Robert Alda
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.
Acted in
Doses of Horror
2018
as Father Michael ("A Dose of Temptation" segment) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Matt Houston
1982
Beyond Westworld
1980
as Governor Eric Harper
Lucy Moves to NBC
1980
as Mr. Luder
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
1980
Trapper John, M.D.
1979
The Facts of Life
1979
Express to Terror
1979
as Dr. Dan Lewis
Supertrain
1979
Spider-Man Strikes Back
1978
as Mr. White
The Squeeze
1978
as Captain Donati
Sword of Justice
1978
Grandpa Goes to Washington
1978
The Amazing Spider-Man
1978
Perfect Gentlemen
1978
as Ed Martin
Fantasy Island
1978
as Mark Dupres
Fame
1978
as Concierge
Every Girl Should Have One
1978
as Adam Becker
The Incredible Hulk
1977
The Incredible Hulk
1977
as Jason Laird
The Love Boat
1977
as Frank Leonardt
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
1977
Quincy, M.E.
1976
as Professor Wren
Bittersweet Love
1976
as Ben
The Tony Randall Show
1976
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976
as Richard Entwhistle
I Will, I Will...For Now
1976
as Dr. Magnus
Laverne & Shirley
1976
Holiday Hookers
1976
as Client
Wonder Woman
1975
as Harcourt
Ellery Queen
1975
Last Hours Before Morning
1975
as Theo 'Lucky' English
The House of Exorcism
1975
as Father Michael
Cagliostro
1975
as Pope Clement XIII
The Rockford Files
1974
as Cy Margulies
Kojak
1973
as Adrian Marshall
The Serpent
1973
as Polygraph interrogator
Police Story
1973
M*A*S*H
1972
as Dr. Anthony B. Borelli
Emergency!
1972
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
1969
as Kenneth Allandice
Here's Lucy
1968
as Robert Alda
Here's Lucy
1968
as Dean Butler
Here's Lucy
1968
as Captain MacClay
All Woman
1967
as Wally
Judd for the Defense
1967
Ironside
1967
Mission: Impossible
1966
as Diego Maximillian
That Girl
1966
The Lucy Show
1962
as John Brooks III
Totò e Peppino divisi a Berlino
1962
as Lo Bianco
Musketeers of the Sea
1962
as Vice Governatore Gomez
Force of Impulse
1961
as Warren Reese
The Devil's Hand
1961
as Rick Turner
Revenge of the Barbarians
1960
as Ataulf
Cleopatra's Daughter
1960
as Inuni, Pharaoh's Architect
Un militare e mezzo
1960
as Roy Harrison
Imitation of Life
1959
as Allen Loomis
Naked City
1958
as Jess Burton
Beautiful But Dangerous
1955
as Maestro Doria
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Ben Nelson
The Millionaire
1955
as Gilbert Patterson
Assignment Abroad
1955
as Major Bill Morgan
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Concierge
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Angelo Armiento
Love of Life
1951
Tales of Tomorrow
1951
Two Gals and a Guy
1951
as Deke Oliver
Mister Universe
1951
as Fingers Maroni
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Rusty Miller
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Paul Oxford
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
By Popular Demand
1950
Tarzan and the Slave Girl
1950
as Neil
What's My Line?
1950
as Self
Robert Montgomery Presents
1950
Hollywood Varieties
1950
as Master of Ceremonies
Homicide
1949
as Andy
April Showers
1948
as Billy Shay
Nora Prentiss
1947
as Phil Dinardo
The Beast with Five Fingers
1947
as Bruce Conrad [Conrad Ryler in on-screen end credits]
The Man I Love
1946
as Nicky Toresca
Cloak and Dagger
1946
as Pinkie
Cinderella Jones
1946
as Tommy Coles
Rhapsody in Blue
1945
as George Gershwin