Danny DeVito

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Danny DeVito
File:Danny DeVito cropped and edited for brightness.jpg
DeVito in 2013
Born Daniel Michael DeVito Jr.
(1944-11-17) November 17, 1944 (age 79)
Neptune Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • filmmaker
Years active 1969–present
Works Full list
Height 4 ft 10 in (147 cm)
Spouse(s) Rhea Perlman (m. 1982; sep. 2017)
Children 3, including Lucy
Notes

Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. (born November 17, 1944) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series Taxi (1978–1983), which won him a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award. He plays Frank Reynolds on the FX and FXX sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2006–present).

He is known for his film roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Terms of Endearment (1983), Romancing the Stone (1984), Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Twins (1988), The War of the Roses (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Jack the Bear (1993), Junior (1994), Get Shorty (1995), Matilda (1996), L.A. Confidential (1997), The Big Kahuna (1999), Big Fish (2003), Deck the Halls (2006), When in Rome (2010), Wiener-Dog (2016), and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019). He is also known for his voice roles in such films as Hercules (1997), The Lorax (2012), and Smallfoot (2018).

DeVito and Michael Shamberg founded Jersey Films. Soon afterwards, Stacey Sher became an equal partner. The production company is known for films such as Pulp Fiction, Garden State, and Freedom Writers. DeVito also owned Jersey Television, which produced the Comedy Central series Reno 911! DeVito and wife Rhea Perlman starred together in his 1996 film Matilda, based on Roald Dahl's children's novel. DeVito was also one of the producers nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture for Erin Brockovich (2000).

In 2017, he earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's The Price.

Early life

DeVito was born at Raleigh Fitkin-Paul Morgan Memorial Hospital in Neptune Township, New Jersey, the son of Daniel DeVito Sr., a small business owner, and Julia DeVito (née Moccello).[2][3] He grew up in a family of five, with his parents and two older sisters.[4] He is of Italo-Albanian descent; his family is originally from San Fele, Basilicata,[5] as well as from the Arbëresh Albanian community of Calabria.[6][7] He was raised in Asbury Park, New Jersey. He lived a few miles away from the original Jersey Mike's location and would eat there frequently, which would inspire him to become the sub shop's first celebrity spokesman in a line of commercials that began to air in September 2022.[8][9]

DeVito was raised as a Catholic. When he was 14, he persuaded his father to send him to boarding school to "keep him out of trouble",[4] and graduated from Oratory Preparatory School in Summit, New Jersey, in 1962. While working as a beautician at his sister's salon, his search for a professional makeup instructor led him to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts,[10] where he graduated in 1966. In his early theater days, he performed with the Colonnades Theater Lab at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut. Along with his future wife Rhea Perlman, he appeared in plays produced by the Westbeth Playwrights Feminist Collective.

Career

Film

DeVito at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2010

DeVito played Martini in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, reprising his role from the 1971 off-Broadway play of the same title.

After his time on the Taxi series ended, DeVito devoted more effort to a growing successful film career, appearing as Vernon Dalhart in the 1983 hit Terms of Endearment; as the comic rogue Ralph in the romantic adventure Romancing the Stone (1984), starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner; and its sequel, The Jewel of the Nile (1985). In 1986, DeVito starred in Ruthless People with Bette Midler and Judge Reinhold, and in 1987 he made his feature-directing debut with the dark comedy Throw Momma from the Train, in which he starred with Billy Crystal and Anne Ramsey. He reunited with Douglas and Turner two years later in The War of the Roses (1989), which he directed and in which he co-starred.

Other work included Other People's Money with Gregory Peck; director Barry Levinson's Tin Men, as a rival salesman to Richard Dreyfuss' character; the comedies Junior (1994) and Twins (1988) with Arnold Schwarzenegger; playing the villain The Penguin in director Tim Burton's Batman Returns (1992); and the film adaptation Matilda (1996), which he directed and co-produced, along with playing the role of Matilda's father, the villainous car dealer Harry Wormwood.

Although generally a comic actor, DeVito expanded into dramatic roles with The Rainmaker (1997); Hoffa (1992), which he directed and in which he co-starred with Jack Nicholson; Jack the Bear (1993); neo-noir film L.A. Confidential (1997); The Big Kahuna (1999); and Heist (2001), as a gangster nemesis of Joe Moore (Gene Hackman).

DeVito has an interest in documentaries. In 2006 he began a partnership with Morgan Freeman's company ClickStar, for whom he hosts the documentary channel Jersey Docs. He was also interviewed in the documentary Revenge of the Electric Car, discussing his interest in and ownership of electric vehicles.

