Robert Alda
Acting
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Robert Alda (February 26, 1914 – May 3, 1986) was an American theatrical and film actor and father of actors Alan and Antony Alda. A singer and dancer, Alda was featured in a number of Broadway productions before moving to Italy during the early 1960s. He appeared in many European films over the next two decades, occasionally returning to the U.S. for film appearances such as The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1969). Alda, an American of Italian descent, was born Alphonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo in New York, New York, the son of Frances (née Tumillo) and Antonio D'Abruzzo, a barber born in Sant'Agata de' Goti, Benevento, Campania, Italy. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in New York in 1930. He began as a singer and dancer in vaudeville after winning a talent contest, and moved on to burlesque. Alda is known for portraying George Gershwin in the biopic Rhapsody in Blue (1945) as well as the talent agent in the Douglas Sirk classic Imitation of Life (1959). He was very successful on Broadway, starring in Guys and Dolls (1950), for which he won a Tony Award, and in What Makes Sammy Run? (1964). He was also the host of the short-lived DuMont TV version of the game show What's Your Bid? (May–June 1953). Alda's first wife, and mother of actor Alan Alda, Joan Browne, was a homemaker and former beauty pageant winner. Alda was married to his second wife, Flora Marino, an Italian actress whom he met in Rome, until his death. Alda made two guest appearances with his son Alan on M*A*S*H, in the episodes "The Consultant" (January 1975) and "Lend a Hand" (February 1980). The latter episode also featured Antony Alda (1956–2009), his younger son by his second wife. Alda appeared in an episode of The Feather and Father Gang in 1977. Alda died on May 3, 1986, aged 72, after a long illness following a stroke.
Born: February 26, 1914
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA
Known For
Filmography
as Governor Eric Harper
as Mr. Luder
as Dr. Dan Lewis
as Mr. White
as Concierge
as Captain Donati
as Ed Martin
as Mark Dupres
as Adam Becker
as Jason Laird
as Frank Leonardt
as Professor Wren
as Ben
as Richard Entwhistle
as Dr. Magnus
as Client
as Harcourt
as Theo 'Lucky' English
as Father Michael
as Pope Clement XIII
as Cy Margulies
as Adrian Marshall
as Polygraph interrogator
as Dr. Anthony B. Borelli
as Kenneth Allandice
as Robert Alda
as Dean Butler
as Captain MacClay
as Diego Maximillian
as John Brooks III
as Self
as Lo Bianco
as Vice Governatore Gomez
as Warren Reese
as Rick Turner
as Ataulf
as Inuni, Pharaoh's Architect
as Roy Harrison
as Allen Loomis
as Jess Burton
as Maestro Doria
as Ben Nelson
as Gilbert Patterson
as Concierge
as Angelo Armiento
as Deke Oliver
as Fingers Maroni
as Self
as Neil
as Self
as Master of Ceremonies
as Andy
as Self
as Billy Shay
as Phil Dinardo
as Bruce Conrad [Conrad Ryler in on-screen end credits]
as Nicky Toresca
as Pinkie
as Tommy Coles
as George Gershwin