About
"I don't have a lot of awards. My greatest achievement is that I'm still around. Joan Rivers said on Louie, 'The reason we do this is because we love it more than anything else and that it is a calling to make people happy.' And I thought to myself, wow. You know, I've made a few people happy."
In his two-hour interview, Tony Danza talks about his early life and his career as a professional boxer before getting into acting. He describes being cast in the feature film The Warriors, which led directly to him auditioning for the role of "Tony Banta" on the critically acclaimed comedy series Taxi. He discusses his Taxi co-stars, including Judd Hirsch, Marilu Henner, Christopher Lloyd, and Jeff Conaway, and shares Andy Kaufman's antics on the set of the show. Danza outlines ABC canceling Taxi and NBC later picking it up. He details his years as "Tony Micelli" on Who's the Boss?, describes working with co-star Judith Light, and explains the special responsibility he felt on the show as both an on-screen and symbolic father to actors Alyssa Milano and Danny Pintauro. He speaks of his two-year stint as a talk show host on The Tony Danza Show, and recalls his time as an English teacher for the reality show Teach: Tony Danza. He wraps up by talking about then-current projects including charity work and his role in the Broadway musical Honeymoon in Vegas. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on December 15, 2014 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Tony Danza on advice to an aspiring actor
Tony Danza on his Taxi character "Tony Banta"
Tony Danza on hosting The Tony Danza Show
Tony Danza on his proudest career achievement
Tony Danza on the relationship between "Tony Micelli" and "Angela Bower" on Who's the Boss?
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his interests growing up; on television he watched as a child
On his early boxing career; on making the transition from boxing to acting
On getting his first acting job on Fast Lane Blues; on taking acting classes
On being cast on Taxi; on his Taxi character "Tony Banta"; on helping to shape the character of "Tony Banta" and being embraced by the writers
On working with Judd Hirsch as "Alex Reiger" on Taxi; on working with the cast of Taxi, including Marilu Henner, Christopher Lloyd, Jeff Conaway and Andy Kaufman
Chapter 2
On his son appearing on Taxi with him; on public reaction to Taxi; on ABC's cancellation of Taxi and its revival on NBC; on the legacy of Taxi
On being cast on Who's the Boss?; on his Who's the Boss? character "Tony Micelli" and his role as a father on the show; on his creative input on Who's the Boss?
On the relationship between "Tony Micelli" and "Angela Bower" on Who's the Boss?; on the legacy of Who's the Boss?; on various guest starring roles and hosting The Tony Danza Show
On Teach: Tony Danza and then-current projects; on his proudest achievements; on advice to an aspiring actor and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Family Law
Tony Danza on guest starring on The Practice and working with Paul Haggis on Family Law
Practice, The (1997-2004)
Tony Danza on guest starring on The Practice and working with Paul Haggis on Family Law
Taxi
Tony Danza on being cast on Taxi
Tony Danza on his Taxi character "Tony Banta"
Tony Danza on helping to shape the character of "Tony Banta" on Taxi and being embraced by the writers
Tony Danza on working with Judd Hirsch as "Alex Reiger" on Taxi
Tony Danza on working with Marilu Henner as "Elaine Nardo" on Taxi
Tony Danza on working with Christopher Lloyd as "Reverend Jim Ignatowski" on Taxi
Tony Danza on working with Jeff Conaway as "Bobby Wheeler" on Taxi
Tony Danza on working with Andy Kaufman as "Latka Gravis" on Taxi
Tony Danza on his son appearing on Taxi with him
Tony Danza on public reaction to Taxi
Tony Danza on ABC's cancellation of Taxi and its revival on NBC by Brandon Tartikoff
Tony Danza on the end of Taxi's NBC run
Tony Danza on the legacy of Taxi
Who's the Boss?
Tony Danza on being cast on Who's the Boss? co-starring Judith Light
Tony Danza on casting Alyssa Milano as "Samantha Micelli" and Danny Pintauro as "Jonathan Bower" on Who's the Boss?
Tony Danza on his Who's the Boss? character "Tony Micelli" and his role as a father on the show to Alyssa Milano as "Samantha Micelli" and Danny Pintauro as "Jonathan Bower"
Tony Danza on his creative input on Who's the Boss?
Tony Danza on the relationship between "Tony Micelli" and "Angela Bower" on Who's the Boss?
Tony Danza on the legacy of Who's the Boss?
Topics
Advice
Tony Danza on advice to an aspiring actor
First Big Break
Tony Danza on getting his first acting job on Fast Lane Blues
Pivotal Career Moments
Tony Danza on getting his first acting job on Fast Lane Blues
Television Industry
Tony Danza on advice to an aspiring actor
Professions
Actor
Tony Danza on advice to an aspiring actor
Performers
Tony Danza on advice to an aspiring actor
Genres
Comedy Series
Tony Danza on playing "Tony Banta" on Taxi (Part 1)
Tony Danza on playing "Tony Banta" on Taxi (Part 2)
Tony Danza on playing "Tony Micelli" on Who's the Boss?
Reality TV
Tony Danza on Teach: Tony Danza
Talk Shows
Tony Danza on hosting The Tony Danza Show
People
Christopher Lloyd (actor)
Tony Danza on working with Christopher Lloyd as "Reverend Jim Ignatowski" on Taxi
Jeff Conaway
Tony Danza on working with Jeff Conaway as "Bobby Wheeler" on Taxi
Marilu Henner
Tony Danza on working with Marilu Henner as "Elaine Nardo" on Taxi
Judd Hirsch
Tony Danza on working with Judd Hirsch as "Alex Reiger" on Taxi
Andy Kaufman
Tony Danza on working with Andy Kaufman as "Latka Gravis" on Taxi
Judith Light
Tony Danza on being cast on Who's the Boss? co-starring Judith Light
Tony Danza on the relationship between "Tony Micelli" and "Angela Bower" played by Judith Light on Who's the Boss?
Alyssa Milano
Tony Danza on casting Alyssa Milano as "Samantha Micelli" and Danny Pintauro as "Jonathan Bower" on Who's the Boss?
Tony Danza on his Who's the Boss? character "Tony Micelli" and his role as a father on the show to Alyssa Milano as "Samantha Micelli" and Danny Pintauro as "Jonathan Bower"
Danny Pintauro
Tony Danza on casting Alyssa Milano as "Samantha Micelli" and Danny Pintauro as "Jonathan Bower" on Who's the Boss?
Tony Danza on his Who's the Boss? character "Tony Micelli" and his role as a father on the show to Alyssa Milano as "Samantha Micelli" and Danny Pintauro as "Jonathan Bower"
Brandon Tartikoff
Tony Danza on ABC's cancellation of Taxi and its revival on NBC by Brandon Tartikoff