70s comedy icon who was axed from hit Danny DeVito show after just one season looks animated on rare outing aged 80... who is he?

Get exclusive reporting, celebrity gossip, sensational photos and more every Tuesday morning in our new Spotlight US newsletter HERE Published: 12:40 EDT, 28 September 2026 | Updated: 12:59 EDT, 28 September 2026 A 70s comedy star who lit up screens alongside Danny DeVito and Marilu Henner was seen on a rare public outing recently. The actor, now 80, is best known for his role as cab driver John Burns on the iconic show – which follows the day-to-day lives of a motley crew of taxi drivers and their abusive dispatcher.However, the star was sensationally dropped from the Judd Hirsch-led show after its first season in 1978.The actor swiftly bounced back from the drama, landing roles on shows including The Love Boat, The Norm Show and Malcolm in the Middle and in the movie There Will Be Blood. The shirtless star looked animated as he waved at his wife during the day, who he has been married to for 14 years.So can you guess who he is? A 70s comedy star who lit up screens alongside Danny DeVito and Marilu Henner was seen on a rare public outing recently The star looked animated as he waved at his wife during the day, who he has been married to for 14 years. So can you guess who he is?It's Randall Carver. The veteran actor put on a casual display as he was spotted waving at his wife Shelley Hermann in LA recently.Carver is best known for his role as the naive Burns, who signs up to be a cab driver in the first episode of Taxi – after being a passenger in Alex's (Hirsch) car. HAVE A STORY?Email us at: newsus@dailymail.com However, Carver was abruptly let go from the show – widely regarded as one of the best television series of all time – and Taxi would eventually win 18 Emmys.Taxi, which ran for five seasons until its cancelation in 1983, starred DeVito (as Louie), Andy Kaufman (as Latka), Jeff Conaway (as Bobby) and Tony Danza (as Tony). Per IMDB, according to Marley Brant's interview with Carver in her book Happier Days: Paramount Television's Classic Sitcoms 1974-1984, the actor was let go by the producers at the end of the first season 'not because of poor acting or any personal issues on the set, but rather because the writers simply didn't know what to do with his character.'The character was deemed 'bland' and writers struggled to come up with ideas for Burns. He told Cracked in June 2025 of the axing: 'I’ve thought a lot about getting the boot from the show because that’s generally the kiss of death. 'For a guy to be on a hit series and then he leaves after the first season, there’s not much going to be heard from him ever again. It's Randall Carver! The star - pictured front row left in 1978, played John Burns in the show with Andy Kaufman (as Latka), Marilu Henner (as Elaine), Jeff Conaway (as Bobby), Danny DeVito (as Louie), Judd Hirsch (as Alex), and Tony Danza (as Tony) Carver is best known for his role as the naive Burns, who signs up to be a cab taxi in the first episode of Taxi - after being a passenger in Alex's (Hirsch) car - but he was abruptly let go from the show after its first season Carver played Mr Bankside in 2007 Oscar winning film, There Will Be Blood - seen with Coco Leigh Carver is seen with Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote in 1984 The star's last credited TV role was in a 2016 episode of Oobered Carver looked sprightly as he waved at his wife Carver is seen reuniting with the Taxi cast in 2007 Carver is pictured with wife Shelley Herman'I did a series called Six O'Clock Follies about Armed Forces Television in Vietnam. I was the third lead in that. That came from the casting director of Taxi who realized what a raw deal I got.'Carver would later reunite with his Taxi co-stars in 1999 film, Man on the Moon, depicting the life of Kaufman, with Jim Carrey playing the star.He said: 'It was wonderful. It was déjà vu all over again. When we walked onto the sound stage, they had recreated the Taxi garage. It was perfect. It was the exact size and everything. The stains on the wall, the cab there, Louie’s cage — all of it was spot-on.'Carver married writer Herman in 2012.The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Carver for comment and has yet to hear back.