The beloved 1970s-1980s sitcom Taxi, which followed the quirky employees of a New York cab company, ended over 40 years ago, but its stars have continued thriving in entertainment. From Emmy wins to blockbuster films and ongoing TV roles, here's a look at the main cast's post-Taxi careers. While some faced tragedies, others achieved massive success in TV, film, and beyond.
Background on Taxi
Taxi aired from 1978 to 1983 on ABC and NBC, created by James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis, and Ed. Weinberger. The series centered on the fictional Sunshine Cab Company in Manhattan, earning 34 Emmy nominations and 18 wins. Head writers Glen and Les Charles later created Cheers. The ensemble included Judd Hirsch as cynical driver Alex Reiger, Marilu Henner as single mother Elaine Nardo, Tony Danza as boxer Tony Banta, Danny DeVito as tyrannical boss Louie De Palma, Christopher Lloyd as spaced-out Reverend Jim Ignatowski, Andy Kaufman as Latka Gravas (who died in 1984), and Jeff Conaway as actor Bobby Wheeler (who died in 2011).
Judd Hirsch's Enduring Career
Hirsch, already Emmy-nominated for Rhoda, won two Emmys for Taxi. Post-series, he guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Big Bang Theory, and others, starred in Dear John and Superior Donuts, appeared in Independence Day and The Fabelmans (Oscar-nominated), and won two Tony Awards for stage work in Conversations with My Father and I'm Not Rappaport.
Marilu Henner's Diverse Path
Henner played the artistic Elaine, holding her own among the male cast. Since Taxi, she's taken smaller TV roles like on NCIS and starred as the mother in Hallmark's Aurora Teagarden Mysteries. She competed on The Celebrity Apprentice in 2008 and Dancing with the Stars in 2016, performing a Taxi-themed dance. Henner advocates for brain research due to her highly superior autobiographical memory (HSAM).
Tony Danza's TV Success
A former boxer, Danza portrayed the lovable Tony Banta. He led Who's the Boss? for eight seasons, hosted The Tony Danza Show (2004-2006), and starred in the short-lived Netflix series The Good Cop with Josh Groban. Guest spots include Blue Bloods and ...And Just Like That.
Danny DeVito's Prolific Output
DeVito's Louie was a morally bankrupt antagonist; he auditioned by yelling at the script. Afterward, he played The Penguin in Batman Returns, starred in L.A. Confidential, directed films like Matilda and Throw Momma from the Train, and produced Pulp Fiction via Jersey Films. On TV, he's Frank Reynolds on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia since season two.
Christopher Lloyd's Iconic Roles
Lloyd joined as Reverend Jim in season two after a guest spot. He became famous as Doc Brown in Back to the Future, appeared in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Clue, The Addams Family films, and recently in Wednesday, Nobody, and Hacks.
(Note: Tragedies include Kaufman's death and Conaway's addiction battle; minor cast like Carol Kane and Randall Carver have successful careers but are excluded here.)