RA
Robert Alda
Actor
Died May 3, 1986 (72 years)
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
| 2018 | Doses of Horror · as Father Michael ("A Dose of Temptation" segment) (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 1981 | Private Benjamin (TV Series) · as Kleindienst |
| 1981 | Code Red (TV Series) · as Dr. Gerold Brooks |
| 1980 | Lucy Moves to NBC · as Mr. Luder |
| 1980 | Beyond Westworld (TV Series) · as Governor Eric Harper |
| 1980 | Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1979 | The Dukes of Hazzard (TV Series) · as C. J. Holmes |
| 1979 | The Facts of Life (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1978 | Every Girl Should Have One · as Adam Becker |
| 1978 | Perfect Gentlemen · as Ed Martin |
| 1978 | The Squeeze · as Captain Donati |
| 1978 | The White Shadow (TV Series) · as Bob Beardsley |
| 1978 | Greatest Heroes of the Bible (TV Series) · as Vizier |
| 1977 | The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1977 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) · as Mark Dupres |
| 1977 | The Amazing Spider-Man (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1977 | The Love Boat (TV Series) · as Frank Leonardt |
| 1977 | The Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1976 | Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood · as Richard Entwhistle |
| 1976 | I Will... I Will... For Now · as Dr. Magnus |
| 1976 | Bittersweet Love · as Ben |
| 1976 | Holiday Hookers · as Client |
| 1976 | The Feather And Father Gang (TV Series) · as Sid |
| 1976 | Quincy, M.E. (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1976 | Laverne & Shirley (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1975 | Cagliostro · as Pope Clement XIII |
| 1975 | The House of Exorcism · as Father Michael |
| 1975 | The Invisible Man (1975) (TV Series) · as James 'Jim' Fielder |
| 1975 | Wonder Woman (TV Series) · as Harcourt |
| 1975 | Ellery Queen (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1974 | Rhoda (TV Series) · as Paul Gerard |
| 1974 | The Rockford Files (TV Series) · as Cy Margulies |
| 1973 | The Serpent · as Polygraph interrogator |
| 1973 | Kojak (TV Series) · as Adrian Marshall |
| 1973 | Police Story (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1972 | M*A*S*H (TV Series) · as Dr. Anthony B. Borelli |
| 1972 | Emergency! (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1969 | The Girl Who Knew Too Much · as Kenneth Allandice |
| 1968 | The Name of the Game (TV Series) · as Salazar |
| 1968 | Julia (TV Series) · as Mike Murray |
| 1968 | Here's Lucy (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1967 | Ironside (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1966 | Mission: Impossible (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1966 | That Girl (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1965 | Days of Our Lives (TV Series) · as Dr. Stuart Whyland |
| 1962 | The Lucy Show (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1961 | The Devil's Hand · as Rick Turner |
| 1961 | Force of Impulse · as Warren Reese |
| 1960 | Daughter of Cleopatra · as Inuni, Pharaoh's Architect |
| 1960 | Revenge of the Barbarians · as Ataulf |
| 1960 | Un militare e mezzo · as Roy Harrison |
| 1959 | Imitation of Life · as Allen Loomis |
| 1958 | Naked City (TV Series) · as Jess Burton |
| 1955 | Beautiful But Dangerous · as Maestro Doria |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) · as Ben Nelson |
| 1951 | Tales of Tomorrow (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) · as Concierge |
| 1950 | Tarzan and the Slave Girl · as Neil |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Paul Oxford |
| 1950 | The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1946 | The Man I Love · as Nicky Toresca |
| 1946 | The Beast with Five Fingers · as Bruce Conrad [Conrad Ryler in on-screen end credits] |
| 1946 | Cloak and Dagger · as Pinkie |
| 1945 | Rhapsody in Blue · as George Gershwin |