Marc Anthony Danza: The Story of Tony Danza's Eldest Son

Quick Clarification Before You Read On: If you landed here after searching “Marc Anthony Danza” and got confused by results mixing in the Latin pop star — you’re not alone. Marc Anthony Danza is the eldest son of beloved TV actor Tony Danza, and was named a full two decades before the salsa singer of the same name rose to global fame. These are two entirely separate people. Now, let’s get into his story.

Who Is Tony Danza’s Eldest Son, Marc Danza?

Marc Anthony Danza was born on January 29, 1971, in the United States, making him the firstborn child of actor Tony Danza and his first wife, Rhonda Yeoman. Tony was just 19 years old at the time — a college wrestler at the University of Dubuque in Iowa — and the two had married in 1970. They divorced in 1974, when Marc was just three years old.

Growing up as the son of a rising television star carried a particular mix of opportunity and pressure. By the time Marc was seven, his father had already landed the breakout role of Tony Banta on ABC’s hit sitcom Taxi (1978–1983), and the Danza name was becoming one of the most recognizable in American primetime television.

Tony has spoken openly about those early years of fatherhood. “In a way, it’s tough when you are a young father like that,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “But you grow up together.” That mutual growing-up became a defining thread in their relationship — one that would eventually play out on camera, in print, and at the kitchen table.

Marc is the eldest of Tony’s four children. His siblings include half-sisters Katherine (born 1987) and Emily (born 1992), daughters from Tony’s second marriage to Tracy Robinson, and his sister Gina, who was born after Tony and Rhonda Yeoman briefly reconciled in 1983.

What Character Did Marc Anthony Danza Play on the TV Show Taxi?

Marc Anthony Danza played a character named Brian Sims — the young son of his father’s character, boxer Tony Banta — in two episodes of Taxi during the show’s second season on ABC.

His two appearances were:

“The Reluctant Fighter” (Season 2, Episode 15) — originally aired December 25, 1979. In this episode, a storyline involving Tony Banta’s boxing career brought Brian Sims into the picture as Tony’s son.
“Tony and Brian” (Season 2, Episode 16) — originally aired January 8, 1980. The plot of this episode centered on Tony’s efforts to adopt Brian Sims, who is depicted as preferring a wealthier adoptive family.

Marc was just eight years old when these episodes were filmed, and his real-life father initially had reservations about putting him on screen. Tony later praised his son’s natural timing and on-camera humor. The on-screen chemistry was genuine — because it was.

These two guest spots represent the full extent of Marc’s credited acting work on Taxi, and they remain among the most charming footnotes in the show’s five-season run. A vintage interview segment recorded for the Television Academy’s EmmyTVLegends.org archive features Tony discussing the experience of working alongside his young son during those episodes.

Beyond Taxi, Marc also made appearances on The John Davidson Show (1980) and later on The View (1997) and The Tony Danza Show (2004), the latter occasions likely connected to the father-son project described below.

Did Marc Anthony Danza Write a Cookbook with His Father?

Yes — and it’s a genuinely warm family document wrapped in a recipe book.

Published in May 2008 by Scribner, Don’t Fill Up on the Antipasto: Tony Danza’s Father-Son Cookbook was co-created by Tony and Marc Danza, with Marc listed as a contributor. The book grew directly out of their regular cooking segments together on The Tony Danza Show, where their on-screen chemistry in the kitchen made the idea for a book feel like a natural next step.

The cookbook draws from the wider Danza family’s Italian-American heritage, featuring 50 recipes passed down through generations. Dishes include Uncle John’s Pasta with Prosciutto Sauce, Chicken with Lemon and Garlic, Holiday Antipasto, Roasted Chicken and Potatoes, Escarole and Bean Soup, Ricotta Cheesecake, and a joint recipe simply listed as “Tony and Marc’s Quick or Date Sauce.”

Crucially, the book isn’t just a recipe collection. It weaves together family stories, photographs, and personal anecdotes about the Danza clan — including Tony’s parents, the extended Italian-American family network, and Marc’s own son, Nicholas David, who was born in 2005. The book invites you to meet uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents, all of whom are described as central figures at the dinner table that shaped both Tony and Marc’s lives.

The book’s foreword was written by Jackie Collins. Its copyright is held under Marc Anthony Productions, Inc. — a small detail that speaks to Marc’s behind-the-scenes professional orientation.

For food enthusiasts and pop-culture fans alike, Don’t Fill Up on the Antipasto is a vivid window into the father-son bond at the center of this story, and a genuine love letter to Italian-American cooking traditions.

What Does Marc Anthony Danza Do for a Living Now?

After his brief childhood acting appearances, Marc Anthony Danza stepped away from the spotlight and built a career on the technical and production side of the entertainment industry.

He is based in Los Angeles and has worked in television production technology and event logistics, with credits that include work connected to networks such as ESPN and various entertainment industry organizations. His path represents a choice shared by many celebrity children who grew up around the industry: understanding it from the inside without seeking the fame that comes with standing in front of the camera.

Marc has been married to his wife Julie for more than 20 years. Together they have two sons, including Nicholas David Danza, born August 27, 2005, who made Tony Danza a grandfather for the first time. Marc’s family life is deliberately kept out of the public eye, and he has maintained a consistently low profile compared to his famous father.

In many ways, Marc’s story is a counterpoint to the “Hollywood kid” narrative: someone who had every door open to a performance career, tried it as a child, and chose a different kind of meaningful work.

Is Marc Anthony Danza Related to the Singer Marc Anthony?

No. They are two entirely different people who share a name entirely by coincidence.

Marc Anthony Danza was born in 1971 and is the son of American television actor Tony Danza. The famous Latin pop and salsa artist known as Marc Anthony — born Marco Antonio Muñiz — rose to international stardom in the 1990s and early 2000s, decades after Marc Anthony Danza received his name.

This coincidence is the single biggest source of search confusion around this topic. If you’re looking for the Grammy-winning musician behind Vivir Mi Vida or I Need to Know, that is an entirely separate public figure with no connection to the Danza family.

A Legacy Built Quietly

Tony Danza’s career placed him in the public consciousness for decades — from the Sunshine Cab Company garage of Taxi to the Micelli household of Who’s the Boss? to Broadway and beyond. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard has been there since 1988.

Marc Anthony Danza’s story sits adjacent to all of that, but runs on a different track. He was there for two memorable episodes of Taxi as a child. He helped build a cookbook that captured their family’s Italian-American table. He made a life and a career without chasing his father’s spotlight.

For fans of classic television, the “children of” story has always been compelling precisely because it can go so many different directions. Marc’s direction was quieter, more private, and in many ways more interesting for it.