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Tony Danza (born Anthony Salvatore Iadanza; April 21, 1951)[2] is an American actor and retired professional boxer.[1] He is known for co-starring in the television series Taxi (1978–1983) and Who's the Boss? (1984–1992), for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and four Golden Globe Awards. In 1998, Danza won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series for his work on the 1997 sitcom The Tony Danza Show (not to be confused with his 2004–2006 daytime variety talk show of the same name). He has also appeared in films such as The Hollywood Knights (1980), Going Ape! (1981), She's Out of Control (1989), Angels in the Outfield (1994), Crash (2004), and Don Jon (2013).

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Danza was born on April 21, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York,[2] to parents Anna Mary (née Camisa; 1925–1993) and Matthew Anthony "Matty" Iadanza (1920–1983).[3][4] His mother was a bookkeeper and his father worked as a waste collector in Brooklyn.[2][5] Danza's paternal grandparents were from Pietrelcina, Benevento, Campania, Italy, and his mother was an immigrant from the town of Campobello di Mazara in the Sicilian province of Trapani.[3][4][6] He has a younger brother, Matty Jr. (born 1954), a Los Angeles restaurant owner.[7] He lived in East New York, Brooklyn[8] until he was 14, and his family relocated to Malverne, New York, on Long Island. Danza attended Malverne Senior High School, graduating in 1968. In the first episode of his show Teach: Tony Danza, Danza describes himself as a "bad student" in high school. He earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1972 from the University of Dubuque,[9] which he attended on a wrestling scholarship. In 1975, as a joke, Danza's friends entered him in the New York City Golden Gloves Tournament. After knocking out his first six opponents all in the first round, Danza was knocked out in the finals.[10]

During his first year of college, he had the Robert Crumb "Keep on Truckin'" character tattooed on his upper right arm. In a 1985 interview in Us Weekly magazine, Danza remarked, "I was playing pool with a guy who had all these tattoos, and I wanted to be friends."[11] Danza also sports a "Keep Punching" boxing gloves tattoo on his right shoulder as well as "Tracy", his (former) wife's name, on his chest.[12] In college, Danza met and married his first wife.

Career

[edit]

Boxing

[edit]

Danza was a professional boxer with a record of 8 wins and 3 losses (8 knockouts, 6 in the first round). He competed from 1976 until 1979 in the middleweight division.[13][1]

Acting and show business

[edit]
Danza in 1995
Danza in 2012

Shortly after his college graduation from the University of Dubuque, Danza was discovered by a producer at a boxing gymnasium in New York.[14] He then earned a spot on the television show Taxi (1978-1983), playing a cab driver and part-time boxer Tony Banta, and later starred on Who's the Boss? (1984–1992), in which he portrayed Tony Micelli, a former baseball player, housekeeper, and single father. For his contribution to the television industry, in 1988, Danza was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard.

Danza's movie debut was in the comedy The Hollywood Knights (1980), which was followed by Going Ape! (1981), Cannonball Run II (1984), and She's Out of Control (1989). Later films included the role of Mel Clark, a baseball player, in Angels in the Outfield (1994), Juror No. 7 in the TV-movie 12 Angry Men (1997), and Fred in Crash (2004).

Danza also starred in the short-lived sitcoms Hudson Street (1995) and The Tony Danza Show (1997), not to be confused with his 2004–2006 talk show, The Tony Danza Show. He had a role in the TV drama Family Law from 2000 until 2002.

He was nominated for an Emmy Award[15] for a guest-starring 1998 role in the TV series The Practice. He received critical acclaim for his performance in the 1999 Broadway revival of the Eugene O'Neill play The Iceman Cometh. In 2002, Danza released his debut album The House I Live In as a 1950s-style crooner.[16]

Danza hosted his own TV talk show, The Tony Danza Show (2004-2006), that was produced each weekday morning in his hometown of New York and was syndicated across the US. On May 9, 2005, during a go-kart race with NASCAR star Rusty Wallace, who was a guest on the show, Danza's kart flipped after Wallace accidentally bumped him.[17] Neither he nor Wallace was wearing a helmet at the time, and both were uninjured. Danza returned to go-kart racing on October 20, 2005, to challenge IndyCar driver Danica Patrick, but his brakes malfunctioned and he skidded into a wall, unharmed. His daytime talk show ended in May 2006; the last live episode aired on May 26, 2006.[citation needed]

