Robert Alda

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Tony Awards
Robert Alda

Birth name	Alfonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo
Born	February 26, 1914 New York, New York, United States
Died	May 3, 1986 (age 72) Los Angeles, California, United States
Spouse(s)	Flora Martino Joan Brown (m. 1932)

Best Actor in a Musical 1951 Guys and Dolls

Robert Alda (February 26, 1914 – May 3, 1986) born Alfonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo, was an American actor and father of actor Alan Alda.

Alda, an Italian American, started out as a singer and dancer in vaudeville after winning a talent contest. Following brief work in vaudeville he moved onto burlesque.^[1] He is known for portraying George Gershwin in the 1945 film Rhapsody in Blue. He was very successful in Broadway theatre, starring in Guys and Dolls for which he won a Tony Award and What Makes Sammy Run?.

He 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 1969 film The Girl Who Knew Too Much.

Alda's first wife, and mother Alan Alda, Joan Brown, was crowned Miss New York in a beauty pageant.

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, Anthony Alda, who is also an actor.

Alda died of a stroke caused by embolism on May 3, 1986, aged 72.

[edit] 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

[edit] Notes

^ Strait, Raymond. Alan Alda: A Biography New York City: St. Martin's Press, 1983. ISBN 0312017030. pp. 7-9.

Preceded by Ezio Pinza for South Pacific	Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical 1951 for Guys and Dolls	Succeeded by Phil Silvers for Top Banana