Joseph Bologna
Encyclopedia
Joseph Bologna is an American
actor
.
The actor has a long history in film
and television
. His breakthrough film, Lovers and Other Strangers
, written with his wife Renée Taylor
, was based on the true-life circumstances of organizing a wedding
on short notice with the involvement of his Italian extended family and Renee's Jewish clan. Several relatives performed as extras in the final cut. A year later, in 1971, the couple again collaborated to write and perform in the movie Made for Each Other
.
Bologna stayed close with his old-neighborhood aunts and uncles after becoming successful. Two of them were slightly famous on their own: his Uncle Pat was "Blacky the Bootblack", whom Joseph Kennedy credited as his main influence when he sold all of his stock holdings in the summer of 1929 (the market crashed
in October) and his aunt Pauline was one of the best-known chefs to the stars, working for Jackie Gleason
, Burt Reynolds
and many other luminaries.
A decade later, Bologna's aunt Pauline chastised him for starring in the nudity-filled Blame it on Rio
co-starring Michael Caine
. Bologna replied, "Blame it on me, it's the last time I invite Aunt Pauline to a film premiere." In 1976 he starred in the Television drama What Now, Catherine Curtis?
with Lucille Ball
, although as Bologna's other best-known film roles are that of temperamental 1950s television star Stan "King" Kaiser in the 1982 comedy hit My Favorite Year
, starring Peter O'Toole
and of Lenny Koufax, the frustrated father of Sonny Koufax, who was played by Adam Sandler
in the 1999 comedy Big Daddy.
By 1987, Bologna was starring in the short-lived TV sitcom/musical "Rags to Riches" as the millionaire mogul turned foster father, Nick Foley. The show aired for two seasons.
From 1996 to 1998, he voice-acted the character Inspector Dan Turpin
, a hot-headed police officer modeled after Jack Kirby
, in several episodes of Superman: The Animated Series
.
In 2006, he became the voice of Mr Start in "Ice Age: The Meltdown
."
He is married to the actress Renee Taylor
, with whom he has a son. Taylor and Bologna have also co-starred on stage and on TV. Bologna played a love interest for his real-life wife in the "Maternal Affairs" episode of the CBS
sitcom The Nanny
in the sixth and final season in which Taylor plays Sylvia, the already-married mother of Fran Drescher
's character. He also appeared in the first season episode "The Gym Teacher" as a famous actor for whom Maxwell Sheffield once interned.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Life and career
Bologna was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Brown University, where he majored in art history. After a hitch with the marines, Bologna was hired to produce and direct Manhattan-based TV commercials.The actor has a long history in film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. His breakthrough film, Lovers and Other Strangers
Lovers and Other Strangers
Lovers and Other Strangers is a 1970 comedy film based on the play by Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna. The film features an ensemble cast including Richard Castellano, Gig Young, Cloris Leachman, Anne Jackson, Beatrice Arthur, Bonnie Bedelia, Michael Brandon, Harry Guardino, Anne Meara, Bob Dishy,...
, written with his wife Renée Taylor
Renee Taylor
Renée Taylor is an American actress, Academy Award nominated writer and one-time director, best-known for having played Fran Drescher's outspoken mother, Sylvia Fine, on the TV series The Nanny.- Career :...
, was based on the true-life circumstances of organizing a wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
on short notice with the involvement of his Italian extended family and Renee's Jewish clan. Several relatives performed as extras in the final cut. A year later, in 1971, the couple again collaborated to write and perform in the movie Made for Each Other
Made for Each Other (1971 film)
Made for Each Other is a 1971 feature film directed by Robert B. Bean.Both starring and written by the husband and wife team of Renée Taylor and Joseph Bologna, the movie traces the relationship of Pandora and Giggy, a seemingly incompatible couple who meet in a group therapy session and fall in...
.
Bologna stayed close with his old-neighborhood aunts and uncles after becoming successful. Two of them were slightly famous on their own: his Uncle Pat was "Blacky the Bootblack", whom Joseph Kennedy credited as his main influence when he sold all of his stock holdings in the summer of 1929 (the market crashed
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
in October) and his aunt Pauline was one of the best-known chefs to the stars, working for Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
, Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
and many other luminaries.
