Alan Alda, 89, Reveals His Mom Tried to Murder His Father When He Was 6 Years Old

Alan Alda, the iconic actor best known for his role in the legendary television series MASH*, recently stunned fans by opening up about a deeply traumatic episode from his childhood.

In a candid new interview, Alda, now 89, revealed that when he was just six years old, his mother tried to kill his father—an experience that would shape his early life in ways few could imagine.

Born Alphonso Joseph D’Abruzzo in New York City in 1936, Alda was the only child of Robert Alda, a stage and screen actor, and Joan Browne, a former beauty pageant winner.

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His formative years were marked by instability, as the family traveled constantly, following Robert’s acting career wherever it took them.

“He was very famous but he hardly made much money because that was at a time when Warner had those seven-year contracts,” Alda recalled, reflecting on the economic uncertainty that accompanied his father’s fame.

Robert Alda with his son Alan 💕 pic.twitter.com/801VeBxzEl

— Aurora (@CitizenScreen) February 27, 2024

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But fame and financial insecurity were only part of the turbulence.

Behind closed doors, Alda’s mother struggled with undiagnosed mental illness that would later be identified as schizophrenia.

Her condition manifested in increasingly alarming ways during his childhood—none more terrifying than the moment she attempted to stab Alda’s father.

“My mother didn’t try to stab my father until I was six, but she must have shown signs of oddness before that,” Alda wrote in the opening of his memoir Never Have Your Dog Stuffed.

It was a moment that not only marked a turning point in his young life but also instilled in him a hyper-awareness that he would carry with him for years to come.

When asked in a recent interview with The Guardian whether these traumatic experiences had shaped his sense of empathy, Alda responded with careful introspection.

“I’ve thought about it a lot, but I haven’t traced an interest in empathy to that,” he said.

“It may be true. What I was aware of was that I had to constantly observe her. When she told me something, I had to figure out whether this was reality or just her reality. She would point to cracks in the wall and say there were cameras in there taking our picture.”

Alan and Robert Alda on set of M*A*S*H in 1975. The elder Alda made two guest appearances with his son on M*A*S*H, in the episodes “The Consultant” (1975) and “Lend a Hand” (1980). pic.twitter.com/DFQD1E4bkQ

— Aurora (@CitizenScreen) February 27, 2023

Living with a mother whose grip on reality was fragile required constant improvisation.

For young Alda, survival meant adapting to her shifting perceptions of the world. He became vigilant, always trying to determine which version of reality he was being asked to enter.

His ability to improvise, which would later become one of his strengths as an actor, was born out of necessity.

His mother’s mental health deteriorated further over the years, and by the time Alda was in college, her condition reached a breaking point.

“I was in college in Paris, Dad was making a TV series in Amsterdam and Mom was running down the hotel corridor one night naked banging on doors,” he recalled.

Eventually, Robert and Joan divorced in 1957. Joan passed away in 1984 at the age of 76, and Robert died two years later in 1986 at the age of 72. Though the scars of that early trauma remained, Alda went on to build an extraordinary life and career.

Against all odds, Alda rose to become one of Hollywood’s most respected talents. He has won six Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and received an Oscar nomination. Despite his fame, Alda has maintained a grounded outlook on his achievements.

Alan and Arlene Alda celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary this past March. They married in 1957, when Alan was 21 and Arlene was 24, and they are still going at 88 and 91 , respectively. They have three daughters and 8 grandchildren. pic.twitter.com/m4O6Dt3J7m

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“I don’t get proud. I get glad that I can do something,” he told People magazine last month. “Proud seems like a waste of time.”

Alda has also enjoyed a long and loving marriage to his wife Arlene, whom he’s been married to for 58 years.

When asked about the secret to their lasting bond, he offered a thoughtful perspective: “I don’t think it can be put into a nugget. It involves being aware of how much you love the person not only in tender moments but also when you’re screaming at each other.”

Arlene’s take is more succinct: “When people ask her what’s the secret of a long marriage she says a short memory,” Alda said with a chuckle.

Alan Alda’s story is a profound reminder that our beginnings do not define our destinies. In speaking so honestly about his past, he has illuminated the strength it takes to move forward from pain, and the resilience that lives in the human spirit.

His journey from a chaotic childhood to a celebrated life in the spotlight is nothing short of inspirational.

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