“I sat next to a young woman on a plane once who bombarded me for five hours with how she had decided to be born again and so should I. I told her I was glad for her, but I hadn't used up being born the first time.”

American actor and filmmaker

Alan Alda is an American actor and filmmaker. Born Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo, he has had a career spanning seven decades on stage and screen. He is best known for playing Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce in the CBS wartime comedy drama M*A*S*H, and for writing and directing many episodes of the series. His work in M*A*S*H made him a familiar figure to television audiences, and his career has brought him major awards, including six Emmy Awards and six Golden Globe Awards. He has also been nominated for an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, a Grammy Award, and four Tony Awards.