Robert Alda (born Alphonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo on February 26, 1914, died May 3, 1986) was an American actor.

Alda started out as a singer and dancer in vaudeville and burlesque.

He is known for portraying George Gershwin in the 1945 film Rhapsody in Blue . He was very successful in Broadway theatre, starring in productions including Guys and Dolls (for which he won a Tony Award) and What Makes Sammy Run?.

He 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 1969 film The Girl Who Knew Too Much.

Alda's wife, Joan Brown, was crowned Miss New York in a beauty pagent; one of their children is actor Alan Alda. Robert Alda made several guest appearances with his son on M*A*S*H.

External links