'Rags to Riches’ star recalls student beginnings

Press, 26 December 1987, Page 15

'Rags to Riches’ star recalls student beginnings

Joseph Bologna stars in “Rags to Riches” as Nick Foley, a street kid from New Jersey, who after making his fortune in frozen foods decides to adopt five orphan girls as a political manoeuvre to gain business clout. “I liked the concept and saw the series as an opportunity to really make things work,” he comments. “It is an hour-long show with music, drama and comedy and gives me a lot of room to stretch.” Bologna is both a writer and an actor. His interest in the theatre extends back to his student days, when a casting notice called for “non-actor” types to fill roles in a stage production of “Stalag 17.” He landed the lead role, but did not act again for 10 years. Born in Brooklyn, Bologna graduated from university with a degree in art history, toured with the Marines, and then began directing short films and writing special comedy material. Much of his writing is done in collaboration with

his wife, Renee Taylor. Their writing credits include “Love and Strangers” which earned them their first Oscar nomination, “Made for Each Other” and “Acts of Love” for which they received an Emmy in 1973. In between writing, Bologna’s acting assignments have increased and he has appeared in several films including “Blame it on Rio” with Michael Caine and “The Woman in Red” with Gene Wilder. Nineteen eighty-five was a busy television year for Bologna. He starred in three telefilms’— “Copacabana” with Barry Manilow, “Sins” opposite Joan Collins and “A Time to Triumph” with Patty Duke. When Bologna is not acting, he and his wife of 22 years spend much of their time in their home in Beverly Hills or in New Jersey. He is a sports enthusiast and loves to play tennis and softball as well as watch football games. “Rags to Riches” screens at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday) on Two.