He starred on Broadway as Max Bialystock in The Producers, from December 19, 2006, to March 11, 2007,[18] and reprised his role at the Paris Las Vegas from August 13, 2007,[19] to February 9, 2008.[20]

Danza hosted the 4th season of The Contender in 2008.[21]

A Broadway adaptation of the 1992 film Honeymoon in Vegas opened on a pre-Broadway run at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse on September 26, 2013, co-starring Danza and Tony nominee Rob McClure, with Gary Griffin directing.[22] Danza was inducted into the Ride of Fame in December 2014, and the double-decker sightseeing bus commemorated his role in the Broadway musical.[23]

Danza portrayed Jon Martello Sr. in Don Jon (2013). He also starred as Tony Caruso Sr. in the 2018 Netflix series The Good Cop as "a disgraced, former NYPD officer who never followed the rules." It was canceled after one season.[24][25]

Teaching

[edit]

During the 2009–2010 school year Danza filmed A&E reality show Teach: Tony Danza, in which he co-instructed a 10th grade English class at Northeast High School in Philadelphia. It premiered on October 1, 2010. The book I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High (ISBN 9780307887863), which was released in 2012, was based on his year of teaching.

Community Service

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Danza created an organization called The Stars of Tomorrow Project. The organization introduces young adults to the borough of Manhattan in New York and a possible career in the arts.[26]

Personal life

[edit]

Danza's first marriage was to Rhonda Yeoman. They wed in 1970, had son Marc Anthony in January 1971, and divorced in 1974. Their son Marc appeared with Danza on Taxi in two episodes as Brian Sims.[27][28]

In 1986, Danza married Tracy Robinson. The couple separated in 2006 and filed for divorce on March 10, 2011; the divorce was finalized on February 6, 2013.[29][30] They have two daughters[27] Katie and Emily.[31]

In 2008, Danza and his son Marc co-authored a cookbook, Don't Fill Up on the Antipasto: Tony Danza's Father-Son Cookbook.[32]

At one point Danza was a partner in Alleva Dairy, promoted as America's oldest cheese shop, on Grand Street in the Little Italy section of Manhattan.[33]

Professional boxing record

[edit]
Key to abbreviations used for results
DQ Disqualification RTD Corner retirement
KO Knockout SD Split decision / split draw
MD Majority decision / majority draw TD Technical decision / technical draw
NC No contest TKO Technical knockout
PTS Points decision UD Unanimous decision / unanimous draw
Boxing record
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round(s) Time Date Location Notes
11 Win 8–3 Johnny Heard KO 3 (8) 0:45 May 14, 1979 Phoenix, Arizona, US
10 Win 7–3 Max Hord KO 1 (10) April 27, 1979 Felt Forum, New York City
9 Win 6–3 Billy Perez KO 1 (8) 0:44 May 26, 1978 Brooklyn, New York City
8 Win 5–3 Ray Bryant KO 1 (8) December 21, 1977 Roll-a-Rama, Brooklyn, New York City
7 Loss 4–3 Morris Watkins TKO 1 (8) November 9, 1977 Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York City
6 Win 4–2 Ralph Garcia TKO 1 (8) September 9, 1977 Nanuet, New York City
5 Win 3–2 Joey Mascetti TKO 1 (6) May 24, 1977 Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York City
4 Win 2–2 Tom Molloy KO 3 (6) 1:24 May 6, 1977 Long Island Arena, Commack, New York City
3 Loss 1–2 Barry Hill Points 4 April 21, 1977 Dover, New Jersey, USA
2 Loss 1–1 John LoCicero KO 1 (4) October 1, 1976 Sunnyside Gardens, Queens, New York City
1 Win 1–0 Earl Harris KO 1 (4) August 13, 1976 New York City

