Ever watch those old reruns of M*A*S*H and think, "Wow, Hawkeye is actually a giant"? Honestly, you aren't imagining things. Alan Alda has always carried himself with a certain lanky, leaning-in kind of energy that makes him seem accessible, but the man is legitimately tall.
Most people assume TV stars of that era were shorter because of how sets were built, but Alda broke the mold. Standing next to his costars in the 4077th, he often towered over the chaos of the swamp.
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How tall is Alan Alda exactly?
Basically, at the height of his career, Alan Alda stood a solid 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm). That’s quite a bit taller than the average American male. In fact, it put him in a specific bracket of "leading man" height that dominated 1970s and 80s television. When you look at his frame, he isn't just "tall for Hollywood." He's just tall. Period.
It’s interesting because his character, Hawkeye Pierce, was so centered on wit and vulnerability. Usually, the "big guy" on a show plays the muscle or the stoic hero. Alda flipped that. He used his height to be physically expressive, often lurching or bending over to meet people at eye level, which added to that frantic, comedic energy we all loved.
The MAS*H height mystery
You might wonder why he didn't always look like a giant on screen. The secret is that the cast of M*A*S*H was actually one of the tallest ensembles in sitcom history. This is something fans frequently get wrong—they think Alda was average because he fit in so well.
Take a look at the numbers:
- Wayne Rogers (Trapper John): 6'3"
- Mike Farrell (B.J. Hunnicutt): 6'4"
- McLean Stevenson (Henry Blake): 6'3"
- David Ogden Stiers (Charles Winchester): 6'4"
Standing between Wayne Rogers and Mike Farrell, Alan Alda’s 6'2" frame actually made him one of the "shorter" doctors in the camp! It’s wild to think about. When you see him next to Gary Burghoff (Radar O'Reilly), who stood about 5'5", the difference is startling. But put him in a room with the rest of the surgical staff, and he’s just one of the guys.
Has he gotten shorter with age?
It’s a natural part of life, unfortunately. Now that Alda is in his late 80s, fans have noticed he doesn't seem quite as imposing as he did in the 70s.
Like most people, spinal compression and posture changes over decades can shave off an inch or two. Plus, Alda has been very open about his journey with Parkinson’s disease since his diagnosis in 2015. While Parkinson's itself doesn't "shrink" you, the changes in gait and posture—often called the "Parkinsonian stoop"—can definitely make a person appear shorter than their peak height.
Even so, when he stands up straight at a gala or during a recording of his podcast, Clear+Vivid, you can still see that 6'2" frame. He’s still got that long-limbed presence.
Why his height mattered for his career
Height in Hollywood is often about "hittable" marks. For a director, having a lead who is 6'2" means you have to frame shots differently.
In The West Wing, where he played Senator Arnold Vinick, his height gave him a natural gravitas. You believed he was a political powerhouse because he literally looked down on half the people in the room. It’s that "presidential" stature.
Compare that to his role in Marriage Story (2019). Playing the aging, empathetic lawyer Bert Spitz, he used his height differently. He appeared more "folded" into himself, using his long limbs to project a sense of gentleness and perhaps a bit of frailty. That’s the mark of a great actor—knowing how to use your physical dimensions to tell a story.
Surprising facts about Alda's physicality
A lot of people don't realize that Alda’s physical life started with a major hurdle. At age seven, he contracted polio. This was back in the 1940s, a terrifying time for any parent.
His parents used a grueling treatment involving hot wool blankets and intense muscle stretching. It was painful, but it worked. He came out of it with full mobility, which is incredible considering he spent the next seventy years as a highly active physical performer.
Maybe that early struggle is why he never took his 6'2" frame for granted. Whether he was running through the scrub brush of Malibu (standing in for Korea) or walking the Broadway stage, he always had a very "active" way of moving.
Comparing Alda to other legends
If you’re trying to visualize how tall is Alan Alda compared to other icons, think of it this way:
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- He is the same height as Harrison Ford.
- He’s an inch taller than George Clooney.
- He’s significantly taller than Tom Cruise (about 5-6 inches taller).
In the world of "tall actors," he sits comfortably in the middle. He’s not a "huge" guy like Brad Garrett (6'8"), but he’s definitely not a "short king."
What to take away from the "Hawkeye" stature
So, the next time you're debating celebrity heights at trivia night, you've got the answer. Alan Alda is 6'2", part of a freakishly tall medical unit, and a survivor of childhood polio who used every inch of his height to become a television legend.
If you want to see his height in action, go back and watch the M*A*S*H finale. Look at the way he stands during the final "Goodbye" scene. Even with the weight of that ending, his stature is unmistakable.
Next Steps for Alan Alda Fans:
- Check out his podcast: Clear+Vivid is where he uses his voice (and his curiosity) to talk about communication.
- Watch 'The Aviator': See him go toe-to-toe with Leonardo DiCaprio. You'll see how his 6'2" frame holds up against younger stars.
- Read his memoir: Never Have Your Dog Stuffed gives great insight into his childhood and his physical recovery from polio.