Robert Alda

Robert Alda

  • Birthday: 1914-02-26
  • Deathday: 1986-05-03
  • Place of birth: New York City, New York, USA
  • Also know as: Alfonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo

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.

Filmography

The Beast with Five Fingers

1947

As Bruce Conrad [Conrad Ryler in on-screen end credits]

Rhapsody in Blue

1945

As George Gershwin

All Woman

1967

As Wally

Force of Impulse

1961

As Warren Reese

Hollywood Varieties

1950

As Master of Ceremonies

Assignment Abroad

1955

As Major Bill Morgan

Two Gals and a Guy

1951

As Deke Oliver

The Man I Love

1946

As Nicky Toresca

The Devil's Hand

1961

As Rick Turner

Cinderella Jones

1946

As Tommy Coles

Lucy Moves to NBC

1980

As Mr. Luder

Cloak and Dagger

1946

As Pinkie

Homicide

1949

As Andy

Beautiful But Dangerous

1955

As Maestro Doria

The Girl Who Knew Too Much

1969

As Kenneth Allandice

April Showers

1948

As Billy Shay

The House of Exorcism

1975

As Father Michael

Every Girl Should Have One

1978

As Adam Becker

Nora Prentiss

1947

As Phil Dinardo, Cafe Owner

Bittersweet Love

1976

As Ben

Un militare e mezzo

1960

As Roy Harrison

Fame

1978

As Concierge

The Squeeze

1978

As Captain Donati

Musketeers of the Sea

1962

As Vice Governatore Gomez

Holiday Hookers

1976

As Client

The Serpent

1973

As Polygraph interrogator

I Will, I Will...For Now

1976

As Dr. Magnus

Mister Universe

1951

As Fingers Maroni

Spider-Man Strikes Back

1978

As Mr. White

Perfect Gentlemen

1978

As Ed Martin

Imitation of Life

1959

As Allen Loomis

Last Hours Before Morning

1975

As Theo 'Lucky' English

Cagliostro

1975

As Pope Clement XIII

Express to Terror

1979

As Dr. Dan Lewis

Doses of Horror

2018

As Father Michael ("A Dose of Temptation" segment) (archive footage) (uncredited)

Cleopatra's Daughter

1960

As Inuni, Pharaoh's Architect

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

1976

As Richard Entwhistle

keyboard_arrow_up