Robert Alda

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File:Chicago—City of Contrasts (1949 photograph by Stanley Kubrick).jpg
Photo of a Chicago streetscape taken by Stanley Kubrick Look magazine, 1949, from State/Lake station
File:Stanley Kubrick - Chicago Theatre cph.3d02346.jpg
People arriving at the Chicago Theatre for a show starring, in person, Jack Carson, Marion Hutton, and Robert Alda, taken by Stanley Kubrick for Look magazine, 1949

Robert Alda (born Alfonso Giovanni Giuseppe Roberto D'Abruzzo;<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> February 26, 1914 – May 3, 1986) 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 (1969).

Career

He began his performing career as a singer and dancer in vaudeville after winning a talent contest, and moved on to burlesque.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1949, as part of the Jack Carson's radio program, Alda toured with Jack Carson and Marion Hutton.<ref name="bandchirps/marion-hutton">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Alda is known for portraying George Gershwin in the biographical film Rhapsody in Blue (1945) as well as the talent agent in the Douglas Sirk classic Imitation of Life (1959). On Broadway, he originated the role of Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls (1950), for which he won a Tony Award, and starred in What Makes Sammy Run? (1964). He was also the host of the DuMont TV version of the game show What's Your Bid? (May–June 1953).

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was host of the TV game show Can Do in 1956.<ref name="brooks">Template:Cite book</ref> 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."<ref name=hattenstone>Template:Cite news</ref>

Alda made two guest appearances with Alan on M*A*S*H, in the episodes "The Consultant" (January 1975) and, also with his younger son Antony Alda, "Lend a Hand" (February 1980).

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

Death

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

File:Guys-and-Dolls-Original-Poster.jpg
Window Card Poster from 1950 original Broadway production of Guys and Dolls

Acting credits

File:Robert Alda in Rhapsody in Blue trailer.jpg
Alda in the trailer for Rhapsody in Blue in 1945

Selected filmography

Theater

See also

References

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