Tony Danza bitch-slaps rambling Priest

[HMG Celebrity News] – In a move that could win him even more fans than he gained from his role on ABC’s ‘Taxi,’ Tony Danza stopped a priest in his tracks at a wake, and thus saved the show.

The 59-year old actor was close friends with crime author Philip Carlo. Philip died from Lou Gehrig’s disease on November 8, and Tony joined family and friends last Thursday at the ‘Peter C. La Bella’ funeral home’ in Bensonhurst, New York to say their goodbyes.

But the Priest had other ideas.

“He said he was a substitute Priest from a Federal prison, which made some people smirk,” one guest tells the Post. “Then he started to ramble on about religion and quoting the Bible – it made the mourners uneasy.”

And that’s when Tony stepped up to the plate;

“Tony walked right up to the Priest and said, ‘Excuse me, but this is not about you. It’s supposed to be about my friend, and if you can’t do that, maybe you should let someone else speak!”

And it worked.

“People were stunned,” the guest says. “And the priest was visibly shaken. He tried talking about Carlo before quickly wrapping things up. Tony then took over and eulogized Carlo with memories from their younger days.”

Among those grieving were Danny Aiello, who you’ll remember from Spike Lee’s ‘Do the Right Thing,’ while Mickey Rourke [who is making a movie of one of Philip's books] sent a 6-foot arrangement of flowers.

“The funeral went very well, and we know Phil would have been very happy,” his wife, Laura told the scribes. “We all agreed the priest had to go, and leave it to Phil’s friends to come to the rescue.”

Tony then joined the family once more for last Friday’s funeral at Greenwood Cemetery.

“This time he brought people to tears,” the source shares.

And just to prove some actors can do things for others, Danza’s rep says his client has declined all further comment.

Whatta guy!