Joseph Bologna stars in the NBC-TV series “Rags to Riches,” beginning its second season this fall, Friday nights at 8PM. Bologna is well-known as both a writer and actor and dates his interest in the theatre from his student days at Brown University, when a casting notice called for a “non-actor” types to fill roles in a stage production of “Stalag 17.” He landed
the lead, but did not act again for ten years.
Born in Brooklyn, New York on December 30, Bologna graduated from Brown with a degree in art history and completed a tour with the Marines and began directing short films and writing special comedy material.
In 1964 Bologna met Renee Taylor and they were married a year later. It was while watching a play in a Broadway theatre that they decided to try their hands at writing one together.
The result of their first endeavor was "Lovers and Other Strangers” which they also co-starred in together on Broadway. They then collaborated on the screen version which earned them their first Oscar nomination.
In 1971, they collaborated again, writing “Made For Each Other” in which Bologna made his feature-film acting debut. Fourteen years later, in 1985, “Made For Each Other” was rereleased across the country to rave reviews and a tremendous cult following.
Bologna and Taylor received an Emmy in 1973 for writing the special, “Acts of Love and Other Cornedies.” They wrote and co-starred in the special llParadise,laln d created the television series, “Calucci’s Dept.” which starred James Coco.
In between writing, Bologna's acting assignments increased and he starred with Lee Remick in "Torn Between Two Lovers," and with Suzanne Pleshette and Rosanna Arquette in "One Cooks The Other Doesn't" for CBS.
His film career includes "Cops and Robbers," "Honor Thy Father," "The Big Bus," "Chapter Two," "My Favorite Year," "Blame It On Rio" with Michael Caine and "The Woman in Red" with Gene Wilder.
In 1984, he starred in the HBO special, "Bedrooms" which he co-wrote with Miss Taylor and earned them a writers Guild Award for Best Comedy.
1985 was a busy TV year for Bologna. He starred in three telefilms, "Copacabana," with Barry Manilow, "Sins" opposite Joan Collins and "A Time To Triumph" with Patty Duke.
Also in 1985, Bologna and Taylor brought to the Los Angeles stage a revival of "It Had To Be You," which they starred in on Broadway in 1981. This past summer Bologna and Taylor took "It Had To Be You" before the cameras, making Hollywood history being the first well-known couple to co-write, co-star and co-direct a feature film. The film is expected to be released at year's end.
Bologna and Renee Taylor have been married for 22 years and have one son, Gabriel, 18 years old, who seems to be following in his parents footsteps.
The Bologna's spend much of their time in their home in Beverly Hills, but return as often as they can to the east coast and their second home in Englewood, New Jersey.
When not busy acting or writing, Bologna is a real "sports nut" and loves to play tennis and softball as well as watch football games.
In "Rags to Riches," Bologna plays Nick Foley, a street kid from New Jersey, who made his fortune in frozen foods and decides to adopt five orphan girls as a political maneuver to gain business clout. He ends up becoming a loving and caring father.
Bologna says he decided to do a weekly series because, "I was open to a starring role since the best adult parts I have had lately all been on television. I liked the concept and saw an opportunity to really make things work since this is an hours show with music, drama and comedy. It gives me a lot of room to stretch."
Biography written by Hanson & Schwam public relations, 1987.