Antony Alda

Antony Alda
Born
Antonio Joseph D'Abruzzo

(1956-12-09)December 9, 1956
Saint-Julien, Var, France
DiedJuly 3, 2009(2009-07-03) (aged 52)
Los Angeles, California, USA.
Alma materJuilliard School
OccupationActor
Years active1965–2004
Spouses
Leslie Clark
​
​
(m. 1975; div. 1977)​
Lori Carrell
​
​
(m. 1981; div. 1992)​
Children2
Parent(s)Robert Alda
Flora Marino
RelativesAlan Alda
(paternal half-brother)
Beatrice Alda (niece)
Elizabeth Alda (niece)

Antony Alda (born Antonio Joseph D'Abruzzo; December 9, 1956 – July 3, 2009), sometimes called Tony, was an American actor who grew up in a popular acting family. The son of Robert Alda and younger half brother of Alan Alda, his early studies were in Rome and he finished at The Juilliard School in New York City. A prolific actor, he appeared on stage, in film, and on television. His career culminated in writing, directing, and performing in Role of a Lifetime.

Early life

Alda was born Antonio Joseph D'Abruzzo in Saint-Julien, Var, 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 Marino, was an Italian actress. His half-brother was Alan Alda.[2]

About growing up within the dynasty, Antony once explained, "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."[3]

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.[3] He was married twice, first in 1975 to Leslie Clark at Saint Thomas Episcopal Church in New York City at Fifth Avenue.[4] 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,[5] to whom he was married from 1981 to 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 the Oscar-winning Melvin and Howard, Homeboy, Hot Child in the City,[6] 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.[7] Alda later played Johnny Corelli during two years (1990–1991) on NBC's Days of Our Lives.[citation needed]

Like Johnny Corelli, Alda saw himself as something of a jokester. He said, "I always played practical jokes on people." One prank involved his donning a wig and passing himself off as one of his mother's church friends to a visiting aunt.[1]

Role of a Lifetime

His most notable accomplishment is the film Role of a Lifetime released in 2001. Alda wrote, directed, and acted in the film, which is about a formerly successful actor, Bobby. Bobby seems to be egotistical at first, but is soon rendered 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."[8] 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. 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 re-examine many aspects of his life. (Alda both credited and quoted Socrates in the film; he inconspicuously placed Socrates' quote "An unexamined life is not worth living" in several scenes.)[9]

Death

Antony died in Los Angeles from cirrhosis on July 3, 2009, aged 52.[10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1970 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 Smart Alec Rodney
Sweet Liberty Film Crew Member
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 (final film role)

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. ^ a b c 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. Archived from the original on 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  2. ^ "ALDA, ALAN - The Museum of Broadcast Communications". Museum.tv. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  3. ^ a b Wharton, David (1990-03-02). "Actor Antony Alda Lands a Position in the Family Business". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  4. ^ "Antony Alda, TV Actor, Marries Leslie Clark" (PDF). The New York Times. 1975-08-10. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  5. ^ "music-downloads-info.info". Limewire.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  6. ^ "Antony Alda - About This Person - Movies & TV". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-06-05. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  7. ^ "Alan Alda Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". www.movieslead.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Role of a Lifetime DVD Rental, Rent Role of a Lifetime Movie Online". Blockbuster.com. 2012-05-28. Archived from the original on 2012-03-29. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  10. ^ "RootsWeb: Database Index". Ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on 2018-05-18. Retrieved 2012-06-04.