Joseph Evan Tata, a character actor, was the son of Rosey the Singing Barber, a vaudevillian. He began his acting career on screen in 1960, initially billed as "Joey" Tata, and appeared in numerous classic TV episodes during the next decade, often in small supporting roles.
Tata's career gained momentum after his recurring role as Private Neddick in the 1964 film No Time for Sergeants. He then lent his voice to several robots in the 1965 science fiction series Lost in Space and played various minor henchmen in the original 1966 Batman television series.
Tata's acting credits also include roles as an alien in The Outer Limits (1963) and Napoleon Bonaparte in The Time Tunnel (1966). He frequently appeared in police and detective shows, making multiple guest appearances in Mission: Impossible (1966),Mannix (1967),The F.B.I. (1965),Police Story (1973),and The Rockford Files (1974).
Notably, Tata was a lifelong fan of the early western series Maverick (1957) and recalled James Garner as his favorite co-star. He is perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of Nat Bussichio, the good-natured owner of the Peach Pit Diner, in the hit television series Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990),which he appeared in for ten seasons.
Sadly, Joe E. Tata was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2018 and passed away on August 24, 2022, at the age of 85, in Los Angeles.
