Robert Alda (February 26, 1914 – May 3, 1986) born Alfonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo, was an American actor. He was the father of actor Alan Alda.
Biography
Alda, an Italian American, was born in New York City to Anthony and Frances T. D'Abruzzo. 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, followed by brief work in vaudeville he moved onto burlesque. He is known for portraying George Gershwin in the biopic Rhapsody in Blue (1945). 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).Alda moved to Italy in the early 1960s and appeared in many successful European films over the next two decades, occasionally returning to the U.S. for appearances such as in the film The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1969).
Alda's first wife, and mother of actor Alan Alda, Joan Brown, was crowned Miss New York in a beauty pageant. Alda was married to his second wife, Flora Martino, until his death.
Robert Alda made two guest appearances with his son on M*A*S*H with his first guest appearance in the episode "The Consultant." His second appearance was in the episode "Lend a Hand." This episode is of particular note since it also featured Alda's youngest son by his second wife Flora Martino, Antony Alda, who is also an actor.
Alda died of a stroke caused by embolism on May 3, 1986, aged 72.
Broadway
- The Front Page 1969-1970
- My Daughter, Your Son 1969-1969
- What Makes Sammy Run? 1964-1965
- Harbor Lights 1956
- Guys and Dolls 1950-1953
References
External links
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Sunday June 08, 2008 at 00:18:10 PDT (GMT -0700)
View this article at Wikipedia.org - Edit this article at Wikipedia.org - Donate to the Wikimedia Foundation
Copyright © 2008, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.