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1980 The Hollywood Knights Duke
1981 Going Ape! Foster
1984 Cannonball Run II Tony
1988 Mr. Thompson and His Bananas Tony Thompson
Wall of Tyranny (a.k.a. Freedom Fighter) Victor Ross
1989 She's Out of Control Doug Simpson
I'm from Hollywood Himself
1994 Angels in the Outfield Mel Clark
1996 Illtown D'Avalon
Dear God Himself Uncredited
1997 Glam Sid Dalgren
The Girl Gets Moe Moe
A Brooklyn State of Mind Louie Crisci
Meet Wally Sparks New York Cab Driver
2004 The Whisper Simon
Crash Fred
2006 Cloud 9 Himself Uncredited
2009 The Nail: The Story of Joey Nardone Chickie
2010 Firedog Rocky
2013 Don Jon Jon Martello Sr.
Aftermath King
2021 Rumble Siggy (voice)
2022 Darby and the Dead Gary
2025 Re-Election Stanislaw Bauer

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1978–1983 Taxi Tony Banta Main Role; 114 episodes
1980 Murder Can Hurt You Pony Lambretta Television film
1983 The Love Boat Bud O'Hara 2 episodes
1984 Single Bars, Single Women Dennis Television film
1984–1992 Who's the Boss? Tony Micelli Lead Role; 196 episodes
1986 Sesame Street Himself 3 episodes
Doing Life Jerry Rosenberg Television film
1988 1988 Kids' Choice Awards Host
Freedom Fighter Vic Ross Television film
1989 Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration Host Television film
1991 The Whereabouts of Jenny Rowdy Patron Television film
Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace Constabile "Gus" Farace Television film
1991–1992 Baby Talk Baby Mickey Campbell (voice) 35 episodes
1994 The Mighty Jungle Vinnie, The Alligator (voice) Unknown episodes
The Mighty Jungle Vinnie, The Alligator (voice) Television film
1995 Deadly Whispers Tom Acton Television film
1995–1996 Hudson Street Tony Canetti 22 episodes
1996 North Shore Fish Sal Television film
1997 12 Angry Men Juror No. 7 Television film
1997–1998 The Tony Danza Show Tony DiMeo 14 episodes
1998 The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon Barney Gorman Television film
The Practice Tommy Silva 4 episodes
Noah Norman Waters Television film
A Capitol Fourth Himself (host)
2000–2002 Family Law Joe Celano 25 episodes
2000 King of the Hill Himself (voice) Episode: "Peggy's Fan Fair"
2001 Family Guy Episode: "Ready, Willing and Disabled"
Bette Himself Episode: “Of Men and Meatballs”
2003 Stealing Christmas Jack Clayton / Santa Television film
2004–2006 The Tony Danza Show Himself Host; 330 episodes
2005 All My Children Hotel Manager Episode: "May 18, 2005"
2007 A Capitol Fourth Himself (host)
2008 Rita Rocks Matt Morelli Episode: "The Crying Game"
2010 Teach: Tony Danza Himself 7 episodes
2016 Broad City Mr. Abrams Episode: "Philadelphia"
Sebastian Says Salvo Television film
2017 There's... Johnny! Fred de Cordova 6 episodes
2018 The Good Cop Tony Caruso Sr. 10 episodes
2020 Outmatched Jay Bennett Episode: "Grandparents"
2022 Blue Bloods[34] Lieutenant Raymond Moretti Episode: "Allegiance"
2022 Finding Your Roots Himself Episode: "Fighters"
2022–present Power Book III: Raising Kanan Stefano Marchetti Guest (season 2)
Recurring role (season 3–present)
2023 And Just Like That... Himself Episode: "The Real Deal"
2023 Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic Himself
2023 Tacoma FD Lawrence S4E11 'It's a Penisi-ful Life'

Books

[edit]
  • Danza, Tony and Marc (2008). Don't Fill Up on the Antipasto: Tony Danza's Father-Son Cookbook. Scribner. ISBN 978-1-41654-487-6.
  • Danza, Tony (2012). I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High. Crown Archetype. ISBN 978-0-30788-786-3.

