The Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills was the perfect venue to celebrate the extraordinary life of Academy Award nominated actor, writer and director, Joe Bologna. The huge, private send off included over 300 close friends and family, who threw him an old-fashioned Catholic and Jewish celebration. What else would one expect from his wife of 52 years, Renee Taylor?
It started off with a musical tribute by the Metales Brass Quintet who played Handel’s Hallelujah and included Joe’s favorite Fred Astaire tunes and a medley of Jewish songs. Rabbi Jerry Cutler, who performed the Kaddish was so impressed by the music, he remarked, “Maybe I am in the wrong congregation.”
Singing along with Eddie Hilley Jr. and the St. Agatha Gospel Choir (Joe’s favorite church choir), were Eliott Gould, Valerie Harper, Connie Stevens, Nancy Sinatra and Jon Voight. Voight’s daughter, Angelina Jolie, sent a giant flower arrangement. One of Jolie’s first films was directed by Bologna.
To cap off the day, a marine color guard and trumpet player performed the taps and flag folding ceremony to honor Bologna’s military service. Bologna’s publicist of many years, Edward Lozzi said, “Joe helped save the Motion Picture Home Hospital, and brought joy and happiness to millions.”
Rita Wilson and hubby Tom Hanks hosted the 27th Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit on Sept. 18 at the Freud Playhouse at UCLA. The evening was sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Foundation and included a pre-show wine reception with the cast. The hilarious presentation of “The Tempest” offered an evening of Shakespeare and song, featuring Charles Lester, William Shatner, Kyle MacLachlin and Michael Chiklis.
The evening benefited The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles and its employment programs for unemployed veterans and urban youth. For further info, visit www.ShakespeareCenter.org.
