Robert Alda
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Feb 26, 1914
- Died
- May 3, 1986 (aged 72)
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Credits
- 82
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.
Known for
Filmography
Matt Houston
1982TV
Beyond Westworld
1980TV
Governor Eric Harper
Lucy Moves to NBC
1980Movie
Mr. Luder
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
1980TV
Trapper John, M.D.
1979TV
The Facts of Life
1979TV
Express to Terror
1979Movie
Dr. Dan Lewis
Supertrain
1979TV
Dr. Dan Lewis
Spider-Man Strikes Back
1978Movie
Mr. White
Fame
1978Movie
Concierge
The Squeeze
1978Movie
Captain Donati
Sword of Justice
1978TV
Grandpa Goes to Washington
1978TV
The Amazing Spider-Man
1978TV
Perfect Gentlemen
1978Movie
Ed Martin
Fantasy Island
1978TV
Mark Dupres
Every Girl Should Have One
1978Movie
Adam Becker
The Incredible Hulk
1977TV
Jason Laird
The Love Boat
1977TV
Frank Leonardt
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
1977TV
Quincy, M.E.
1976TV
Professor Wren
Bittersweet Love
1976Movie
Ben
The Tony Randall Show
1976TV
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976Movie
Richard Entwhistle
I Will, I Will...For Now
1976Movie
Dr. Magnus
Laverne & Shirley
1976TV
Monroe Harrison
Holiday Hookers
1976Movie
Client
Wonder Woman
1975TV
Harcourt
Ellery Queen
1975TV
Last Hours Before Morning
1975Movie
Theo 'Lucky' English
The House of Exorcism
1975Movie
Father Michael
Cagliostro
1975Movie
Pope Clement XIII
The Rockford Files
1974TV
Cy Margulies
Kojak
1973TV
Adrian Marshall
The Serpent
1973Movie
Polygraph interrogator
Police Story
1973TV
M*A*S*H
1972TV
Dr. Anthony B. Borelli
Emergency!
1972TV
Raymond Boyd
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
1969Movie
Kenneth Allandice
Here's Lucy
1968TV
Robert Alda, Dean Butler, Captain MacClay
All Woman
1967Movie
Wally
Judd, for the Defense
1967TV
Ironside
1967TV
Mission: Impossible
1966TV
Diego Maximillian
That Girl
1966TV
The Lucy Show
1962TV
John Brooks III
The Merv Griffin Show
1962TV
Self
Totò e Peppino divisi a Berlino
1962Movie
Lo Bianco
Musketeers of the Sea
1962Movie
Vice Governatore Gomez
Force of Impulse
1961Movie
Warren Reese
The Devil's Hand
1961Movie
Rick Turner
Revenge of the Barbarians
1960Movie
Ataulf
Cleopatra's Daughter
1960Movie
Inuni, Pharaoh's Architect
A Soldier and a Half
1960Movie
Roy Harrison
Imitation of Life
1959Movie
Allen Loomis
Naked City
1958TV
Jess Burton
Beautiful But Dangerous
1955Movie
Maestro Doria
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955TV
Ben Nelson
The Millionaire
1955TV
Gilbert Patterson
Assignment Abroad
1955Movie
Major Bill Morgan
Secret File, U.S.A
1955TV
Maj. William Morgan
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951TV
Concierge
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951TV
Angelo Armiento
Tales of Tomorrow
1951TV
Two Gals and a Guy
1951Movie
Deke Oliver
Mister Universe
1951Movie
Fingers Maroni
Lux Video Theatre
1950TV
Rusty Miller, Paul Oxford
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950TV
Self
By Popular Demand
1950TV
Self - Host
Tarzan and the Slave Girl
1950Movie
Neil
What's My Line?
1950TV
Self
Robert Montgomery Presents
1950TV
Hollywood Varieties
1950Movie
Master of Ceremonies
Homicide
1949Movie
Andy
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948TV
Self
April Showers
1948Movie
Billy Shay
Nora Prentiss
1947Movie
Phil Dinardo
The Beast with Five Fingers
1947Movie
Bruce Conrad [Conrad Ryler in on-screen end credits]
The Man I Love
1946Movie
Nicky Toresca
Cloak and Dagger
1946Movie
Pinkie
Cinderella Jones
1946Movie
Tommy Coles
Rhapsody in Blue
1945Movie
George Gershwin