Main content

Sue Lawley's castaway is actor Alan Alda.

The castaway in this week's Desert Island Discs is the American actor Alan Alda. The son of a vaudeville artist, he shot to fame portraying the wise-cracking, womanising Hawkeye in the television series M.A.S.H. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about the part that transformed his life and his initial reluctance to accept it, his childhood years in the burlesque houses of America, and explaining why, despite being a millionaire, he continues to work.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Weekend In The Country by Stephen Sondheim
Book: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Luxury: Italian pasta

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 1 Nov 1991 09:05
Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Elizabeth Esteve-Coll

Next

E P Thompson

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    English Suite No. 5 in E minor - Prelude

    Soloist: Glenn Gould

    • The English Suites.
    • CBS.

  • George Gershwin

    Rhapsody in Blue

    Orchestra: The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas

    • Rhapsody in Blue, Piano Preludes.
    • CBS.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Stephen Sondheim

      Weekend In The Country

      Artist: Original London Cast

      • A Little Night Music.
      • RCA Classics.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Clarinet Quintet in A major

    Soloist: Richard Stoltzman Orchestra: Tashi

    • Tashi Plays Mozart.
    • RCA Classics.

  • Danielle Ferland

    Into The Woods

    • Into The Woods.
    • RCA Classics.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Harpsichord Concerto No. 5 In F Minor

    Orchestra: The English Chamber Orchestra Conductor: Raymond Leppard

    • Philips.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 4 in B flat major

    Orchestra: The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Herbert von Karajan

    • Beethoven Symphonies 4 & 7.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • The Beatles

    When I'm Sixty-Four

    • Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.
    • Parlophone.

  • Book Choice

    • Robinson Crusoe - Daniel Defoe

  • Luxury Choice

    • Italian pasta

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Alan Alda

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Oct 1991 12:15
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4
  • Fri 1 Nov 1991 09:05
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast