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Alan Alda

Alan Alda

Actor and writer, also director and producer · Born January 28, 1936 (90) · Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

6 Primetime Emmys · 6 Golden Globes · Screen Actors Guild Award winner · 6 other major award bodies

Alan Alda (born January 28, 1936) is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the TV series MASH. He is currently a visiting professor at the Stony Brook University School of Journalism.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 28, 1936 (90)
From
Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor and writer, also director and producer
Titles
52 on Motif · 74 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 53% in 30 days

What are Alan Alda's films like?

Across their 48 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 46 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 24 · Serious 9 · Dark 13

Grounded 36 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 1

A split, not a type: Gentle 22 · Charged 16 · Intense 8

Steady 27 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 5

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 14

Slow burn 25 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 1

A split, not a type: Casual 20 · Engaged 22 · Full focus 4

Easy watch 26 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 10

Resolved 39 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

34 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 10 of 34 analyzed roles.

Hero
10 of 34
Mentor
7 of 34
Shadow
5 of 34
Shapeshifter
3 of 34
Trickster
3 of 34
Threshold guardian
3 of 34
Ally
2 of 34
Herald
1 of 34
Show the 34 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
24
Tense
18
Melancholic
17
Contemplative
15
Joyful
11
Other
46

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet25
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Alan Alda's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 52 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Pluto TV (10).

Subscription and free streaming for Alan Alda's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

74 credits, 52 with a Motif page; 47 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Four Seasons(2025)

    Show 16 episodes · Original Film Writer · Producer · as Don

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows
  • Ray Donovan: The Movie(2022)

    as Dr. Arthur Amiot

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
  • Marriage Story(2019)

    as Bert Spitz

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
  • The Emperor's Newest Clothes(2018)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
  • The Good Fight(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Solomon Waltzer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows
  • Spielberg(2017)

    as Thomas Watters Jr.

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
  • Horace and Pete (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 10 episodes · as Uncle Pete

  • Bridge of Spies(2015)

    as Thomas Watters Jr.

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
  • The Longest Ride(2015)

    as Ira Levinson

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • Broad City(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Jay Heller

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows
  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 5 episodes · as Fitch

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Wanderlust(2012)

    as Carvin

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Tower Heist(2011)

    as Arthur Shaw

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • The Human Spark (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 3 episodes · as Host

  • Nothing But the Truth(2008)

    as Albert Burnside

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • Flash of Genius(2008)

    as Gregory Lawson

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • Diminished Capacity(2008)

    as Uncle Rollie

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Resurrecting the Champ(2007)

    as Ralph Metz

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • The Dame Edna Treatment (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • 30 Rock(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Milton Greene

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
  • Rachael Ray (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Aviator(2004)

    as Senator Ralph Owen Brewster

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • 'M*A*S*H': 30th Anniversary Reunion(2002)

    Writer · as Himself

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • The Killing Yard (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Ernie Goodman

  • Club Land(2001)

    as Willie Walters

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
  • What Women Want(2000)

    as Dan Wanamaker

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 27 episodes · as Arnold Vinick

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
  • The Object of My Affection(1998)

    as Sidney Miller

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • Mad City(1997)

    as Kevin Hollander

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • Murder at 1600(1997)

    as Jordan

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Everyone Says I Love You(1996)

    as Bob Dandridge

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Flirting with Disaster(1996)

    as Richard Schlichting

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • Jake's Women(1996)

    as Jake

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Canadian Bacon(1995)

    as U.S. President

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • ER(1994)

    Show 5 episodes · as Gabriel Lawrence

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
  • White Mile(1994)

    as Dan Cutler

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • And the Band Played On(1993)

    as Dr. Robert Gallo

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • Whispers in the Dark(1992)

    as Leo Green

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Scientific American Frontiers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 96 episodes · Presenter · Actor

  • Betsy's Wedding(1990)

    Director · Writer · as Eddie Hopper

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • A New Life(1988)

    Director · Writer · as Steve Giardino

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Sweet Liberty(1986)