Awards and nominations

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Tony Danza

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Tony Danza (born Anthony Salvatore Iadanza; April 21, 1951) is an American actor, former professional boxer, television personality, and educator, best known for his starring roles in the long-running sitcoms Taxi (1978–1983) and Who's the Boss? (1984–1992). Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Sicilian immigrant mother Anne Cammisa and father Matty Iadanza, he grew up in a working-class Italian-American family and later moved to Malverne, Long Island, at age 14, where he graduated from Malverne High School in 1969. After earning a bachelor's degree in history education from the University of Dubuque in 1973 on a wrestling scholarship, Danza pursued a brief professional boxing career from 1976 to 1979, compiling a record of 8 wins (all by knockout) and 3 losses. Danza transitioned to after being discovered by a at a New York gym, landing his breakout role as Tony Banta, a lovable cabbie and boxer, on , which earned him widespread recognition and four Golden Globe nominations across both series. On Who's the Boss?, he portrayed Tony Micelli, a widowed housekeeper and former baseball player raising his daughter alongside a career-driven executive, contributing to the show's status as a cultural staple of family comedy. Beyond television, Danza appeared in films such as (1980), (1989), Crash (2004), and the recent comedy Re-Election (2025), while also earning acclaim on Broadway in productions like (1999), (1998), and (2015), the latter receiving rave reviews. In addition to his entertainment career, in 1998 Danza won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series for the The Tony Danza Show (1997–1998); he later hosted the daytime of the same name from 2004 to 2006. He ventured into education by teaching 10th-grade English at Northeast High School in in 2009, an experience chronicled in the A&E series Teach and detailed in his 2012 New York Times bestseller I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Student at Northeast High. He has also co-authored the cookbook Don't Fill Up on the Antipasto (2008) with his son Marc and remains active in philanthropy through organizations like the Police Athletic League. In recent years, Danza has toured with his live cabaret performance Tony Danza: Standards & Stories, blending classic songs with personal anecdotes, and received a star on the in 1988.

Early life

Family and childhood

Tony Danza was born Anthony Salvatore Iadanza on April 21, 1951, in , New York. His parents were Anna Mary Iadanza (née Camisa; 1925–1993), a bookkeeper who immigrated from in , , and Matthew Anthony "Matty" Iadanza (1920–1983), a waste collector of Italian ancestry whose parents hailed from in the region. Danza grew up in an Italian-American household in the East New York neighborhood of alongside his younger brother, Matty Jr. (born 1954), immersed in the close-knit family traditions and of his parents' backgrounds. The family's working-class socioeconomic environment, shaped by his parents' modest occupations and immigrant roots, provided an early foundation in resilience and community ties typical of mid-20th-century Italian-American life in New York. When Danza was 14 years old, the family relocated from to Malverne on , marking a shift to a suburban setting. This move occurred during his high school years, influencing his later educational pursuits.

Education and initial pursuits

Danza attended Malverne Senior High School in Malverne, New York, graduating in 1968. During his time there, he distinguished himself as a standout wrestler on the school's team. His athletic prowess in wrestling earned him a to continue his education and pursuits at the collegiate level. Securing a wrestling , Danza enrolled at the in , where he competed on the wrestling team while pursuing his studies. He graduated in 1972 with a degree in . Although he initially planned to enter following graduation, Danza's interests shifted toward after achieving success in amateur competitions. Danza's early amateur boxing career included participation in the New York Golden Gloves tournament, where friends had entered him as a lighthearted challenge in 1975; he advanced to the finals and compiled an overall amateur record of 7 wins and 2 losses. These regional-level successes, including knockouts in some bouts, fueled his pivot from education to the ring, setting the foundation for his brief professional boxing endeavors before transitioning to entertainment.

Boxing career

Amateur experience

Following his graduation from the University of Dubuque in 1972 with a in , Tony Danza began training as an boxer in , building on his athletic background from college wrestling. He trained at Gleason's Gym, a renowned facility in , under local coaches who honed his skills in the ring. Standing at 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall, Danza competed primarily in the division around 160 pounds, though he occasionally fought at higher weights, and developed an aggressive, slugging fighting style characterized by powerful punches and forward pressure. Danza's amateur career gained momentum in the mid-1970s through participation in regional tournaments, most notably the New York . In 1975, competing as a 175-pounder in the light heavyweight category, he entered the tournament on a whim encouraged by friends and quickly demonstrated his power by securing two victories by stoppage before suffering a loss in the semifinals. The following year, in 1976, he dropped to the 160-pound class for another attempt but was eliminated in his opening bout. These experiences, including his early knockouts and subsequent setbacks, helped build Danza's resilience and record, paving the way for his transition to later that year. Danza was discovered by a while training at Gleason's Gym, leading to his audition for acting roles.

