Born and trained in Chicago, Tony holds a B.A. in Theater and M.F.A. in Acting from Chicago's Roosevelt University, although he never showed an interest in the arts while in high school. He was more interested in hockey and was the school's goalie on their 1978 championship team.
Not knowing what to do after high school graduation, Tony attended part-time courses at Wright Jr. College. It was in an "Introduction to the Theater" class that he saw a Second City show. Like many bitten by the improv bug, Tony took the year course at the world famous "Players Workshop of the Second City", eventually teaching and directing there. After studying improv for many years in Chicago, Tony finally got cast in the Second City. He is among the long list of Second City actors, working in film, TV, animation voiceover and theater.
Tony has taught acting in Chicago, Toronto and Vancouver. He runs ImprovChicago workshops in Vancouver and his Windy City Women improv troupe is a comedy mainstay.