[2] Hanley has been cast in over 100 starring and co-starring roles in television variety, comedy and drama series including Crazy Like a Fox[3] with Jack Warden, and Pros & Cons[4] with James Earl Jones and Richard Crenna.
Hanley joined the U.S. Army in 1968 during the Vietnam era where he became an entertainment specialist, and wrote, directed, did stand-up comedy, and acted in numerous musical stage productions performed for the troops.
Afterward, he moved to Los Angeles where he quickly got television roles, beginning an over thirty-year career as an actor, entertainer, singer, stand-up comedian, writer,[7] director,[7] producer, and acting teacher.
In television drama series, Hanley was cast in starring and supporting roles in The Practice,[12] Crazy Like a Fox[13] with Jack Warden, Pros & Cons[4] with James Earl Jones and Richard Crenna, Hill Street Blues,[14] Hunter, Fresno,[citation needed] Houston Knights, Riptide, Dragnet, Shell Game with Margot Kidder, The A-Team, and many others including the TV movie The Hit Man[15] as well as thirty appearances on Days of Our Lives[16] His feature film credits include Private Benjamin[17] starring Goldie Hawn, I Married a Centerfold,[15] L.A. Bounty,[12] and Sparkle.
[18] Currently, as an entertainer with a strong comedy flare, Hanley fronts his own seventeen-piece orchestra, singing classics from the great American songbook.