Professional bouts and record

Tony Danza turned professional as a boxer in 1976, following a brief amateur career, and primarily fought in the New York area and nearby regions, with his final bout in , until his retirement in 1979. Over the course of 11 bouts, he compiled a record of 8 wins and 3 losses, with all of his victories achieved by or technical knockout, six of which occurred in the first round (some sources list a 9-3 record including a disputed bout against Tony Rodriguez on April 9, ; recognizes 8-3). His aggressive, crowd-pleasing style made him a local favorite, though his professional tenure was short-lived due to emerging opportunities in entertainment. Danza's debut came on August 13, 1976, when he stopped Earl Harris in the first round at Sunnyside Gardens in Queens, New York. Early setbacks included a first-round knockout loss to John LoCicero on October 1, 1976, and a four-round unanimous decision defeat to Barry Hill on April 21, 1977. He rebounded with stoppage wins over opponents like Tom Molloy (KO3, May 6, 1977) and Joey Mascetti (TKO1, May 24, 1977). Another highlight was his 44-second knockout of Guillermo "Billy" Perez on May 26, 1978, broadcast on cable television. Danza's final loss was a first-round TKO to Morris Watkins on November 9, 1977. He concluded his career with victories over Ray Bryant (KO1, December 21, 1977), Max Hord (KO1, April 27, 1979), and Johnny Heard (KO3, May 14, 1979), retiring thereafter to focus on acting.
No.DateOpponentResultTypeRd.Location
11976-08-13Earl HarrisWinKO1 (4), NY
21976-10-01John LoCiceroLossKO1 (4), NY
31977-04-21Barry HillLossUD 44Dover Armory, Dover, NJ
41977-05-06Tom MolloyWinKO3 (6), Commack, NY
51977-05-24Joey MascettiWinTKO1 (6), White Plains, NY
61977-09-09Ralph GarciaWinTKO1 (8)Star Theatre, Nanuet, NY
71977-11-09Morris WatkinsLossTKO1 (8), White Plains, NY
81977-12-21Ray BryantWinKO1 (8)Roll-A-Rama, , NY
91978-05-26Billy PerezWinKO1 (8)Prospect Hall, , NY
101979-04-27Max HordWinKO1 (10)Felt Forum, New York, NY
111979-05-14Johnny HeardWinKO3 (8)Civic Plaza, Phoenix, AZ

Entertainment career

Television roles

Danza was discovered by a producer while training as a boxer in a New York gymnasium in 1978, which led to an audition for the ABC (1978–1983), where he portrayed the affable but dim-witted cab driver and aspiring boxer Tony Banta. His performance earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1981 and 1983. Following Taxi, Danza starred as Tony Micelli, a former player turned housekeeper in the ABC sitcom Who's the Boss? (1984–1992), which ran for eight seasons and became a syndication staple. For his lead role, he received four Golden Globe Award nominations for in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy in 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1989. The series was noted for its groundbreaking depiction of reversed gender roles in family dynamics, with Micelli managing a single mother's household alongside her daughter and mother-in-law. Danza continued with leading roles in other series, including the ABC sitcom Hudson Street (1995), where he played a divorced father and former detective, which he also executive-produced, and the short-lived NBC variety show The Tony Danza Show (1997–1998), featuring musical performances and celebrity guests. He later hosted the syndicated daytime talk show The Tony Danza Show (2004–2006) on ABC, which focused on lifestyle topics and family advice. In 2010, Danza appeared in the A&E reality series Teach: Tony Danza, which documented his year as a tenth-grade English teacher at Northeast High School in Philadelphia, highlighting the challenges of transitioning from entertainment to education. Throughout his career, he made numerous guest appearances on shows such as The Practice (for which he earned an Emmy nomination in 1998) and hosted Saturday Night Live multiple times. Recent TV cameos include a 2023 reunion special with his Taxi castmates to honor Danny DeVito.

