Michael McGrath led a famous life as an American actor and while running his career, he met his future wife, actress Toni DiBuono. The actors were married for about 3 decades from 1993 to McGrawth’s death in September 2023. They had a daughter named Katie McGrawth.
Toni, Michael McGrath’s widow is most famous for her role in the TV series Square One Television from 1991 to 1992. She also featured in several other films and series including Mathnet (1991-1992), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2001), Law & Order (1992-2008), and Life & Beth (2022). Here are other things about her you probably never came across.
She Was Born in the Same Town as Her Husband, McGrath as the Daughter of a Judge
Toni was born Antoinette DiBuono in Worcester, Massachusetts, US, to her father, Anthony DiBuono, a retired Judge.
Worcester, Massachusetts is also the same town where her spouse of over 3 decades was born on September 25, 1957.
Regardless, Toni then lived her young age in Malbourouht before she headed to Holliston.
The actress cum singer attended different schools while growing up. She graduated from Marian High School, a private Catholic school that closed in 2018.
She graduated from the school in 1974 and headed to Boston Conservatory where she graduated in 1979.
Before she attended the school, she was a student at Westfield State for a year.
Michael McGrath’s Wife is From a Close Knitted Family With people who Played Big Roles in Her Life
Toni’s father is Anthony DiBuono. He was a US Navy veteran of WWII, was also a Judge, and First Justice of the First District Court of Southern Middlesex County. He died in 2008.
Michael McGrath’s wife has two sisters, Stacey West and Beth Dacey. Her brothers are Philip DiBuono and A.J. DiBuono; and a deceased brother Daniel DiBuono.
The family is closely knitted as Toni has revealed. She has a maternal aunt Jackie, and a paternal aunt Angie, alongside other family members have helped mold her and contributed a lot to her personal and professional life.
According to her, her 2 aunts and sister have played important roles in her life and she sees them in her popular Broadway character, Mrs. Strakosh in Funny Girl.
She Almost Took a Career as a Probation Officer Before She Ventured into Acting
Michael McGrath’s wife did not initially want to make a career out of acting but her father wanted her to become a probation officer.
However, she was later encouraged by a director after he directed her on stage where she did well.
She had her earliest career as a stage actress, performing on Broadway. It was through her work that she met her husband who was working in the Boston production of Forbidden Broadway at the time.
On Broadway, she played numerous characters in plays such as Funny Girl, The Boys From Syracuse, and Wonderful Town. Similarly, she has had an Off-Broadway career with roles in Bad Habits and Up Against.
This is amid several other notable works as an actress and singer.
As a stage actress, she won the Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Outer Critics Circle Award for Most Striking Debut.
See Also: What Is Michael McGrath’s Cause of Death?
Her Career as a TV and Movie Actress
Beyond playing on stage, Toni DiBuono also made herself a force to be reckoned with as a TV and movie actress. One of her most renowned works is Square One Television from 1991 to 1992. She played the role of Sgt Pat Tuesday in 16 episodes of the series.
The same year, 1991, she played in Mathnet, appearing in 11 episodes of the series.
Her career at the time blossomed interestingly with her roles in Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit between 1992 to 2001.
Apart from the series, the actress and wife of McGrath appeared in a short film, Press Gang, playing a minor role of Mother in Ira & Abby; and I Can Change in 2004, 2006, and 2021 respectively.
Also, she appeared in commercials from GIEKO to toilet paper.
She Became Married to Michael McGratg in 1993 and Took a Break From Acting to Raise Their Daughter
In 1993, Toni DiBuono became married to her famous Tony Award Winning actor husband. This was after they met while Michael was working on a Forbidden Broadway.
The couple became parents of a girl named Kathleen Claire DiBuono and they equally had animals, including dogs and cats.
Their daughter is reported to also be an actress. She is notable for her roles in Inside the Rain (2019) and FBI (2022).
To help raise the couple’s daughter, Toni took a break from g her career.
The couple live in New Jersey and Toni lost her husband of over 3 decades on September 14, 2023. He died at their home in Bloomfield, New Jersey at the age of 65. Prior to his demise, he was featured in numerous films and series.
Some of his most renowned works are Swinging on a Star, Spamalot, and Nice Work if You Can.
He also won numerous awards such as two Tony Awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (2005/2012); Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award.
