Alan Alda Opens Up About His Rare Face Blindness Condition

Published: May 23, 2025

Beloved actor Alan Alda has spoken out about his rare condition, face blindness, also known as prosopagnosia. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Alda shared a heartwarming story about mistaking his daughter Beatrice for a stranger on set.

Alda, 89, recalled the incident that occurred during the filming of his 1981 film The Four Seasons, which has recently been adapted into a Netflix series. He had asked Beatrice to get her hair dyed blonde to match the characters in the film. When she returned to the set, he couldn't recognize her.

Alda told PEOPLE, "I saw this person with horn-rimmed glasses and blonde hair staring at me, and it was starting to get distracting. I said to the assistant director, 'Don't let these strangers come on the set.' He said, 'That's your daughter!' I don't think she was too happy about that, because neither of us knew that there was such a thing as face blindness [at the time]."

Years later, Alda was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015, which has affected his ability to recognize people. He shared, "When somebody comes up to me, as if they know me, I often don't know if they know me from seeing me on the screen or if I actually know them. I could have dinner with somebody, spend two hours with somebody next to me, and the next day not know who they are."

Alda has also spoken about the importance of his wife Arlene, 92, in helping him cope with his health struggles. He said, "She always says, 'The secret to marriage is a short memory.' We both try to practice being there when we're there: listening, answering, taking an interest. You can get used to somebody no matter who it is. I've always thought if the Pope and Mother Teresa were a couple, after a few years, they'd have to work it out."

Despite his health struggles, Alda remains optimistic and has even made a hilarious cameo in Netflix's adaptation of The Four Seasons, offering marriage advice to the characters played by Tina Fey and Colman Domingo.

Read more about Alan Alda's journey with Parkinson's disease and face blindness in his exclusive interview with the magazine.

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