Allan Arbus
After a life behind the camera as a famed fashion photographer, he stepped in front to become TV's most empathetic army shrink.
1918–2013 (age 95)·American actor and photographer·Birthday: February 15·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Allan Arbus lived two distinct creative lives, each marked by a profound, searching gaze. First, he was one-half of a formidable photography duo with his then-wife Diane Arbus; their studio was a success, shooting for Vogue and other glossies, but Allan's true passion was teaching Diane the technical craft that would later fuel her singular vision. In his forties, he pivoted dramatically, studying acting and landing the role that would define his second act: the gentle, sardonic psychiatrist Major Sidney Freedman on 'M*A*S*H.' With his soothing voice and weary wisdom, Arbus provided the show's moral center, offering therapy to surgeons breaking under the strain of war. He never fully left photography behind, but it was his ability to listen—on screen—that made him a beloved fixture, proving that a late start could lead to a perfect fit.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Allan was born in 1918, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Allan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1918
Allan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1918Born
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Started school
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1931Became a teenager
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Could drive
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1936Could vote
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Turned 21
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1948Turned 30
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 40
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 50
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 60
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 70
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 80
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2013Died at 95
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Dr. Sidney Freedman in 12 episodes of 'M*A*S*H,' becoming one of the series' most beloved recurring characters.
- Ran a successful commercial photography studio with Diane Arbus in the 1940s and 50s, with clients including Vogue and Glamour.
- Had a prolific second career as a character actor, appearing in films like 'Coogan's Bluff' and 'The Last of the Mohicans.'
Did You Know?
He served in the U.S. Army as a photographer in the Signal Corps during World War II.
He and Diane Arbus separated in 1959, but he continued to support her work and they remained close until her death.
Their daughter, Amy Arbus, is also a noted photographer.
“I was always more interested in the questions than the answers.”