Film roles

Tony Danza transitioned from television to film in the early 1980s, beginning with small roles that leveraged his charismatic, working-class persona often shaped by his sitcom success. His feature film debut came in The Hollywood Knights (1980), a coming-of-age comedy set in 1961 Los Angeles, where he portrayed Duke, a senior member of the car club. This stuntman-turned-actor role marked his entry into cinema, blending physical comedy with ensemble dynamics. Over the next decade, Danza secured lead parts in comedies like Going Ape! (1981), in which he played the protagonist Foster, who must care for three orangutans to inherit a fortune, and She's Out of Control (1989), where he starred as overprotective father Doug Simpson navigating his daughter's teenage rebellion. These films highlighted his comedic timing but were met with mixed commercial success, reflecting early typecasting from his TV roles. Danza also appeared in ensemble comedies, such as (1984), contributing to the chaotic road-race antics alongside stars like and as Terry, one of two limo drivers. By the mid-1990s, he began exploring family-oriented and dramatic territory, notably in Angels in the Outfield (1994), a Disney remake where he played the baseball manager Mel Clark, emphasizing heartfelt mentorship themes. His film output includes approximately 30 feature credits, evolving from lead comedic roles to more nuanced supporting parts that showcased his range as a . In the 2000s, Danza took on dramatic supporting roles in critically acclaimed films, including Crash (2004), an Oscar-winning ensemble drama on racial tensions in , where he portrayed Fred, a TV producer. He further demonstrated versatility in (1997), a lesser-known mob drama in which he played Louie Crisci, a bar owner, drawing on his Italian-American roots. Later entries like (2013), directed by and starring , featured Danza as the patriarchal Jon Sr., blending humor with insights into modern relationships. More recently, Danza starred in the comedy Re-Election (2025). These selections underscore his shift toward character-driven performances in independent and mainstream cinema.

Stage and cabaret performances

Tony Danza made his Broadway debut in 1998, replacing in the revival of Arthur Miller's , where he portrayed the lead role of Eddie Carbone, a longshoreman grappling with family tensions and immigrant issues. His earlier appearance came in 1993 with Wrong Turn at Lungfish, a comedic play by Laurence J. Sasso, marking his initial foray into live theater beyond television. Danza returned to Broadway in 2006, taking on the lead role of Max Bialystock in Mel Brooks's musical The Producers, a scheming producer in a satirical take on theater production; he continued in the role through 2007, including a stint in the Las Vegas production. He later starred as Tommy Korman, a charismatic gambler, in the 2014-2015 Broadway musical , based on the 1992 film, where his tap-dancing and singing highlighted the show's high-stakes romantic comedy elements during its run at the Theatre. Transitioning to cabaret, Danza debuted his show Standards & Stories in 2016 at Feinstein's/54 Below, blending vocal performances with personal anecdotes drawn from his life experiences. The act features his interpretations of Frank Sinatra tunes and other jazz standards from the Great American Songbook, delivered in a crooning style that emphasizes charisma and lounge-era phrasing, often accompanied by soft-shoe dancing and ukulele interludes. He has maintained annual residencies at the Café Carlyle since 2018, evolving the show to include more storytelling integrated with the music. In recent years, Danza's engagements have expanded nationally. For the 2024-2025 season, he performed Sinatra & Stories at the Café Carlyle from September 23-27 and October 1-2, 2025, focusing on tributes to Sinatra's repertoire with a four-piece band. He also scheduled shows in , at the SunnyBrook Ballroom on October 25, 2025, and in , at the Tropicana Casino on November 13, 2025, continuing his tradition of intimate, narrative-driven performances.

Other pursuits

Teaching endeavors

Tony Danza, who had originally studied to become a before his career took precedence, was motivated to enter the classroom by a desire to fulfill a long-deferred dream and give back to , particularly in underserved urban environments. In the fall of 2009, he began teaching 10th-grade English for one school year at Northeast High School in , drawing on his in history from the . He co-taught with a initially. This stint allowed him to connect with students from diverse backgrounds, many facing personal hardships, and to immerse himself in the daily realities of public . Throughout the year, Danza encountered significant challenges, including the emotional toll of the role, which he described as the hardest yet most rewarding of his life, often leading to moments of vulnerability such as crying over fears of failing his students. He struggled with low student motivation and high levels of neediness, requiring him to build trust gradually; students initially mocked him or cheated on assignments, but many eventually formed deep bonds, viewing him as a absent in their lives. To adapt the , Danza simplified lesson plans, incorporated creative elements like reading classic literature such as , and attended sessions, all while balancing assistance with school activities like football and band to foster engagement. His insights highlighted the resilience of urban students amid challenging upbringings and the critical need for teachers to prioritize daily goals and personal connections over rigid structures. Danza's teaching experience was documented in the A&E reality series Teach: Tony Danza, which premiered in October 2010 and consisted of seven episodes capturing his journey in the classroom. The program followed his interactions with 26 handpicked students, showcasing the unfiltered dynamics of an urban high while emphasizing the demands of effective . Following his time at Northeast High, Danza maintained an active role in , focusing on efforts to support urban schools and attract dedicated instructors. In October 2010, he returned to alongside U.S. Secretary of to discuss strategies for improving public , including promotion of the Obama administration's TEACH initiative aimed at recruiting top talent to the profession. In recent years, as of 2025, Danza has continued his commitment by teaching acting to teenagers through the Police Athletic League's Teen Acting Program, helping youth develop skills and confidence.

