Robert Alda


Robert Alda was an American theatrical and film actor. He was the father of actors Alan and Antony Alda. Alda was featured in a number of Broadway productions, then moved 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.

Career

He began his performing career as a singer and dancer in vaudeville after winning a talent contest, and moved on to burlesque.
In 1949, as part of the Jack Carson's radio program, Alda toured with Jack Carson and Marion Hutton.
Alda is known for portraying George Gershwin in the biographical film Rhapsody in Blue as well as the talent agent in the Douglas Sirk classic Imitation of Life. On Broadway, he originated the role of Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, for which he won a Tony Award, and starred in What Makes Sammy Run?. He was also the host of the DuMont TV version of the game show What's Your Bid?.
In the mid-1950s, Alda starred as espionage agent Colonel Bill Morgan in the syndicated TV series Secret Files USA, the episodes of which were based on stories from American intelligence services. He was host of the TV game show Can Do in 1956.
His son Alan said "He was very famous but he hardly made much money because that was at a time when Warner had those seven-year contracts."
Alda made two guest appearances with Alan on M*A*S*H, in the episodes "The Consultant" and, also with his younger son Antony Alda, "Lend a Hand".
Alda appeared in an episode of The Feather & Father Gang in 1977.

Personal life

Alda's first wife, and mother of actor Alan Alda, Joan Browne, was a homemaker and former beauty pageant winner. They divorced in 1946.

Death

Alda died on May 3, 1986, aged 72, two years after suffering a stroke from which he never fully recovered. He is buried in the Garden of Ascension lot 9101 Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, California.

Acting credits

Selected filmography

  • Rhapsody in Blue as George Gershwin
  • Cinderella Jones as Tommy Coles
  • Cloak and Dagger as Pinkie
  • The Beast with Five Fingers as Bruce Conrad
  • The Man I Love as Nicky Toresca
  • Nora Prentiss as Phil Dinardo, Cafe Owner
  • Bungalow 13
  • April Showers as Billy Shay
  • Homicide as Andy
  • Hollywood Varieties as Master of Ceremonies
  • Tarzan and the Slave Girl as Neil
  • Mister Universe as Fingers Maroni
  • Two Gals and a Guy as Deke Oliver
  • Beautiful But Dangerous as Maestro Doria
  • Assignment Abroad as Major Bill Morgan
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents as Ben Nelson
  • Imitation of Life as Allen Loomis
  • The Millionaire episode "The Julia Conrad Story" as Gilbert Patterson, with co-star Ellen Drew
  • Un militare e mezzo as Roy Harrison
  • Cleopatra's Daughter as Inuni, Pharaoh's Architect
  • Revenge of the Barbarians as Ataulf
  • The Devil's Hand as Rick Turner
  • Force of Impulse as Warren Reese
  • Toto and Peppino Divided in Berlin as the Judge
  • Musketeers of the Sea as Vice Governatore Gomez
  • All Woman as Wally
  • The Girl Who Knew Too Much as Kenneth Allardice
  • Night Flight from Moscow as Polygraph Interrogator
  • M*A*S*H as Dr Anthony Borelli in "The Consultant"
  • Cagliostro as Pope Clement XIII
  • The House of Exorcism as Father Michael
  • Natale in casa d'appuntamento
  • I Will, I Will... for Now as Dr. Magnus
  • Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood as Richard Entwhistle
  • Bittersweet Love as Ben Peterson
  • The Rip-Off as Captain Donati
  • The Rockford Files as Cy Margulies
  • Every Girl Should Have One as Adam Becker
  • Spider-Man Strikes Back as Mr. White
  • Supertrain as Dan Lewis
  • Days of Our Lives as Stuart Whyland
  • The Love Boat episode "Take a Letter, Vicki; The Floating Bridge Game; The Joy of Celibacy" as Dr. Frank Leonhardt
  • Amanda's as Mr. Gordon

    Theater

  • Guys and Dolls — Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical
  • Harbor Lights
  • Roger the Sixth
  • Can-Can
  • What Makes Sammy Run?
  • Riverwind
  • My Daughter, Your Son
  • The Front Page
  • Follies
  • ''The Sunshine Boys''