The Ski Accident That Nearly Took Tony Danza's Life

Actor Tony Danza, who rose to fame after starring in "Who's the Boss?" and "Taxi," was once involved in a tragic ski accident. "I had a bad skiing accident in 1983, and I broke my back," Danza shared with The Oshkosh Northwestern in 2018. ""It took me almost two years to rebuild myself, and during that time I had this conversation with myself about what I had done; what I hadn't done; what I wanted to do that I hadn't done." During his recovery, Danza realized he wanted to tap into his singing and dancing skills — a dream he has undoubtedly achieved.

In addition to starring in comedies and dramas, Danza has also been cast in several Broadway plays — including "Honeymoon In Vegas," "A View From The Bridge," and "The Iceman Cometh." Danza has also headed up his popular variety show called "Standards and Stories," proving that at least one good thing came out of his accident. Unfortunately, it was still a traumatic event that changed Danza's life. Here are all the details that Danza has revealed about his tragic ski accident over the years.

According to Deseret News, Danza crashed while skiing near his condo in Deer Valley. Danza had been traveling 50 miles per hour at the time, per The Orlando Sentinel. Then he slapped into a tree. "The accident is legendary in Utah. It was a major wipeout," shared Danza's former "Deadly Whispers" producer, Leonard Hill. The producer also revealed that Danza's crash became part of the local lexicon. "People will come down the mountain saying, 'Boy, I Danza-ed going down the Rattler,'" added Hill.

Danza's injuries included a broken back, ribs, and other scrapes and required surgery. Days after the operation, Danza's publicist announced to Deseret News that Danza was alert and aware of what had happened. Unfortunately, not everything was smooth sailing. During a 2018 Q&A with Men's Journal, Danza revealed that his surgery didn't turn out exactly like he wanted. "There were screws and rods involved — something went wrong and now I'm always a little crooked," said the actor when speaking about his level of vanity. "I kind of lean to the left." 

Tony Danza's ski accident was only the second most traumatizing thing he experienced in 1993. He also lost his mother, Anne Cammisa Iadanza. In 2015, he appeared on "Dr. Oz" and shared that his grief for her distracted him long enough to crash. "The reason I fell...is because I [had] lost my mother in June, it was the first Christmas and I had her in my mind," Danza shared (via Us Weekly). "I'm so sorry ... So I was thinking about her and I fell and hurt myself." Overcome with emotion, Danza then apologized to the audience for crying.

Although Danza's emotional reaction went viral, this wasn't the first time he'd connected his accident with his mother's death. During a 1995 interview with TV Guide, Danza revealed that he'd woken up in a bad mood the morning of his crash. "I had lost my mother in June," said Danza (via Deseret News). At the time, Danza's mind wasn't on skiing, which he noted was dangerous. Later, he also revealed that other people who'd sustained such serious injuries usually became paralyzed. Fortunately, Danza regained his mobility. "I'm walking now and my doctors say it's a miracle," added the star.