Beyond starring in MAS*H, Alda eventually wrote and directed some of its most acclaimed episodes. One of his favorites was “Dear Sigmund,” where psychiatrist Sidney Freedman fights depression by writing an imaginary letter to Freud. “It confirmed for me that if you ask an actor to play somebody depressed, their first tendency is to get morose and slow. But I thought I could show a guy who’s fighting his depression and on the surface seems cheerful.” Allan Arbus’ performance brought it to life, and Alda cherished the chance to write for him. “I was so convinced that he really was a psychiatrist, that I used to sit and talk with him between scenes as if he was one.”
Truly an incredible guy.