
Robert Alda
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.
Filmografi
All Woman1967 · Wally
Imitation of Life1959 · Allen Loomis
Mister Universe1951 · Fingers Maroni
Fame1978 · Concierge
Spider-Man Strikes Back1978 · Mr. White
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood1976 · Richard Entwhistle
The Serpent1973 · Polygraph interrogator
Beautiful But Dangerous1955 · Maestro Doria
The Beast with Five Fingers1947 · Bruce Conrad [Conrad Ryler in on-screen end credits]
Tarzan and the Slave Girl1950 · Neil
Cloak and Dagger1946 · Pinkie
I Will, I Will...For Now1976 · Dr. Magnus
Hollywood Varieties1950 · Master of Ceremonies
The Man I Love1946 · Nicky Toresca
Nora Prentiss1947 · Phil Dinardo
Cleopatra's Daughter1960 · Inuni, Pharaoh's Architect
The House of Exorcism1975 · Father Michael
The Girl Who Knew Too Much1969 · Kenneth Allandice
Musketeers of the Sea1962 · Vice Governatore Gomez
Lucy Moves to NBC1980 · Mr. Luder
Rhapsody in Blue1945 · George Gershwin
Every Girl Should Have One1978 · Adam Becker
Last Hours Before Morning1975 · Theo 'Lucky' English
Bittersweet Love1976 · Ben
Gloria DeHaven
George Barrows
Linda Hunt
Bruce Dern
Dean Stockwell
Ricardo Montalban
Victor Mature
Sterling Holloway
Rhonda Fleming
Broderick Crawford
Madeline Kahn
Nicholas Hammond