An experienced team in ‘Taxi’

Press, 22 August 1979, Page 15

An experienced team in ‘Taxi’

Alex Reiger is a New York City cabbie. He’s not crazy about the idea, but he accepts it. It’s less degrading than welfare, less demanding than unemploy-

ment and it has its own peculiar psychic rewards as well. Hence, he’s chosen hacking rather than handouts. Portraying Alex is a

stage and television actor Judd Hirsch, who left the hit Neil Simon Broadway play, “Chapter Two,” to lead the “Taxi” ensemble (SPTV Wednesday nights). Judd began his television career with the portrayal of Murray Stone in the Emmy Award-winning movie, “The Law,” and has also guest starred in such series and TV motion picture as “Rhoda,” “The Keegans,” “Medical Story,” “Valentino,” and “Fear on Trial.”

Hirsch recently completed a starring role in the feature film, “Sooner or Later,” and will be seen in the film “King of the Gypsies.” Danny De Vito portrays one of the most unlikable characters ever to appear on television — the cab dispatcher, Louie De Palma, in “Taxi.” The character De Palma

is a petty tyrant whose major delight is making life miserable for the drivers who inhabit and work for the Sunshine Cab Company in New York City. Danny was featured in the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and has a major role in “Goin’ South” with Jack Nicholson. He also directed the American Film Institute feature, “Minestrone.” Marilu Henner, the redhaired, green-eyed beauty who stars as Elaine Nardo in “Taxi” simply appeared on the scene one day a few years ago, catapulting from local notice to national recognition with starring roles on Broadway.

The third of six children and a graduate of parochial grammar and high schools, Marilu won several scholarships to the University of Chicago where she majored in political science.

During her freshman year in college she successfully auditioned for a new. show called “Grease” principally because of her background as a dancer and singer. For the remainder of that year she worked in the show on week-ends while pursuing her studies. The following season she became a member of the national company and toured with “Grease” for more than nine months. Marilu has also featured in the Broadway cast of “Grease” and “Pal Joey,” and has starred in numerous television pilots including “The Paper Chase,” “Off Campus,” “Seventh Avenue” and “Leonard.”