Background
Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Bonerz grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he attended Marquette University High School, gaining his first theatrical experience with the Preparatory Players under rigid conditions.
Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Bonerz grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he attended Marquette University High School, gaining his first theatrical experience with the Preparatory Players under rigid conditions.
Bachelor of Science, Marquette University, 1960.
At Marquette University he participated in the Marquette University Players under the Reverend John Jay Walsh, Society of Jesus (Jesuit) After graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1960, he decided to seek a career in theater, beginning with The Premise, an improv group in New York City. After compulsory service as a draftee in the United States Army, he joined The Committee, an improv troupe in San Francisco, California. His first network television appearance was in 1965 on The Addams Family in the season-two episode "Morticia, The Writer".
He had several more television appearances in the late 1960s and also had roles in several films, including Funnyman (1967), What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969), Medium Cool (1969), Catch-22 (1970), which also included his future co-star Bob Newhart, Jennifer on My Mind (1971) and Fuzz (1972).
In 1971, Bonerz was part of an ensemble cast in the short-lived improvisational television show Story Theatre, which also included Alan Alda and Valerie Harper. In 1972, he landed the popular supporting role of Doctor Jerry Robinson, the eccentric orthodontist on The Bob Newhart Show, whose most frequent comic foil was Marcia Wallace as Carol, the sharp-tongued receptionist.
He also directed 29 episodes. The show ran for six seasons, with ratings among the top 20 in the first three seasons and voiced Sal in the Aaahh!!! Real Monsters episode "Internal Affairs".
His later acting roles included the television miniseries The Bastard (1978) and as a psychiatrist in the movie Serial (1980).
In 1986, Bonerz co-starred alongside Tuesday Weld and River Phoenix in the Columbia Broadcasting System television movie Circle of Violence: A Family Drama. In 1999, he played Education Weinberger in the movie Manitoba on the Moon.
In 2014, he played Doug Demarco in the "Anniversaries" episode of Parks and Recreation.
He also directed a few films, such as Nobody"s Perfekt (1981) and Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989).
Served with Army of the United States, 1961-1963.
Married Rosalind Ditrapani, December 14, 1963. Children: Eric, Eli.