A decade later, Bologna's aunt Pauline chastised him for starring in the nudity-filled Blame it on Rio
Blame it on Rio
Blame it on Rio is a 1984 romantic comedy film, written by Charlie Peters and Larry Gelbart and directed by Stanley Donen. The script is based on the 1977 French film, Un moment d'égarement. The original music score was composed by Kenneth Wannberg...
co-starring Michael Caine
Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine, CBE is an English actor. He won Academy Awards for best supporting actor in both Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules ....
. Bologna replied, "Blame it on me, it's the last time I invite Aunt Pauline to a film premiere." In 1976 he starred in the Television drama What Now, Catherine Curtis?
What Now, Catherine Curtis?
What Now, Catherine Curtis? is a 1976 American TV Film, starring Lucille Ball as Catherine Curtis, a middle-aged divorcee who holds on to life after a break in 23 years of marriage. It's broken down into three parts, titled "First Night," "First Affair" and "First Love."- Cast :* Lucille Ball as...
with Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
, although as Bologna's other best-known film roles are that of temperamental 1950s television star Stan "King" Kaiser in the 1982 comedy hit My Favorite Year
My Favorite Year
My Favorite Year is a 1982 American comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin which tells the story of a young comedy writer. It stars Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker, Jessica Harper, Joseph Bologna, Lou Jacobi, Bill Macy, Lainie Kazan, Selma Diamond, Cameron Mitchell, and Gloria Stuart. O'Toole was...
, starring Peter O'Toole
Peter O'Toole
Peter Seamus Lorcan O'Toole is an Irish actor of stage and screen. O'Toole achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and then went on to become a highly-honoured film and stage actor. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and holds the record for most...
and of Lenny Koufax, the frustrated father of Sonny Koufax, who was played by Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
in the 1999 comedy Big Daddy.
By 1987, Bologna was starring in the short-lived TV sitcom/musical "Rags to Riches" as the millionaire mogul turned foster father, Nick Foley. The show aired for two seasons.
From 1996 to 1998, he voice-acted the character Inspector Dan Turpin
Dan Turpin
Daniel "Terrible" Turpin is a character published by DC Comics. He first appeared as Brooklyn in Detective Comics #64 , and first appeared as Dan Turpin in New Gods #5 .-Publication history:...
, a hot-headed police officer modeled after Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
, in several episodes of Superman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series is an American animated television series starring DC Comics' flagship character, Superman. The series was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on The WB from September 6, 1996 to February 12, 2000. Warner Bros...
.
In 2006, he became the voice of Mr Start in "Ice Age: The Meltdown
Ice Age: The Meltdown
Ice Age: The Meltdown, also known as Ice Age 2: The Meltdown or simply as Ice Age 2, is the 2006 sequel to the 2002 computer-animated film Ice Age. It was produced by Blue Sky Studios for 20th Century Fox, and premiered in Belgium on March 1, 2006...
."
He is married to the actress Renee Taylor
Renee Taylor
Renée Taylor is an American actress, Academy Award nominated writer and one-time director, best-known for having played Fran Drescher's outspoken mother, Sylvia Fine, on the TV series The Nanny.- Career :...
, with whom he has a son. Taylor and Bologna have also co-starred on stage and on TV. Bologna played a love interest for his real-life wife in the "Maternal Affairs" episode of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom The Nanny
The Nanny (TV series)
The Nanny is an American television sitcom co-produced by Sternin & Fraser Ink, Inc., and Fran Drescher in association with TriStar Television for the CBS network...
in the sixth and final season in which Taylor plays Sylvia, the already-married mother of Fran Drescher
Fran Drescher
Francine Joy "Fran" Drescher is an American film and television actress, comedian, screenwriter, director, producer, author, singer, talk show host, political lobbyist and health activist...
's character. He also appeared in the first season episode "The Gym Teacher" as a famous actor for whom Maxwell Sheffield once interned.