Robert Alda
Acting • Born 1914-02-26 – Died 1986-05-03
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
87 credits
Nora Prentiss
Movie • 1947
Phil Dinardo
Fame
Movie • 1978
Concierge
The Man I Love
Movie • 1946
Nicky Toresca
Imitation of Life
Movie • 1959
Allen Loomis
The Beast with Five Fingers
Movie • 1947
Bruce Conrad [Conrad Ryler in on-screen end credits]
Rhapsody in Blue
Movie • 1945
George Gershwin
Cloak and Dagger
Movie • 1946
Pinkie
Homicide
Movie • 1949
Andy
The Devil's Hand
Movie • 1961
Rick Turner
Beautiful But Dangerous
Movie • 1955
Maestro Doria
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
Movie • 1969
Kenneth Allandice
Hollywood Varieties
Movie • 1950
Master of Ceremonies
April Showers
Movie • 1948
Billy Shay
Tarzan and the Slave Girl
Movie • 1950
Neil
Bittersweet Love
Movie • 1976
Ben
Cleopatra's Daughter
Movie • 1960
Inuni, Pharaoh's Architect
The Squeeze
Movie • 1978
Captain Donati
The House of Exorcism
Movie • 1975
Father Michael
Cinderella Jones
Movie • 1946
Tommy Coles
Musketeers of the Sea
Movie • 1962
Vice Governatore Gomez
Assignment Abroad
Movie • 1955
Major Bill Morgan
Two Gals and a Guy
Movie • 1951
Deke Oliver
Last Hours Before Morning
Movie • 1975
Theo 'Lucky' English
Revenge of the Barbarians
Movie • 1960
Ataulf
Holiday Hookers
Movie • 1976
Client
The Serpent
Movie • 1973
Polygraph interrogator
All Woman
Movie • 1967
Wally
Every Girl Should Have One
Movie • 1978
Adam Becker
Mister Universe
Movie • 1951
Fingers Maroni
I Will, I Will...For Now
Movie • 1976
Dr. Magnus
Spider-Man Strikes Back
Movie • 1978
Mr. White
A Soldier and a Half
Movie • 1960
Roy Harrison
Force of Impulse
Movie • 1961
Warren Reese
Express to Terror
Movie • 1979
Dr. Dan Lewis
Lucy Moves to NBC
Movie • 1980
Mr. Luder
Totò e Peppino divisi a Berlino
Movie • 1962
Lo Bianco
Perfect Gentlemen
Movie • 1978
Ed Martin
Cagliostro
Movie • 1975
Pope Clement XIII
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Movie • 1976
Richard Entwhistle
Supertrain
TV • 1979
Here's Lucy
TV • 1968
Robert Alda
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
TV • 1980
The Incredible Hulk
TV • 1977
Trapper John, M.D.
TV • 1979
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV • 1950
Self
The Facts of Life
TV • 1979
That Girl
TV • 1966
The Lucy Show
TV • 1962
John Brooks III
Quincy, M.E.
TV • 1976
Professor Wren
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self
Naked City
TV • 1958
Jess Burton
Love of Life
TV • 1951
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
TV • 1977
Laverne & Shirley
TV • 1976
Kojak
TV • 1973
Adrian Marshall
Wonder Woman
TV • 1975
Harcourt
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV • 1948
Self
Mission: Impossible
TV • 1966
Diego Maximillian
Emergency!
TV • 1972
The Amazing Spider-Man
TV • 1978
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
Concierge
Ironside
TV • 1967
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Ben Nelson
Police Story
TV • 1973
The Millionaire
TV • 1955
Gilbert Patterson
Sword of Justice
TV • 1978
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Rusty Miller
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Angelo Armiento
Matt Houston
TV • 1982
Judd for the Defense
TV • 1967
Ellery Queen
TV • 1975
The Tony Randall Show
TV • 1976
Robert Montgomery Presents
TV • 1950
Tales of Tomorrow
TV • 1951
By Popular Demand
TV • 1950
Self - Host
Grandpa Goes to Washington
TV • 1978
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Paul Oxford
Here's Lucy
TV • 1968
Dean Butler
Here's Lucy
TV • 1968
Captain MacClay
The Rockford Files
TV • 1974
Cy Margulies
Beyond Westworld
TV • 1980
Governor Eric Harper
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Frank Leonardt
What's My Line?
TV • 1950
Self
The Incredible Hulk
TV • 1977
Jason Laird
M*A*S*H
TV • 1972
Dr. Anthony B. Borelli
Fantasy Island
TV • 1978
Mark Dupres
Secret File, U.S.A
TV • 1955
Maj. William Morgan