Robert Alda

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Robert Alda

from the trailer for
Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
Born Alfonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo
February 26, 1914(1914-02-26)
New York, New York, United States
Died May 3, 1986 (aged 72)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Spouse(s) Flora Martino
Joan Brown (m. 1932)

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.

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[edit] 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.[1] 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.

[edit] Broadway

[edit] References

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

[edit] External links

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Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Paul Hartman (1948) · Ray Bolger (1949) · Ezio Pinza (1950) · Robert Alda (1951) · Phil Silvers (1952) · Thomas Mitchell (1953) · Alfred Drake (1954) · Walter Slezak (1955) · Ray Walston (1956) · Rex Harrison (1957) · Robert Preston (1958) · Richard Kiley (1959) · Jackie Gleason (1960) · Richard Burton (1961) · Robert Morse (1962) · Zero Mostel (1963) · Bert Lahr (1964) · Zero Mostel (1965) · Richard Kiley (1966) · Robert Preston (1967) · Robert Goulet (1968) · Jerry Orbach (1969) · Cleavon Little (1970) · Hal Linden (1971) · Phil Silvers (1972) · Ben Vereen (1973) · Christopher Plummer (1974) · John Cullum (1975)
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