The 'Ice Age: The Meltdown' voice actor died after suffering from pancreatic cancer and was survived by his longtime collaborator and wife of 52 years, actress Renee Taylor, and his son Gabriel.
- Aug 14, 2017
AceShowbiz - Joseph Bologna, an actor, writer and director known for his role in 1982's "My Favorite Year", died following a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Bologna was 82.
The actor passed away on Sunday morning, August 13 at City of Hope hospital in Duarte, California. He was survived by his longtime collaborator and wife of 52 years, actress Renee Taylor, and his son Gabriel.
His passing came after Bologna attended a 35th anniversary party of "My Favorite Year" in Los Angeles. Earlier this year, the actor was awarded with the Night of 100 Stars Oscar Gala Lifetime Achievement Award to celebrate his work in Hollywood.
Taylor said that her husband had "a beautiful life and beautiful death." Just two days before, the couple celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. Family of the actor said that funeral services were being arranged at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills.
Alongside his wife and David Zelag Goodman, Bologna received an Oscar nomination for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay for 1970's "Lovers and Other Strangers", in which he starred with Taylor. In addition, the two took home a Writers Guild Award for "Made for Each Other" (1971). He also played the explosive TV star King Kaiser in the backstage comedy inspired by Mel Brooks' experiences as a young TV writer on Sid Caesar's legendary "Your Show of Shows".
He and Taylor collaborated in writing 22 plays as well as co-starred in a slew of film and TV projects, including the Marlo Thomas TV special "Acts of Love and Other Comedies". "Woman of the Year", "Blame It on Rio", "The Woman in Red", "Transylvania 6-5000" and "It Had to Be You" are among Bologna's credits. He also lent his voice to "Ice Age: The Meltdown".
