Alan Alda Struggled & Became a Cab Driver to Feed Family — At 86, Their Love Surrounds Him as He Fights Brain Disease

Alan Alda was a family man over anything else. He was an actor and cab driver trying to support them, and for 11 years, he commuted a long distance to see them as often as possible after finding his most prominent role. At 87, he loves all his kids and grandkids just as they are, and being around them helps him deal with his disease.

Alan Alda is best known for his role as Captain Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce in the series *M*A*S*H,” but the actor considers himself a husband, father, and grandfather over anything else. Being around his loved ones was always the most important part of his life, and he worked hard just for them.

Alan has been with his wife, Arlene Alda, for more than 60 years, and they met in an interesting way. They were at a party with mutual friends, and the hostess placed a rum cake in the fridge to cool.

By some twist of fate, the cake ended up on the floor unexpectedly. No one knew what to do, but Alan and Arlene were desperate to get dessert that day. Thus, the actor revealed:

“Arlene and I were the only two people who went in with spoons and ate it off the floor. That’s how you know. When two people eat a cake off the floor, that’s it for life.”

Alan thinks the younger generations could learn a thing or two about his meeting with the love of his life. Instead of matchmaking apps on the internet, he suggests throwing a cake on the floor and waiting to see who’s brave enough to eat it.

The couple has been “inseparable” since they ate cake off the floor. But according to Alan, “I was captivated by her even earlier in the meal when I heard her at the end of the table laughing at my jokes. She had me at Ha.”