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.
Father of Alan Alda and Antony Alda.
Father-in-law of Arlene Alda
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).
Graduate of NYC's prestigious Stuyvesant High School.
Grandfather of Beatrice Alda and Elizabeth Alda.
His impressionable son Alan Alda spent his early years following his dad around on the road touring with a burlesque troupe.
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).
Parents were Anthony, a barber, and Frances (nee Turnillo) D'Abruzzo.
Second wife was Italian actress Flora Marino. Together they produced son Antony Alda, who died in 2009.
Son Alan Alda was ten and a half when he was stricken with polio, but fully recovered.
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.
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.
Won the 1951 Tony Award (New York City) for Actor in a Musical for "Guys and Dolls".