Tony Danza, 75: ‘I’m So Lucky to Be Able to Do What I’m Doing’

You’re saying goodbye to your Power Book mob boss character. I read that you were a little reluctant to take that part at first.

I was afraid of the Italian trope. I didn’t want to propagate it. But it turned out to be the most terrific experience. I loved playing the part. He was fun to play. And I was surrounded by the greatest bunch of actors and production and writing that you could ask for. It was a good group and a good experience.

Speaking of good groups, do you keep in touch with your costars of the past?

Taxi is the preeminent. We have monthly Zooms. And we’re together a lot. It’s interesting. Everybody was in New York last year [celebrating Danny DeVito as he was honored for his work over the decades on and off Broadway].

And your costars from Who’s the Boss?

Me and Alyssa [Milano] are very close. And Judith [Light] and I, we pass in the night, but we send signals to each other. And then Danny [Pintauro] and I talk all the time. He sent me a gag reel he found the other day of Who’s the Boss? It’s some funny stuff. 

From 1984 to 1992, Danza starred on “Who’s the Boss?” with (from left) Judith Light, Danny Pintauro and Alyssa Milano. “I’d love to see the 'Who’s the Boss?' sequel get made one day,” he says.

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Speaking of Who’s the Boss? — is that sequel you mentioned previously any closer to reality?

I’d love to see the Who’s the Boss? sequel get made one day. I think a lot of people would love that. We’ve developed a couple of great scripts; just need the right home for the show.

Is there someone you haven’t worked with or somebody you want to get back together with?

I’d love to work with Judith again. I really would. I did two sitcoms after Who’s the Boss? that were both well regarded. And both times, I really came to believe that it was [the woman they cast opposite of me]. You could be the biggest star in the world, but if you don’t have the right girl, that show ain’t going no place. And Judith was the right girl. And I’m sure Ray Romano would say that about Patricia Heaton [from Everybody Loves Raymond]. That’s what I’m talking about.

Danza with (from left) Danny DeVito, Judd Hirsch, Marilu Henner, Andy Kaufman and Christopher Lloyd during filming for the TV series “Taxi.” Danza stays in touch with his castmates from the show. "We have monthly Zooms. And we're together a lot," he says.

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How do you keep your energy up to keep working like you are?

Because I know it’s finite. I know there’s going to be a day when I can’t do it. So I might as well do it as long as I can.

What’s your exercise routine? Boxing? [Danza was a professional boxer before he won his breakout role in Taxi.]

I have what’s called a boxer ball. It’s a headband, elastic, and a ball at the end of it. And you hit. You hit the ball. You know what? I’m so good right now. I could hit a fly on the chin. So I do that, but I do a lot of stuff. You’ve got to lift weights. I’ve got the holy grail of aging fitness: a recumbent bike. I have one of those in the apartment. I work out. I try to watch what I’m doing. But I like to live.

Danza and his son, Marc Anthony, made an appearance on the red carpet at Golden Globe Awards in January 1984. The actor also has two daughters, Katherine and Emily.

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You recently added cooking to your Stars of Tomorrow Project. Why do that?

I’m a cook. We added a wellness component because a lot of our kids have weight problems. It’s important that we address it. This is really why I have the program — I had such an incredible childhood. I had two parents who loved me. My grandparents lived downstairs. As a family, we ate together every night. I want to show these kids what that’s like. We take them shopping and buy the groceries we need to make what we’re going to make. It’s a fun thing. And the kids, it’s amazing how they take to it. For three hours, nobody looks at their phone. And they come and tell me, “I’m cooking for my family a couple times a week now.”

Working with all these young people, does it give you thoughts on what you would tell your younger self?

I know exactly what I’d say: “Take advantage of youth, to not let that time go away. You’ve got to waste some of it, but find something.” I tell kids all the time to take advantage of the time. You can waste some of it, but don’t waste all of it.

And you’re going to be in a holiday movie this year, Christmas at The Starlight, with your buddy Mario Lopez?

I can’t wait. I went into the recording studio the other day to record some of the songs because there will be singing and dancing. And Mario’s a good dancer. He’s going to play my son. His son, Dominic, is going to play his son. And we own a club called The Starlight.

Is there something left on your dance card, so to speak?

I have to get back to Broadway. I just feel like I’m so lucky to be able to do what I’m doing. I’m singing and dancing all over the country, which is crazy. I played at the Café Carlyle. I’m playing 54 Below. There’s a song [“Please Be Kind” by Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin]: “This is all so grand, my dreams are on parade.” And so that’s kind of what’s going on here.