Alan Aldahas a new trophy to add to his impressive shelf of awards — and with it, he’s urging his fellow actors to keep doing what they’re doing.
Tom Hankspresented Alda, 82,with the Life Achievement Awardat the2019 SAG Awardson Sunday night, honoring his career achievements and humanitarian accomplishments.
“Oh my God, hello,” said the veteran actor after receiving a standing ovation. “You know, it’s really hard to describe to you what it feels like to look out and see my fellow actors, my colleagues, my heroes, to welcome me up there like this. It’s an extraordinary feeling.”
“The thing is this comes at a time where I’ve had a chance to look back at my life and to think about what it’s meant to be an actor,” he continued. “I see more than ever now how proud I am to be a member of our brotherhood and sisterhood of actors.”
Alda went on to highlight how crucial it is for actors to “get inside a character’s head and search for a way to see life from that person’s point of view, another person’s vision of the world, and then to let an audience experience that.”
“I thank our great union for this. Let’s honor the union contact,” he added. “I share this with everybody in the room. Thank you so much.”
Alda, who attended the annual award showwith his grandkids, is best known for portraying Dr. Hawkeye Pierce on the hit showMAS*H, for which he earned five Emmys. He also took home an Emmy in 2006 for his role as Senator Arnold Vinick inThe West Wing. Alda’s other television credits includeER, 30 Rock, The BlacklistandRay Donovan.
Alda has also boasted an impressive film career. He received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role in 2004’sThe Aviator. He’s also appeared in several critically acclaimed films includingBridge of SpiesandThe Longest Ride.
In July 2018, Aldapublicly revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s diseasealmost four years earlier.
“I’m busy,” he recently told PEOPLE of life after his diagnosis. “I do occasionally do nothing and sit around. But I believe in doing everything in moderation, including moderation. So far it’s working.”
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In 2015, his wife Arlene noticed Alda’s arms weren’t really moving when he walked, and he had begun acting out his dreams while asleep. Both were early signs of Parkinson’s. Though he admitted the prognosis was at first “scary,” Alda immediately began educating himself on the disease.
“My life hasn’t changed much,” he said. “I just applied my curiosity to it. I’m constantly reading and trying to figure out the best approaches. So far it’s really interesting. I think it’s helped me understand a little better that everybody has something they’re coping with.”
source: people.com
