The Return of Alan Alda

By Joe Palca

Published February 3, 2005 at 12:00 AM EST

Alan Alda as Sen. John Owen Brewster in Martin Scorsese's <i>The Aviator</i> — Alan Alda as Sen. John Owen Brewster in Martin Scorsese's *The Aviator*

From his breakout role as Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H* to his Oscar-nominated turn in The Aviator, Alan Alda continues to be a presence in American film and on television. Alda speaks with NPR's Joe Palca and listeners about his many roles and his approach to the craft of acting.

Guest:

Alan Alda, actor, Oscar nominee, Best Supporting Actor in the film The Aviator; now on The West Wing as Republican Senator Arnold Vinick

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Joe Palca

Joe Palca is a science correspondent for NPR. Since joining NPR in 1992, Palca has covered a range of science topics — everything from biomedical research to astronomy. He is currently focused on the eponymous series, "Joe's Big Idea." Stories in the series explore the minds and motivations of scientists and inventors. Palca is also the founder of NPR Scicommers – A science communication collective.

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