Marilu Henner looks back on her career and the moment when she realized that her life had changed forever.
The actress, who rose to fame through “Taxi,” was dating “Grease” star John Travolta when her “life changed on September 15, 1978.”
“‘Taxi’ went on the air three days before. I was in Europe with Johnny Travolta – we were together,” Henner explained in an interview with AARP.
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“Taxi” star Marilu Henner talked about the moment when she realized that her life had changed forever. (Getty Images)
“I was walking down the street with the guys from ‘Taxi,’ and people were honking and yelling, ‘Hey Louie! Hey Nardo! Hey Banta,'” Henner said. Nardo was her character’s last name, and “Louie” and “Banta” referred to the characters of her co-stars Danny DeVito and Tony Danza.
“We all looked around and knew our lives had changed. It was such a powerful moment.”
Henner appeared in every episode of “Taxi”. (Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
For her portrayal of Elaine Nardo in “Taxi,” Henner received five Golden Globe nominations.
The series followed the lives of a group of taxi drivers from the Sunshine Cab Company, all of whom worked there and pursued their true passion.
The series ran for five seasons between 1978 and 1983 and launched the careers of many of its stars, including Danza, DeVito, Judd Hirsch, Jeff Conaway, Christopher Lloyd, Andy Kaufman and Carol Kane.
(Clockwise from top left): Andy Kaufman as Latka Graves, Carol Kane as Simka Dahblitz, Danny DeVito as Louie De Palma, Judd Hirsch as Alex Reiger, Christopher Lloyd as Reverend Jim Ignatowski, Marilu Henner as Elaine O’Connor-Nardo and Tony Danza as Tony Banta. (Frank Carroll/NBCU photo ban via Getty Images)
Henner stressed the importance of the bonds that are formed when filming a series like “Taxi” and said she has remained in close contact with her colleagues over the years.
“Everyone has an essence or a filter through which they see their life, and for me it has always been family. Any group of people I’ve ever been close to becomes family to me,” she told the outlet.
Marilu Henner rose to meteoric fame with “Taxi”. (Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
“I’m still very close with my ‘Grease’ family and my ‘Chicago the Musical’ family and definitely my ‘Taxi’ family. During the pandemic, I started Zooms with the ‘Taxi’ gang and we’re celebrating our 21st birthdays soon. Nothing beats nurturing a friendship.”
Last year, the popular show celebrated its 45th anniversary. Some of the cast members reunited in May and Lloyd shared the occasion with his fans on social media, captioning his post, “What the hell is going on here? #Taxi.”
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In 2022, Henner told Fox News Digital how she and Travolta became friends.
John Travolta and Marilu Henner were together and appeared in two films. (James Andanson/Sygma via Getty Images)
“I did the first national production of ‘Grease’ with him and then right after that … we also did two movies, ‘Perfect’ and ‘Chains of Gold.’ And we hung out together for many years as well,” she said.
“The first day I met him, we hit it off immediately. … He’s just very talented – incredibly talented. You could tell at 18 that he was going to be a star. He was just a very special talent and a really good person. … He’s an incredible person.”
When Henner was cast in the Chicago production of “Grease,” the actress had no idea she would make history.
The musical began as a community theater production in a converted streetcar depot. Not only did it launch the careers of several stars, it also led to the musical being made into a film in 1978, starring Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
Actors John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John embrace in a promotional photo for Randal Kleiser’s 1978 film “Grease.” (Paramount Pictures/Photos International/Getty Images)
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Henner had previously told Fox News Digital that she had turned down a role in the film “Grease.”
“I was actually offered the film, but I couldn’t get finish dates on (another) film I was working on at the time. But it’s great. I mean, it’s so different,” Henner noted.
“The film and the play are two completely different things. The play is an ensemble piece and the film is completely different. It is definitely a star vehicle for John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.”
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Stephanie Nolasco of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
