10 Throwback Photos of a Young Tony Danza in the '70s and '80s

Tony Danza’s undeniable star power dates back to his Hollywood start in the 1970s, and decades later, the athlete-turned-actor is still celebrated for his charm and many talents.

After a brief career as a professional boxer, Danza took Hollywood by storm and dominated the sitcom scene, bringing laughs on Taxi and Who’s the Boss?. He captured the hearts of viewers at home and his costars on set, many of whom remain his close friends. Danza’s lasting relationships and continued success on screens prove that even as the years pass, the actor’s charisma remains in tact.

In honor of his 73rd birthday, look back at Tony Danza’s younger years in the spotlight during the ’70s and ’80s.

Gloves On

Tony Danza in 1978.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Before his charm won him a spot in Hollywood, Tony Danza made his name in the boxing ring. As a professional fighter, the rising star jabbed his way through the middleweight division from 1976 until 1979.

Wild Ride

The cast of ‘Taxi’ in 1983: Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman, Carol Kane, Danny DeVito, Judd Hirsch, Marilu Henner and Christopher Lloyd.

Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank

After wrapping up his competitive boxing career, Tony Danza stepped into the spotlight on the iconic series Taxi. Alongside costars like Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner and Judd Hirsch, Danza played a less-than-successful fictional fighter also working as a cab driver, for all five seasons of the series.

High Honors

Tony Danza in 1983.

Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank

Tony Danza’s rookie performance as Taxi‘s Tony Banta earned him his first Golden Globe nomination in 1979.

Boss Behavior

Tony Danza in 1984.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

One year after Taxi wrapped, Tony Danza continued his sitcom success as another character by his same name on Who’s the Boss?. The ABC series followed retired baseball player Tony Micelli as he navigated single parenthood and an unlikely second act working as a housekeeper in suburban Connecticut.

Combining Talents

Tony Danza at a celebrity baseball game in 1981.

Barry King/WireImage

Between Tony Banta and Tony Micelli, Tony Danza’s first major roles tapped right into his athletic skills and experiences. But the Brooklyn native was also keen to play ball off set, too. He competed in several celebrity sporting events, showing off a range of skills from baseball to bowling.

Game Time

Tony Danza at a police-celebrity charity basketball game in 1983.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

In 1983, he played with the stars in a police-celebrity charity basketball game in Beverly Hills.

Security Fame

Tony Danza in 1983.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Who’s the Boss? had a lasting impact on Tony Danza’s career. He earned three more Golden Globe nominations throughout the show’s eight-season run from 1984 through 1992. His celebrity status was solidified in 1988, when Danza was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Movie Star Charm

Tony Danza in 1978.

American Broadcasting Companies via Getty

Tony Danza forayed into film as well, starting with TV movies like Fast Lane Blues (pictured) in 1979 and eventually debuting on big screens in the 1980 comedy The Hollywood Knights. He dabbled in a few funny flicks with some iconic costars throughout the early ’80s. The up-and-coming heartthrob even worked with his then-Taxi costar Danny DeVito in 1981’s Going Ape!.

Hot Shot

Tony Danza in 1984.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Today, Tony Danza posts online about his adult kids and growing grandchildren, but the proud dad also uses social media to reminisce on his heyday as an athlete, a sitcom star and a gem on the Hollywood social scene. He’s posted throwback Instagram photos snapped at parties alongside the likes of Mike Tyson, Don Rickles and Cary Grant.

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