Stars From The Nanny You Didn't Know Died

Publish date: 2024-04-17

On-screen, Joseph Bologna played Dr. Joe Razzo, the physician Fran's mom, Sylvia Fine, was having an affair with. Off-screen, Bologna was happily married to Renée Taylor, the actor who played Sylvia, for more than 50 years.

Bologna was raised in Brooklyn, graduated from Brown University with an art history degree, and served in the Marines (even though he was already interested in acting). He then worked on television commercials at ad agencies in Manhattan. 

The star spent much of his career collaborating with Taylor, whom he first met in a comedy club. Together the duo wrote 22 plays, as well as several movie and TV projects. Their most notable works, according to Variety, were "Lovers and Other Strangers," a Broadway play turned Oscar-nominated movie, and "Made for Each Other," a film that earned a Writers Guild Award. Outside of writing these works and starring in the latter with his wife, Bologna was best known for playing King Kaiser, a character based on Sid Caesar, on "My Favorite Year."

In 2017, Bologna died of pancreatic cancer. His wife, and occasional co-star, remembered him to The West Australian, saying, "He had a beautiful life." His manager, Matt Sherman, echoed similar sentiments, telling the outlet, "Joe was a loveable man, a kind soul, a good friend, and always a pleasure to be with."

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