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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.
Gender
Male
Birthday
1914-02-26
Place of birth
New York City, New York, USA
Nora Prentiss
1947
6.10
Fame
1978
0.00
The Man I Love
1946
6.20
Imitation of Life
1959
7.40
The Beast with Five Fingers
1947
6.30
Rhapsody in Blue
1945
6.40
Cloak and Dagger
1946
6.50
Homicide
1949
5.30
The Devil's Hand
1961
4.43
Beautiful But Dangerous
1955
6.00
The Girl Who Knew Too Much
1969
4.00
Hollywood Varieties
1950
0.00
April Showers
1948
6.00
Tarzan and the Slave Girl
1950
5.04
Bittersweet Love
1976
3.70
Cleopatra's Daughter
1960
4.70
The Squeeze
1978
5.20
The House of Exorcism
1975
4.69
Cinderella Jones
1946
3.30
Musketeers of the Sea
1962
5.00
Assignment Abroad
1955
0.00
Two Gals and a Guy
1951
0.00
Last Hours Before Morning
1975
2.00
Revenge of the Barbarians
1960
0.00
Holiday Hookers
1976
3.50
The Serpent
1973
6.10
All Woman
1967
0.00
Every Girl Should Have One
1978
1.00
Mister Universe
1951
5.00
I Will, I Will...For Now
1976
3.00
Spider-Man Strikes Back
1978
5.80
A Soldier and a Half
1960
7.00
Force of Impulse
1961
2.50
Express to Terror
1979
0.00
Lucy Moves to NBC
1980
1.00
Totò e Peppino divisi a Berlino
1962
6.55
Perfect Gentlemen
1978
4.00
Cagliostro
1975
0.00