Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Performing virtually non-stop since his late ’70s debut on the sitcom “Taxi,” Tony Danza has charmed his way into the hearts of legions of loyal fans over the decades.
Tony Danza is one of those fortunate actors who has been around forever in one incarnation or another. Awards aside, he has also won the hearts of millions of fans across several generations as a television icon and show-biz legend.
Born Anthony Salvatore Iadanza on April 21,1951, in Brooklyn, New York, he is the son of a bookkeeper mother and a garbage collector father. His deep Italian roots in the regions of Campania and Sicily and the strong working-class values he learned from his parents gave him everything he needed to chart a successful course through the sometimes-rough-and-tumble entertainment industry.
Growing up in a household of modest means, he learned lessons at the kitchen table and in the gritty streets of New York that gave him his passion and drive. Early on, sports was his outlet, earning him a wrestling scholarship that led to a degree in history at the University of Dubuque.
One day, his buddies jokingly entered him in the New York Golden Gloves boxing tournament, but the joke was on them as the middleweight won eight of 11 pro bouts, the first six wins coming from first-round knockouts. “I got hooked on the sport, and it has stayed with me my entire life,” Tony says. “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t work out with one of the moves I learned while training for those matches.”
After a short-lived boxing career of three years, Tony was discovered by a television producer while sparring in a gym in New York. Always up for a challenge, Tony tried out for and won a role in a new television sitcom titled “Taxi” on the strength of his innate charm and Italian good looks.
The role was not much of a stretch as he played a part-time boxer, part-time taxicab driver. He became one of the most popular stars on TV for those five seasons. He then got cast as a former baseball player, housekeeper and single father in what would become another smash hit.
For eight straight seasons, Tony was welcomed into as many as 15 million homes a week as Tony Micelli on “Who’s The Boss.” That show sealed the deal for him as a bona fide show-biz superstar.
Tony has performed virtually non-stop since his debut in the late ’70s, with star turns on “Hudson Street” and “The Tony Danza Show” on the small screen and “The Hollywood Knights” and “Angels in the Outfield” in movie theaters. Many of his characters share a similar profile: athletic and personable neighborhood guys who have walked straight into the hearts of legions of adoring fans.
I first showcased Tony when he performed his live stage show at the Arcada Theatre. I was so excited to see him again, having first met him years ago at one of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame galas. “Being with Tommy Lasorda and Mario Andretti and honoring Rocky Marciano really was a very special time for me,” he recalls. “These are some of my heroes, and the pride that my old friend Tommy showed that night inspired me to no end!”
In addition to maintaining a busy schedule in front of the camera, Tony has performed on Broadway and in theaters around the country. His current live show, “Tony Danza: Standards and Stories,” is an homage to Frank Sinatra that combines timeless music with wit, charm, storytelling and a dash of soft shoe and ukulele. The times he has performed on our stages, he has been very generous with his fans, graciously responding to their regular references to his vintage sit-com days.
At 75 years young, Tony has a very active social media presence, from which you can instantly tell he has hit a very happy place in his career.
In my favorite clip, Tony surprises diners and passers-by at Manny’s Bistro in Brooklyn with an impromptu short set of the classics. He joins the Victor Neufeld Jazz Band on the outdoor patio with renditions of Bobby Darin’s “Mack the Knife” and The Temptations’ “My Girl” and Sinatra’s fave “Fly Me to the Moon.” The looks on the faces of the crowd and the joy on Tony’s face are something to see.
When he came to the Arcada to perform his show, he loved our venue and audience. But what excited him most were the meatballs we served him. “I travel around the country playing all these great theaters. But when I came here, and the first thing I saw were homemade meatballs on the table, I knew I was home,” Tony says.
In 2008, Tony shared his love for Italian cuisine with the release of a cookbook he authored with his son, Marc, titled, “Don’t Fill Up on the Antipasto: Tony Danza’s Father-Son Cookbook.” It’s a rich minestrone of photos, family stories and 50 “secret” family recipes. His favorite is his mother’s lasagna and Uncle John’s pasta with prosciutto sauce.
What I found interesting was who the boss often was in his family’s kitchens. “My dad and my uncle did most of the cooking, more so when we had the big family functions,” Tony recalls. “Of course, the women’s recipes were the ones that prevailed!”
Alyssa Milano, who played Tony’s daughter on “Who’s The Boss,” was only 11 years old that first season, and he remains a father figure to her. “I would protect her like she was my real daughter,” he says. “The entire cast is like family even to this day.”
And that’s the vibe you get when you’re in his presence. He reminds me of a cousin or an uncle. His friendly demeanor and warm engagement make you feel like you’ve known him a lifetime,
When I approached him to be the grand marshal of this year’s Columbus Day Parade in Chicago, he was so honored! He has filled those shoes in New York City, but to be extended the same invitation in the Windy City took him by surprise. “I love Chicago, always have. This is an honor I never thought I would get,” he says. “Celebrating with the Italian-American community (in Chicago) will be like being at one of my own family parties!”
Tony Danza is a class act who loves his Italian heritage. With Sinatra in his heart and red sauce in his veins, he continued to live his life to the fullest, sharing music and memories with his countless fans. When it comes to being an all-around good guy and Italian-American icon, Tony Danza IS the boss!
The above article appears in the November 2026 issue of the print version of Fra Noi. Our gorgeous, monthly magazine contains a veritable feast of news and views, profiles and features, entertainment and culture.
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