Robert Alda

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

87

Gender

Male

Birthday

1914-02-26

Day of death

1986-05-03 (72 years old)

Place of Birth

New York City, New York, USA

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.

Known For

  • Ironside

    Ironside

  • M*A*S*H

    M*A*S*H

  • The Love Boat

    The Love Boat

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Robert Montgomery Presents

    Robert Montgomery Presents

  • Quincy, M.E.

    Quincy, M.E.

  • The Rockford Files

    The Rockford Files

  • The Colgate Comedy Hour

    The Colgate Comedy Hour

  • Mission: Impossible

    Mission: Impossible

  • The Lucy Show

    The Lucy Show

  • Trapper John, M.D.

    Trapper John, M.D.

  • Emergency!

    Emergency!

  • Matt Houston

    Matt Houston

  • Naked City

    Naked City

  • The Incredible Hulk

    The Incredible Hulk

  • The Incredible Hulk

    The Incredible Hulk

  • Here's Lucy

    Here's Lucy

  • Here's Lucy

    Here's Lucy

  • Here's Lucy

    Here's Lucy

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • The Facts of Life

    The Facts of Life

  • That Girl

    That Girl

  • Laverne & Shirley

    Laverne & Shirley

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Fantasy Island

    Fantasy Island

  • Kojak

    Kojak

  • The Millionaire

    The Millionaire

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents

  • The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries

    The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries

  • Wonder Woman

    Wonder Woman

  • Police Story

    Police Story

  • Ellery Queen

    Ellery Queen

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Lux Video Theatre

    Lux Video Theatre

  • Judd for the Defense

    Judd for the Defense

  • Tales of Tomorrow

    Tales of Tomorrow

  • Love of Life

    Love of Life

  • The Tony Randall Show

    The Tony Randall Show

  • I Will, I Will...For Now

    I Will, I Will...For Now

  • Tenspeed and Brown Shoe

    Tenspeed and Brown Shoe

  • The House of Exorcism

    The House of Exorcism

  • Cloak and Dagger

    Cloak and Dagger

  • The Amazing Spider-Man

    The Amazing Spider-Man

  • The Serpent

    The Serpent

  • Musketeers of the Sea

    Musketeers of the Sea

  • Beyond Westworld

    Beyond Westworld

  • The Squeeze

    The Squeeze

  • Last Hours Before Morning

    Last Hours Before Morning

  • Rhapsody in Blue

    Rhapsody in Blue

  • Cagliostro

    Cagliostro

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame

    Hallmark Hall of Fame

  • Express to Terror

    Express to Terror

  • Supertrain

    Supertrain

  • Cinderella Jones

    Cinderella Jones

  • Bittersweet Love

    Bittersweet Love

  • Imitation of Life

    Imitation of Life

  • A Soldier and a Half

    A Soldier and a Half

  • April Showers

    April Showers

  • Sword of Justice

    Sword of Justice

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

    Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

  • Assignment Abroad

    Assignment Abroad

  • Holiday Hookers

    Holiday Hookers

  • Beautiful But Dangerous

    Beautiful But Dangerous

  • Nora Prentiss

    Nora Prentiss

  • Lucy Moves to NBC

    Lucy Moves to NBC

  • Grandpa Goes to Washington

    Grandpa Goes to Washington

  • Every Girl Should Have One

    Every Girl Should Have One

  • Spider-Man Strikes Back

    Spider-Man Strikes Back

  • The Devil's Hand

    The Devil's Hand

  • The Man I Love

    The Man I Love

  • Perfect Gentlemen

    Perfect Gentlemen

  • The Girl Who Knew Too Much

    The Girl Who Knew Too Much

  • Totò e Peppino divisi a Berlino

    Totò e Peppino divisi a Berlino

  • Revenge of the Barbarians

    Revenge of the Barbarians

  • Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

    Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

  • Cleopatra's Daughter

    Cleopatra's Daughter

  • Tarzan and the Slave Girl

    Tarzan and the Slave Girl

  • Secret File, U.S.A

    Secret File, U.S.A

  • By Popular Demand

    By Popular Demand

  • Fame

    Fame

  • Two Gals and a Guy

    Two Gals and a Guy

  • Homicide

    Homicide

  • Force of Impulse

    Force of Impulse

  • Mister Universe

    Mister Universe

  • All Woman

    All Woman

  • Hollywood Varieties

    Hollywood Varieties

  • The Beast with Five Fingers

    The Beast with Five Fingers