Robert Alda (February 26, 1914 – May 3, 1986) was an American theatrical and film actor and father of actors Alan and Antony Alda. A talented 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).
February 26, 1914, New York City, New York, United States
Died
May 3, 1986, Los Angeles, California, United States
Place Of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Height
5' 11" (1.8 m)
Profession
Actor, Soundtrack, Director
Education
Stuyvesant High School, New York University
Nationality
American
Spouse
Flora Marino (m. 1955–1986), Joan Browne (m. 1932–1946)
Children
Alan Alda, Antony Alda
Parents
Frances Tumillo, Antonio D'Abruzzo
Awards
Tony Award for Best Lead Actor in a Musical, Grammy Hall of Fame
Movies
Imitation of Life, Rhapsody in Blue, Cloak and Dagger, The Beast with Five Fingers, Beautiful but Dangerous, The Devil's Hand, Tarzan and the Slave Girl, The Man I Love, Lisa and the Devil, Nora Prentiss, Spider-Man Strikes Back, Cinderella Jones, April Showers, The Girl Who Knew Too Much, Toto and ...
TV Shows
Supertrain, Love of Life, By Popular Demand, What's Your Bid?, Can Do
Star Sign
Pisces
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Quote
1
I learned my trade in the best of schools -- burlesque.
2
Do not let anybody tell you that fate, destiny, luck, or whatever you want to call it, does not play an important part in the success of a career. When I finally received Hollywood's notice and was arranging for screen tests, it was John Garfield who called Warner Brothers' attention to me, because he had seen me act in a stock company.
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Fact
1
When his American film career waned, he turned for a time to foreign film making. Speaking Italian, he appeared in a few Italian films, as well as radio and TV.
2
Son Alan Alda was ten and a half when he was stricken with polio, but fully recovered.
3
His impressionable son Alan Alda spent his early years following his dad around on the road touring with a burlesque troupe.
4
Second wife was Italian actress Flora Marino. Together they produced son Antony Alda, who died in 2009.
5
First wife Joan Brown was a "Miss New York" beauty contest winner. She gave birth to their son Alan Alda, but shortly after began suffering from severe mental illness (undiagnosed schizophrenia).
6
Because of his parents' disdain towards his interest in an entertainment career, he initially took night courses at New York University majoring in architecture while working as a draftsman for an architectural firm during the day.
7
Parents were Anthony, a barber, and Frances (nee Turnillo) D'Abruzzo.
8
Was said to have vaguely resembled Cary Grant during his prime. Both actors were based at Warner Bros and each starred in two of the studio's biggest, ill-received fictional musical bios -- Grant as Cole Porter in Night and Day (1946) and Alda as George Gershwin in Rhapsody in Blue (1945). Alda's film career faltered badly after he was dropped by Warners.
9
Won the 1951 Tony Award (New York City) for Actor in a Musical for "Guys and Dolls".
Graduate of NYC's prestigious Stuyvesant High School.
13
His professional surname derives from the first two letters of each of his first name and his surname at birth, i.e. ALphonso DAbruzzo (AL + DA = Alda).
$20 Million