Authorship

Tony Danza entered the realm of authorship with his first book, Don't Fill Up on the Antipasto: Tony Danza's Father-Son Cookbook, published in 2008 and co-authored with his son Marc Danza. This work blends Italian-American family recipes with personal memoirs, featuring 50 recipes such as with sauce alongside stories of immigrant family life and the central role of food in their traditions. The book emphasizes themes of heritage, bonding, and the through culinary narratives, drawing from Danza's upbringing in a close-knit Italian family. In 2012, Danza released his second book, I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a 10th-Grade English , a recounting his experience as a at Philadelphia's Northeast High School. Drawing from that year-long stint, the book explores the challenges of , engagement, and the emotional demands of , while reflecting on Danza's own past as a disruptive . It achieved commercial success as a New York Times bestseller. Danza's writing style across both books is characterized by humor, conversational tone, and personal anecdotes that intertwine his entertainment career with life lessons on , resilience, and self-reflection. No additional books by Danza have been published since 2012.

Personal life

Marriages and family

Danza's first marriage was to Rhonda , whom he met while attending the on a wrestling . They wed in 1970 and welcomed their son, Marc Anthony Danza, on January 29, 1971. The couple divorced in 1974, but later reconciled briefly, resulting in the birth of their daughter, Gina Danza, in 1983. In 1986, Danza married Tracy Robinson, a television producer. Their union produced two daughters: Katherine Anne Danza, born on May 8, 1987, and Emily Danza, born on November 24, 1992. Danza and Robinson separated in 2006 and finalized their divorce in 2013. Danza is the father of four children in total and has remained actively involved in their lives following both divorces. He co-authored a cookbook, Don't Fill Up on the Antipasto: Tony Danza's Father-Son Cookbook, with his son Marc in 2008, highlighting their close bond. In 2005, Danza became a grandfather when Marc and his wife Julie welcomed their son, Nicholas David Danza; their second son, Lucas Danza, was born around 2011. Danza has described maintaining amicable relationships with his ex-wives to prioritize co-parenting and family unity. In October 2025, Danza playfully responded to an anecdote shared by actress on her , recounting a past flirtation during which she left her phone number in his car's glove compartment, but he never called; the lighthearted story drew public amusement but pertained to a non-serious encounter.

Philanthropy and later years

In the later stages of his career, Tony Danza has focused extensively on , particularly in and development. He co-founded The Stars of Tomorrow Project in 2022, a New York City-based nonprofit that provides free year-round training in , , and voice to underserved , aiming to broaden their horizons beyond their neighborhoods. The organization partners with local volunteers and community leaders to offer these programs, serving hundreds of students annually and emphasizing personal growth through the arts. Danza's commitment to stems from his own experiences teaching high school English in during the 2009-2010 school year, where he advocated for underfunded public schools by donating time and raising awareness for resources at institutions like Northeast High School. Danza has also supported children's causes through affiliations with organizations like and the American Stroke Association, participating in events to promote health awareness among families. His Italian-American heritage informs additional charitable efforts, including board involvement with the NYC All Stars Project, which aids low-income youth, and recognition from groups like the Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of and Westchester for contributions to cultural preservation. Reflecting on his health in 2024, shortly after turning 73, Danza described the milestone as a "tipping point" in an interview, likening aging to "living in a bad neighborhood" where unpredictability looms, though he reported no major illnesses and emphasized the benefits of regular exercise to maintain vitality. In his later years, Danza has prioritized family while sustaining select professional engagements, including performances such as his "Sinatra & Stories" show at Café Carlyle in December 2024 and various U.S. tours in 2025, alongside occasional media appearances discussing his career and .

