Joseph Evan Tata (September 13, 1936 – August 24, 2022) was an American television actor. He was known for his regular role (1990–2000) as Nat Bussichio, the owner and operator of the Peach Pit diner, in the television series Beverly Hills, 90210 and its spin-off 90210. A prolific character actor, Tata was previously best known for his portrayal of Private Neddick on No Time for Sergeants (1964–1965), and his roles on dozens of shows including The Rockford Files and Batman.
Tata was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2018. He died in Los Angeles on August 24, 2022, at the age of 85.
Early life Joseph Evan Tata was born on September 13, 1936, in The Bronx borough of New York City. His father was John Lucas, a vaudevillian who sometimes performed as Rosey the Singing Barber.
Career After being cast in his first television role in Peter Gunn in 1960, Tata went on to be a prolific character actor, appearing in dozens of shows in a variety of bit parts. Specializing in science fiction on shows like Lost in Space, Tata first became recognizable for playing henchmen on the original Batman and for his appearances on The Rockford Files.
Tata's most famous role came later in life, when he was cast as Nat Bussichio on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210. Though the show came off to a rocky start, it soon became a massive hit and cultural phenomenon, with Tata's portrayal of the kind father figure who owned the fictional Peach Pit diner earning him acclaim. Across the show's ten seasons, Tata would appear in 238 episodes. When the show was rebooted in the 2000s as 90210, Tata reprised his role on three occasions.
After appearing as Principal Frost on the ABC Family sitcom Mystery Girls in 2014, Tata retired from acting, following a more than five decade career.
Personal life Tata married Susan Levy on October 30, 1976, and the two subsequently divorced. They had one child, a daughter.
Death Tata was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2018. His daughter Kelly created a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of his care, which continued after his death to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association. Tata died on August 24, 2022, at a care facility in the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles at the age of eighty-five.
Tributes to Tata were paid by a large number of entertainment industry figures, including Beverly Hills, 90210 co-stars Ian Ziering, Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Vincent Young, and Brian Austin Green, and author Kim Gruenenfelder.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1960 Peter Gunn Arthur Curtis 1 episode1963−1964 The Outer Limits Alien bastard / Radar Operator 2 episodes1964 Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Joey Lombardi 2 episodes1964−1965 No Time for Sergeants Private Neddick 5 episodes1964−1966 Ben Casey Dr. Wayne Marlow / Dr. Michael Stone 2 episodes1964−1967 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Corpsman / Frank Brent / Farrell 3 episodes1965 Mister Roberts Everett 1 episode Hank Johnson 1 episode1966 Hogan's Heroes Tony Garlotti Episode: "The Pizza Parlor" The Time Tunnel Verlaine / Napoleon Bonaparte 2 episodes1966−1968 Batman Goon / Tallow / Suleiman 5 episodes1966–1972 Mission: Impossible Al / King Said of Karak / Roulette Croupier 3 episodes1967 Lost in Space Short Alien / Robot Judge / Purple Robot / Computer Eye / Zalto's Dumm 5 episodesBatgirl Mothman #1 TV short1968 Cimarron Strip Gomer 1 episode1969 The Good Guys Lab Worker 1 episode1970 Bracken's World Wounded G.I. 1 episode The Immortal Morrison—Monitor 1 episode Which Way to the Front? Corporal Uncredited Along Came a Spider Doctor Hernandez TV movie1971 The D.A. Lt. Ficklen 1 episode Green Acres Bellboy 1 episode D.A.: Conspiracy to Kill TV movie1971–1972 O'Hara, U.S. Treasury Ted Wilson / Dick Miles / Special Agent Bertino 3 episodes1971–1973 The F.B.I. Elliot / Al Naylor / Barney Leeds 3 episodes Mannix Augie / Fred Eby / Gas Station Attendant 3 episodes1972 Hickey & Boggs Coroner's Assistant (as Joe Tata) Unholy Rollers Marshall A Clock Work Blue Homer 1972-1973 Adam-12 Craig Hanawad / Frank Ducas / Noel Simmons Episodes: "Sub-Station", "Easy Rap", "Training Division: The Rookie" Temperatures Rising Groom / Nails 2 episodes1973 Emergency! Neighbor 1 episode Love, American Style Chip 1 episode / Segment: "Love and the Burglar Joke"1974 Ironside Garvey 1 episode Toma Mark 1 episode It's Good to Be Alive 'Pee Wee' Reese TV movie1974−1978 The Rockford Files Solly Marshall / Sal / Norman Abbott Kline / Mike Trevino / Willie / Agent Hanzer 8 episodes1975 Cannon Higgins / Joe Slosser 2 episodes Death Scream Detective Linsky TV movie Dead Man on the Run Bobby Dimasco TV movie The Last Survivors Charley TV movie Mobile Two Father John Lucas TV movie1975−1978 Police Story Dooley / Jimmy Ricks / Det. Loftus 3 episodes1976 Sisters of Death Joe (as Joe Tata) The Streets of San Francisco Bobby Waldron 1 episode Monster Squad Trouble 1 episode The Blue Knight 1 episode1977 Barnaby Jones Little Angel 1 episode Police Woman Blat 1 episode Most Wanted Toller 1 episode A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story Lefty Gomez TV movie Kill Me If You Can Kelton TV movie1978 Quincy, M.E. Tony DeMarco Episode: "Accomplice to Murder" Wonder Woman Joe Episode: "The Fine Art of Crime" Terror Out of the Sky Groves TV movie Confessions of the D.A. Man Lt. Ficklen TV movie The Bastard Voice Uncredited1980 Police Story: Confessions of a Lady Cop TV movie Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II Pete TV movie1980–1981 Vega$ Vinnie Rilato / Mickey Enright / Dixon 3 episodes1981 Days of Our Lives Warren 2 episodes Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls Art Williams TV miniseries1983 Hotel Jimbo 1 episode1984 Finder of Lost Loves Nick 1 episode The Fall Guy Assistant Director 1 episode Simon & Simon Bartender 1 episode The New Mike Hammer John Box 1 episode1985 The A-Team Bookie McGrudy Episode: "Champ!" Hollywood Wives Elliot 2 episodes Matt Houston Dr. Dyre 1 episode Hollywood Beat Earl Cain 1 episode Crazy Like a Fox 1 episode1986 Hill Street Blues Fratelli / Fratello Episodes: "Das Blues", "Slum Enchanted Evening"1987 General Hospital Rudy King Unknown number of episodes Magnum P.I. Benny Travis, the P.I. Episode: "Innocence... A Broad" High Mountain Rangers Joseph 'Nitro' Capelli 1 episode Tales from the Darkside Alex Hayes 1 episode1989 Snoops Finley 1 episode Jesse Hawkes 1 episode1990−2000 Beverly Hills, 90210 Nat Bussichio / Sal Bussichio 238 episodes1991 Hunter Mr. Trickle Episode: "The Reporter"1992 Love Is Like That Norm 1996 Terminal Lt. Johns TV movie1999 The Dishpan Man Gino Short film2001 Charmed Police Inspector Episode: "Look Who's Barking"2003 Everyone Counts Detective Short film2008 90210 Nat Bussichio 3 episodes2014 Mystery Girls Principal Frost Episode: "High School Mystery"
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