Reference articles on history, science, culture and more
Surprise meSurprise meSubscribe
Encyclopedia

Robert Alda

American actor (1914-1986)

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
3 min read
Source updated September 15, 2026
Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

Alfonso Giovanni Giuseppe Roberto D'Abruzzo (February 26, 1914, May 3, 1986), known professionally as Robert Alda, was an American actor, singer, and dancer. 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).

01Career

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 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 (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 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 television 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" (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.

Photo of a Chicago streetscape taken by Stanley Kubrick Look magazine, 1949, from State/Lake station
Photo of a Chicago streetscape taken by Stanley Kubrick Look magazine, 1949, from State/Lake station

02Personal 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.

Alda was the father of actors Alan and Antony Alda.

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
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

03Death

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.

Window Card Poster from 1950 original Broadway production of Guys and Dolls
Window Card Poster from 1950 original Broadway production of Guys and Dolls

04Acting credits

Selected filmography

Theater

Alda in the trailer for Rhapsody in Blue in 1945
Alda in the trailer for Rhapsody in Blue in 1945
Watch videos about Robert AldaExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Robert Alda”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Images, from Wikimedia Commons:

Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.