Theatre

In April 2012, DeVito made his West End acting debut in a revival of the Neil Simon play The Sunshine Boys as Willie Clark, alongside Richard Griffiths.[11] It previewed at the Savoy Theatre in London from April 27, 2012, opened on May 17, and played a limited 12-week season until July 28.[12]

DeVito made his Broadway debut in a Roundabout Theatre Company revival of the Arthur Miller play The Price as Gregory Solomon, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. The production began preview performances at the American Airlines Theatre on February 16, 2017, and opened on March 16 for a limited run-through on May 7.

Producing

DeVito has become a major film and television producer. DeVito founded Jersey Films in 1991,[13] producing films like Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Erin Brockovich (for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture), Gattaca, and Garden State. In 1999, he produced and co-starred in Man on the Moon, a film about the unusual life of his former Taxi co-star Andy Kaufman, played in the film by Jim Carrey. DeVito also produced the Comedy Central series Reno 911!, the film spin-off Reno 911!: Miami, and the revival on Quibi.[14][15]

Directing

DeVito made his directorial debut in 1984 with The Ratings Game. He then directed and starred in Throw Momma from the Train (1987),[16] The War of the Roses (1989), Hoffa (1992), Matilda (1996), Death to Smoochy (2002) and Duplex (2003). The War of the Roses was a commercial and critical success, as was the film adaptation of Roald Dahl's Matilda; Death to Smoochy and Duplex had mixed reviews.[17] He also directed the TV movie Queen B in 2005.[18]

DeVito has directed eight short films between 1973 and 2016, five of which were released across 2010 and 2011. These are The Sound Sleeper (1973), Minestrone (1975), Oh Those Lips (2010), Evil Eye (2010), Poison Tongue (2011), Skin Deep (2011), Nest of Vipers (2011) and Curmudgeons (2016).

Television and voice-over work

DeVito with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia cast mates Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney at the ceremony for DeVito on August 18, 2011

In 1977, DeVito played the role of John "John John the Apple" DeAppoliso in the Starsky & Hutch episode "The Collector".[11] DeVito gained fame in 1978 playing Louie De Palma, the short but domineering dispatcher for the fictional Sunshine Cab Company, on the hit TV show Taxi.

In 1986, he directed and starred in the black comedy "The Wedding Ring", a season 2 episode of Steven Spielberg's anthology series Amazing Stories, where his character acquires an engagement ring for his wife (played by DeVito's real-life wife, actress Rhea Perlman). When the ring is slipped on his wife's finger, she is possessed by the ring's former owner, a murderous black widow. That year, DeVito also voiced the Grundle King in My Little Pony: The Movie. In 1990, he and Rhea Perlman played the couple Vic & Paula, commenting on the state of the environment in The Earth Day Special. In 1991 and 1992, DeVito voiced Herb Powell in The Simpsons episodes "Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?" and "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?".[19][20] In 2013, he would voice Herb for a third time in the episode "The Changing of the Guardian".[21]

In 1996, he provided the voice of Mr. Swackhammer in Space Jam. In 1997, he was the voice of Philoctetes in the Disney film Hercules.

In 1999, DeVito hosted the last Saturday Night Live episode before the year 2000. He earned a 2004 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for an episode of Friends,[22] following four Emmy nominations (including a 1981 win) for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy for Taxi. In 2006, he joined the cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Frank Reynolds.

In 2011, DeVito received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television.[23] In 2012, he voiced the title character in the animated version of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. He appeared in the Angry Birds Friends "Champions for Earth" tournament advertisement in September 2015. Following the Japanese release of the Nintendo 3DS game Detective Pikachu, dedicated Pokémon fans submitted a 40,000-signature petition requesting that DeVito be the English voice actor for the title character. However, he declined to audition for the role, commenting that he was unfamiliar with the franchise.[24][25]

Appearances in other media

DeVito played a fictional version of himself in the music video of One Direction's song "Steal My Girl".[26][27] He also appeared in the short film Curmudgeons,[28] which he also produced and directed.

