Born: Mar 19, 1933 in Bronx, New York City, New York
Occupation: Actor, Writer, Director
Active: '60s-2000s
Major Genres: Comedy, Drama
Career Highlights: The Producers, Lovers and Other Strangers, Made for Each Other
First Major Screen Credit: The Producers (1968)
Biography
Habitues of the late-night Jack Paar Program first became aware of the offbeat comic talents of Renee Taylor during her semi-regular appearances in the years 1959 through 1962. In films, Taylor has usually been seen in such small but distinctive roles as whispering dress extra in Jerry Lewis' The Errand Boy and Eva Braun (yes, Eva Braun) in Mel Brooks' The Producers. In 1965, she married actor/writer Joseph Bologna, becoming his partner both professionally and in life. In 1969, Taylor and Bologna wrote and starred in the Broadway comedy Lovers and Other Strangers; the play was transferred to the screen in 1970, minus the authors' on-screen presence but with all their comic insights and witticisms intact. Taylor and Bologna went on to create the 1973 TV series Calucci's Department, co-direct such films as 1989's It Had to Be You, and co-star in such projects as the 1976 TV-movie remake of Woman of the Year. In 1972, they shared an Emmy Award for their scriptwork on the 1972 television special Acts of Love-And Other Comedies. On her own, Renee Taylor has been a TV-series regular on 1977's Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (as Annabelle) and 1993's Daddy Dearest (as Helen Mitchell, the mother of Richard Lewis and estranged wife of Don Rickles). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Taylor was born Renée Wechsler in The Bronx, New York City. During 1992-1994, she played the stereotypically-overbearing "Jewish mother" of the lead character on the HBO series Dream On. Beginning in the fall of 1993, she began playing the stereotypically-overbearing "Jewish mother" of the lead character on The Nanny. Thus she was playing both roles for a season, and the two characterizations were virtually identical.
She has also had a voice cameo in the recent Warner Brothers cartoon Superman as a spectator to Superman's discussion with a visiting alien princess of the essence of marriage and relationships, ending the scene with a delightful 'What planet is he from?'
She has been married to actor Joseph Bologna since 1965, and is the mother of actor, Gabriel Bologna. Taylor and Bologna co-wrote the Broadway hit comedy Lovers and Other Strangers, and received Oscar nominations for writing the 1970 film adaptation. In 1971 the couple co-wrote and starred in the film Made for Each Other. Their screenplay received a nomination for the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy. Joseph Bologna also made an appearance on The Nanny as an egocentric actor named Allan Beck, who tormented Maxwell Sheffield.