Filmography

Film

Tony Danza began his film career in the late 1970s, appearing in supporting roles in comedies before transitioning to more varied characters in later decades. His film work often featured him in or paternal figures, drawing from his persona. The following table lists his credits in chronological order, including the year of release and his character's name where specified.
YearTitleRole
1980Duke
1981Going Ape!Foster
1984Terry
1989Doug Simpson
1994Angels in the OutfieldMel Clark
1996IlltownD'Avalon
1997GlamSid Dalgren
1997New York Cab Driver
1998Louie Crisci
2004CrashFred
2009The NailTony Goya
2013Jon Sr.
2013AftermathKing
2021RumbleSiggy (voice)
2022Gary
2025Re-ElectionStanislaw Bauer
These roles highlight Danza's versatility, from comedic sidekicks in early ensemble films to more dramatic supporting parts in independent productions.

Television

Tony Danza first gained prominence on television through his role as the aspiring boxer Tony Banta in the ABC/ sitcom , which aired from 1978 to 1983 and consisted of 114 episodes. He followed this with the lead role of Tony Micelli, a former player turned housekeeper, in the long-running ABC sitcom Who's the Boss?, which ran from 1984 to 1992 across eight seasons and 196 episodes. In 1995, Danza starred as divorced detective Tony Canetti in the ABC sitcom Hudson Street, a single-season series comprising 22 episodes that he also executive produced. He headlined the short-lived sitcom The Tony Danza Show from 1997 to 1998, portraying sportswriter Tony DiMeo in a series that produced 14 episodes before cancellation. Danza later hosted the syndicated daytime The Tony Danza Show from 2004 to 2006, which ran for 314 episodes and featured celebrity interviews, musical performances, and audience interaction. Danza starred in the A&E reality series Teach: Tony Danza in 2010, a seven-episode docuseries documenting his experience as a 10th-grade at Northeast High School in .
SeriesYearsRoleEpisodes
Taxi1978–1983Tony Banta114
Who's the Boss?1984–1992Tony Micelli196
Hudson Street1995Tony Canetti22
The Tony Danza Show (sitcom)1997–1998Tony DiMeo14
The Tony Danza Show ()2004–2006Host314
Teach: Tony Danza2010Himself7
Danza has made numerous guest appearances throughout his career, including as Steve McHarper in the 1985 episode "A Quaking in Aspen" of . He earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of defense attorney Jimmy Giannopolis across three episodes of in 1998. Other notable guest spots include roles in (2000–2002, as recurring character Joe Russo), The Good Cop (2018, as Tony Sr. in the Netflix limited series), and There's Johnny! (2017, as Jack Cade in the Hulu series). As of 2025, his television appearances have been sporadic, with no major guest roles in the beyond promotional and segments.

Awards and nominations

Emmy and Golden Globe

Tony Danza received no personal Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his role on the sitcom Taxi, though the show itself earned numerous Emmys during its run, including wins for outstanding comedy series in 1979, 1980, and 1981. For his lead role as Tony Micelli on Who's the Boss?, Danza earned five Primetime Emmy nominations in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990). These honors reflected the character's appeal as a widowed former baseball player turned housekeeper, contributing to the series' status as a top-rated 1980s sitcom. In 1999, Danza was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his appearance on The Practice. Despite the recognition, Danza did not secure an Emmy win for any role. Danza fared similarly with the , receiving no wins but multiple nominations tied to his television performances. For his Taxi tenure, Danza received a 1980 nomination for in a Supporting Role in a Series, , or Motion Picture Made for Television. Danza was nominated four times for in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for Who's the Boss? from 1985 to 1988. These consecutive nominations underscored his charismatic everyman persona and the show's enduring popularity, though co-star won a Golden Globe for her supporting role in 1989.

Other recognitions

In 1998, Danza received the People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer in a New Television Series for his role in the short-lived sitcom The Tony Danza Show. Danza was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the television category on November 16, 1988, located at 6531 Hollywood Boulevard. In recognition of his contributions to the arts and his Italian-American heritage, Danza was named an Italian-American of the Year by the New York State Council of Italian-American Legislators in 2014. As an alumnus of the , where he earned a in in 1972, Danza was awarded an honorary doctorate by the institution in 2004 for his achievements in and .

References

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