In 2021, DeVito wrote a 12-page story centered on the Penguin and Catwoman for the anthology comic Gotham City Villains.[29]

Personal life

DeVito stands 4 feet 10 inches (1.47 metres) tall. His short stature is the result of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (Fairbank's disease), a rare genetic disorder that affects bone growth.[30][31]

DeVito with Rhea Perlman in 2006

On January 17, 1971, DeVito met Rhea Perlman when she went to see a friend in the single performance of the play The Shrinking Bride, which featured DeVito.[32] They moved in together two weeks later[33] and married on January 28, 1982.[34] They have three children: Lucy Chet DeVito (born March 11, 1983), Grace Fan DeVito (born March 1985), and Jacob Daniel DeVito (born October 1987).[35]

Perlman and DeVito have acted alongside each other several times, including in the television show Taxi and the feature film Matilda (where they played Matilda's parents).[35] They separated in October 2012, after 30 years of marriage and over 40 years together,[35] then reconciled in March 2013.[36] They separated for a second time in March 2017, but remained on amicable terms and Perlman stated they had no intent of filing for divorce.[37] In 2019, Perlman told interviewer Andy Cohen that she and DeVito have become closer friends after their separation than they were in their final years as a couple.[38]

DeVito and Perlman resided in a 14,579-square-foot (1,354 m2) house in Beverly Hills, California, that they purchased in 1994, until selling it for US$24 million in April 2015. They also own a bungalow near Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and a multi-residence compound on Broad Beach in Malibu.[39][40] They also frequented a home they owned in Interlaken, New Jersey to get away from Los Angeles.[41]

Politically, DeVito is a Democrat and a staunch supporter of Bernie Sanders.[42]

Filmography

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Main article: Danny DeVito filmography

DeVito has an extensive film career, dating back to the mid-1970s.

Selected work:

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Awards and nominations

DeVito has a large and varied body of work as an actor, producer and director in stage, television and film. He has been nominated for Academy awards, Creative Arts Emmy awards, Golden Globe awards, Primetime Emmy awards, Producers Guild awards, Screen Actors Guild awards and Tony awards. In 2011 he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6909 Hollywood Blvd., for his contributions to television.[43] [44]

Year Title Accolade Results
1979 Taxi Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
1980 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Won
1981 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Won
Going Ape! Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Worst Supporting Actor Nominated
1982 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor Nominated
Taxi Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
1983 Nominated
1985 The Ratings Game CableACE Award for Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Nominated
1987 Ruthless People American Comedy Award for Funniest Lead Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated
1988 Throw Momma from the Train American Comedy Award for Funniest Lead Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated
1989 ShoWest Convention Award for Male Star of the Year Won
1990 The War of the Roses Golden Berlin Bear Nominated
1993 Hoffa Nominated
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director Nominated
Batman Returns Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor Nominated
MTV Movie Award for Best Villain Nominated
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated
1996 Matilda Cinekid Audience Award Won
Get Shorty Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
Matilda Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival Award for Best Film Nominated
1997 Oulu International Children's Film Festival Starboy Award Won
Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical Nominated
1998 The Rainmaker Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor - Drama Nominated
Gattaca Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Picture Nominated
Wag the Dog Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Comedy/Musical Picture Nominated
Hercules Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Voice-Over Performance Nominated
The Rainmaker Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama Nominated
L.A. Confidential Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
1999 Living Out Loud Chlotrudis Award for Best Actor Nominated
2001 Erin Brockovich Academy Award for Best Picture Nominated
BAFTA Award for Best Film Nominated
Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Picture Nominated
Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture Nominated
2004 Friends Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Gold Derby Award for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Taxi TV Land Award for Bossiest Boss Won
2006 Deck the Halls Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Worst On-Screen Couple (shared with Matthew Broderick) Nominated
2007 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor Nominated
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Special Prize for Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema Won
Taxi TV Land Medallion Award Won
2008 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated
2010 Golden Camera Award for Lifetime Achievement - International Won
2011 Critics Choice Television Icon Award Won
2016 Curmudgeons Tribeca Film Festival Award for Best Narrative Short Nominated
2017 Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival Award for Best Short Film Won
The Price Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play Nominated
2018 San Sebastián International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award Won

References

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  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Shaw, David."DeVito! Although He Has a Penchant for Dark Comedies, Actor-Director Danny DeVito Is Serious About His Craft, His Family and His Cigars" Archived 2007-04-04 at the Wayback Machine, Cigar Aficionado profile, accessed May 2, 2007. "Danny DeVito was born in 1944 in the shore town of Neptune, New Jersey—hence the name of his production company—and raised in neighboring Asbury Park, the youngest of five children (two of whom died before he was born)."
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lovece, pp. 53, 80
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Boon, Jon. "Single In The City! Danny DeVito Moving To New York: He Misses The Big Apple!", RadarOnline, October 15, 2012. Accessed January 24, 2023. "Danny and Rhea used to stay at his vacation home in Interlaken, New Jersey whenever they wanted a break away from Los Angeles. He never really felt an affinity to California and lived there purely for work reasons."
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Emmys: Danny De Vito.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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