Antony Alda
Antony Alda | |
---|---|
Born |
Antonio Joseph D'Abruzzo December 9, 1956 St. Julien, France |
Died |
July 3, 2009 52) Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged
Alma mater | Juilliard School |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1965–2004 |
Spouse(s) | Lori Carrell |
Children |
Ian Alda Alexander "Zan" Alda |
Parent(s) |
Robert Alda Flora Marino |
Relatives |
Alan Alda (paternal half-brother) Beatrice Alda (niece) Elizabeth Alda (niece) |
Antony Alda (December 9, 1956 – July 3, 2009) was an American actor who grew up in a famous acting family. The son of Robert Alda, he was born in France, his early studies were in Rome and he finished at The Juilliard School in New York City. An active actor, he appeared on stage, and in film, and on television, including his role as Johnny Corelli in Days of Our Lives. His career culminated in writing, directing, and performing in The Role of a Lifetime. He died at age 52.
Early life
Alda was born Antonio Joseph D'Abruzzo in St. Julien, France, into what would later be called an acting dynasty.[1] His father was well known in the United States both in film and on Broadway, where he earned a Tony. Alda's mother, Flora Martino, was an Italian actress. His half-brother, Alan Alda, graduated from Fordham University[2] in the year of Alda’s birth.[3] Antony’s sons, Ian[4] and Alexander (Zan),[5] as well as his nieces, Beatrice[6] and Elizabeth,[7] have continued the family tradition.
Alda described growing up within the dynasty, "The theater has always been a comfortable place for me. I spent all my summers on Broadway. Dad would be in one play and Alan would be in another. I used to hang out with the lighting guys." He found that being an Alda had its professional ups and downs. "People figure you know what you're doing because you grew up around acting. Other people think you got the part because of your name."[8]
Antony Alda finished his high school studies at Notre Dame International in Rome and completed his academic career studying musical composition at The Juilliard School in New York City.[8] Alda was married twice, first in 1975 to Leslie Clark at Saint Thomas Episcopal Church in New York City at Fifth Avenue.[9] Their reception was held at the old Biltmore Hotel. The marriage lasted until 1977. His sons were born during his marriage to actress Lori Carrell,[10] to whom he was married from 1981-1992. During this time, his mother commented, "Marriage was good for Tony. It changed him and made him more mature."[1]
Career
Throughout his career, Alda played in seven films including Melvin and Howard, which won an Oscar, and Homeboy. He also appeared in three movies including Hot Child in the City[11] and two TV “shorts” including Bungle Abbey. He was cast in several television series and appeared in more than 200 episodes including two on Knots Landing as Rick Elliot.[12] Alda later played Johnny Corelli during two years (1990-91) on NBC’s Days of Our Lives.[13]
Like Johnny Corelli, Alda saw himself as something of a jokester. He said, "I always played practical jokes on people." One prank involved his putting on a wig and passing himself off as one of his mother's church friends to a visiting aunt.[1]
The Role of a Lifetime
His most notable accomplishment is the film, The Role of a Lifetime, released in 2001. Alda wrote, directed, and acted in, the film. The film is about a formerly successful actor, Bobby. Bobby seems to be egotistical at first, but is rendered into a sympathetic persona by the starring actor, Scott Bakula. Bobby has lost his wife in the Hollywood rat race and is on his way to becoming a “has been.”[14] He has an accident that results in a disappearance long enough for Hollywood to assume he is dead and to begin to cast a movie based on his life. Bobby takes on a different identity, that of Texan Buck Steele, in order to audition for and, eventually, play himself in the movie.[15] In the persona of Buck Steele, Bobby interacts with his ex-wife, his best friend and a mysterious old Hispanic gentleman. These experiences, while disturbing, enable Bobby to reexamine many aspects of his life. (Alda both credited and quoted Socrates. He inconspicuously placed Socrates’ quote: “An unexamined life is not worth living” in several scenes.)[16]
Death
Antony Alda died July 3, 2009, in Los Angeles at age 52.[17] The cause of death was cirrhosis of the liver.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1968 | Three Coins in the Fountain | Gino | TV Movie |
1978 | Nowhere to Run | Neft | TV Movie |
Fame | Italian Street Cop | TV Movie | |
1980 | Melvin and Howard | Terry | |
1986 | Sweet Liberty | Film Crew Member | |
Smart Alec | Rodney | ||
1987 | Hot Child in the City | Charon | |
1988 | Homeboy | Ray | |
1991 | Driving Me Crazy | Jack | |
1993 | Killing Device | Kyle | |
2002 | Role of a Lifetime | Joey | As "Tony Alda". Also Director and writer. |
2004 | National Treasure | Guard Ferguson | |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1968 | Daniel Boone | Rudi | 1 Episode: "Orlando, the Prophet" Credited as "Anthony Alda" |
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | Gus | 2 Episodes: "The Treasure of San Bosco Reef: Part 1" "The Treasure of San Bosco Reef: Part 2" | |
1976 | Switch | Terry | 1 Episode: "The Pirates of Tin Pan Alley" |
1978 | Columbo | Mario | 1 Episode: Murder Under Glass |
1980 | M*A*S*H | Corporal Jarvis | 1 Episode: "Lend a Hand" |
1981 | Bungle Abbey | TV Short | |
Homeroom | Crazy Willie | TV Short | |
CHiPs | Robby Burstad | TV Series; 1 Episode: "The Killer Indy" | |
1983 | Quincy, M.E. | Paramedic #1 | TV Series; 1 Episode: "Women of Valor" |
1985 | Knots Landing | Rick Elliot | 2 Episodes: "Rise and Fall", "A Question of Trust" |
1986 | Throb | Zeus | TV Series; 1 Episode: "Pilot" |
Too Close for Comfort | Derrick Bond | TV Series; 1 Episode: "Rock Around Henry" | |
1987 | Hunter | Dino | TV Series; 1 Episode: "Double Exposure" |
1990-1991 | Days of Our Lives | Giovanni 'Johnny' Corelli | TV Series |
1993 | Renegade | Barry Mellman | TV Series; 1 Episode: "The Rabbit and the Fox" |
As Writer
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Role of a Lifetime | Joey | |
As Director
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Role of a Lifetime | Joey | |
References
- 1 2 3 Gliatto, Tom (1990-12-10). "Tony Alda, Alan's Half Brother, Is Angling to Make a Name for Himself as Days of Our Lives's Sexy Shark". People.com. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ↑ "ALDA, ALAN - The Museum of Broadcast Communications". Museum.tv. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000257/awards
- ↑ Ian Alda at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Zan Alda at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Beatrice Alda at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Elizabeth Alda at the Internet Movie Database
- 1 2 Wharton, David (1990-03-02). "Actor Antony Alda Lands a Position in the Family Business - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ↑ [ Displaying Abstract ] (1975-08-10). "AntonyAlda, TV Actor, Marries Leslie Clark - Article - NYTimes.com". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ↑ "music-downloads-info.info". Limewire.co.nz. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ↑ "Antony Alda - About This Person - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ↑ "Alan Alda Biography - Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ↑ Antony Alda at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ http://www.movieslead.com/Movies/Role-Of-A-Lifetime.html
- ↑ Role of a Lifetime at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ "Role of a Lifetime DVD Rental, Rent Role of a Lifetime Movie Online". Blockbuster.com. 2012-05-28. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ↑ "RootsWeb: Database Index". Ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2012-06-04.