirting over food, and that she laughed at my jokes meant a lot." Her name is Arlene Alda, and the man she's been calling her husband since 1957 is Alan Alda.

Over the decades, as his star rose, Arlene built her own creative life as a professional photographer and classically trained musician. Together, they raised three daughters and created a partnership that was always equal parts support and laughter.

Now in their late 80s and early 90s, their bond has only deepened in the face of new challenges. As Alan navigates the physical changes brought on by Parkinson's disease, Arlene supports him, helping with small tasks like opening a stubborn package and offering patience when his fingers can't keep up.

"She's so good-natured about it," he said. "I'm always saying, 'Thank you.'" The Aldas don't claim to have all the answers to a lasting marriage, but according to Arlene, "The secret to marriage is a short memory."

"We both try to practice being there when we're there," Alan once reflected. "Listening, answering, taking an interest. You can get used to somebody, no matter who it is. I've always thought if the Pope and Mother Teresa were a couple, after a few years, they'd have to work it out."

At home in New York, life for the couple follows a steady rhythm. Alan's days begin with any exercise that keeps his body moving and his mind focused. But that rhythm also reflects the daily work of adapting, something Alan has learned to do as Parkinson's turns simple tasks into challenges.

"Tying shoelaces can be a challenge with stiff fingers," he explained. "Think of playing the violin while wearing mittens." But he rarely lets frustration linger. Instead, he treats each small hurdle as a puzzle. "Almost every day I'm finding a new way to do something," he said. "It's a little like a game... If I keep at it, I can eventually solve it, and then I feel like a million bucks."

Alongside his workouts, he records podcast episodes, tends to the lawn, often chasing geese off the grass, and plays chess with Arlene. And while these routines may be simple, they require focus, effort, and creativity, especially in addition to the day-to-day challenges of Parkinson's.

Despite the challenges, Alan focuses on what matters. When asked what makes him happiest, he answered readily, "Laughing with my wife."

Alan has never framed his diagnosis as a limitation. Now 89, he continues to work, speak publicly, and adapt to the disease's daily demands. But he's never faced it alone. Arlene, by his side since the 1950s, remains present in all the quiet, practical ways that matter most.