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