    Director · Writer · as Michael Burgess

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
  • The Ratings Game(1984)

    as Alan Alda (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
  • The Four Seasons (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 13 episodes · Creator · Producer · Writer · as Jack Burroughs

  • The Four Seasons(1981)

    Director · Writer · as Jack Burroughs

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • She's Nobody's Baby: American Women in the 20th Century (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as Narrator

  • The Seduction of Joe Tynan(1979)

    Writer · as Joe Tynan

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • Same Time, Next Year(1978)

    as George Peters

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
  • California Suite(1978)

    as Bill Warren

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • Kill Me If You Can(1977)

    as Caryl W. Chessman

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • We'll Get By (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    Show Creator

  • 6 RMS RIV VU (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Director · as Paul Friedman

  • Juke and Opal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Jimmy

  • Lily (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Isn't It Shocking?(1973)

    as Dan

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Playmates (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Marshall Barnett

  • M*A*S*H(1972)

    Show 251 episodes · Director · Creative Consultant · Story · Writer · as Hawkeye Pierce

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
  • To Kill a Clown (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Maj. Evelyn Ritchie

  • The Glass House(1972)

    as Jonathon Paige

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
  • The Mephisto Waltz(1971)

    as Myles Clarkson

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • The Moonshine War(1970)

    as John W. (Son) Martin

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Jenny (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    as Delano

  • The Extraordinary Seaman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Lt. J / G Morton Krim

  • Paper Lion (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as George Plimpton

  • Premiere (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 4 episodes · as Frank St. John

  • Coronet Blue (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Clay Breznia

  • Where's Everett? (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    as Arnold Barker

  • Gone Are the Days! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Charlie Cotchipee

  • The Nurses (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 98 episodes · as Dr. John Griffin

  • Route 66(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Glazer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows
  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Young Poet

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 73 titles from 1958 to 2025; peak year 1996.

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19582025

Peak 1996 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 13 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 6 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting72 of 73: 62 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stDirecting6 of 73: 0 only directing, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score32ndWriting8 of 73: 0 only writing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score45thProducing2 of 73: 0 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew4 of 73: 1 only other crew, 3 with another role

73 titles, 10 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s8 · acting1970s16 · 15 acting · 4 crew1980s7 · 7 acting · 4 crew1990s15 · 15 acting · 2 crew2000s12 · acting2010s12 · acting2020s2 · 2 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 21% of 28 roles
71869601

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

6 Primetime Emmys, 6 Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild Award and 6 other major awards from 69 major nominations, 1969–2020.

WinNomination
  1. 2020
    • Independent Spirit Award, won
  2. 2019
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won
  3. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
  4. 2009
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
  5. 2008
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Spoken Word Album
  6. 2006
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  7. 2005
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  8. 2002
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Show 18 earlier years
  1. 2001
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
  2. 2000
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Writers Guild Award, won
  3. 1995
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
  4. 1994
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
  5. 1991
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor in a Supporting Role
  6. 1984
    • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Episodic Comedy
  7. 1983
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
  8. 1982
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
    • +2 other major bodies · 1 win and 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen
  9. 1981
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Episodic Drama
  10. 1980
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
  11. 1979
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Writing in a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing in a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
  12. 1978
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Directors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
  13. 1977
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 wins
      • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
      • Writers Guild Award, won · Episodic Comedy
  14. 1976
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
  15. 1975
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, won · Best TV Actor - Comedy or Musical
  16. 1974
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Actor of the Year - Series
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Best Lead Actor in a Drama
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best TV Actor - Comedy or Musical
  17. 1973
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best TV Actor - Comedy or Musical
  18. 1969
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Most Promising Newcomer - Male

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Alan Alda's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 42; across their 46 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 46

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 46

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 46

Midcredits score across 52 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up24
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 52 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved15
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed10
  • Mixed10

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 39 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 52. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Alan Alda's work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 Motif titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles13–58 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles21–55 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity15 titles34–66 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles17–54 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles15–58 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Alan Alda work with?

People who share at least 2 of Alan Alda's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Martin Bregman shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles