Many in the entertainment world are dropping the platform
Danny DeVito is one of the entertainment industry's most versatile individuals, excelling as actor, producer, and director. Indeed, he is as comfortable on stage as he is in film and television. While he is known for his comedic roles, the award-winning actor is equally compelling in more dramatic productions. Now on the cusp of his eighth decade, the diminutive star shows no signs of slowing down. In fact his latest movie has recently been released.
To celebrate his life and career so far, click through this gallery for a review of the work of one of the biggest little actors in Hollywood.
Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. was born on November 17, 1944, in Neptune Township, New Jersey. He studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he graduated in 1966.
Appearances on stage off-Broadway were followed by early roles in cinema, including costarring in the 1973 comedy, 'Hurry Up, or I'll Be 30.'
Danny DeVito's appearance in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' was in fact a reprisal of his role from the 1971 off-Broadway play of the same title and further elevated the actor's Hollywood profile.
However, it was with his role as dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television sitcom 'Taxi' that DeVito achieved wider fame, adding Emmy and Golden Globe awards into the bargain.
The pint-sized actor is all smiles after accepting an Emmy Award at the 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 1981 for his role in 'Taxi.'
'Taxi' opened all sorts of doors for DeVito and led to a successful film career. He had a costarring role in 'Terms of Endearment,' appearing alongside the likes of Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson, and Debra Winger.
In 1971 DeVito met American actress Rhea Perlman while he was performing in an Off-Broadway show. They married in 1982 and subsequently had three children together. The pair separated in 2017 but have remained on amicable terms.
The romantic adventure 'Romancing the Stone' (1984) brought together DeVito, Michael Douglas, and Kathleen Turner. The sequel, 'The Jewel of the Nile,' starred the same trio.
DeVito first met Michael Douglas in the late 1960s at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut. The pair are lifelong friends and collaborators, having worked together on numerous film projects.
The hit comedies 'Throw Momma from the Train'(1987), which also marked the actor's feature film directorial debut, and 1988's 'Twins' endeared Danny DeVito to movie audiences around the world in the late 1980s.
DeVito put in a star turn as the Penguin in Tim Burton's 'Batman Returns,' released in 1992. The actor was lauded for his energy, unique characterization, and ability to convey his character's pathos.
'Get Shorty' was a critical and commercial success, with DeVito on fine form and being nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. His costar, John Travolta, received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Choosing to direct and star in 'Matilda,' DeVito's version of the Roald Dahl novel of the same name, met with favor from audiences and critics alike. The movie costarred his wife, Rhea Perlman.
DeVito brought to the screen a powerful supporting role in Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Rainmaker.' The film, starring Matt Damon, received positive reviews from critics.
Once again abandoning his comedy persona for a dramatic role, Danny DeVito's appearance as tabloid journalist Sid Hudgens in 'L.A. Confidential' was an essential element of the plotline. His efforts garnered a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
The actor's ability to meld comedy and drama won praise from critics in 'Living Out Loud,' which costars Holly Hunter. The film is noted for DeVito's turn at singing, a rendition of 'They Can't Take That Away from Me.'
With Erin Brockovich, DeVito chose to take a back seat as producer. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
The new millennium saw Danny DeVito working both sides of the camera. He was part of an ensemble cast in Tim Burton's fantasy drama 'Big Fish' in 2003 before producing and appearing in 2005's 'Be Cool.'
Premiering on FX in 2005 and currently airing on FXX, 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' sees Danny DeVito on the small screen in a series that has run for more seasons than any other American live-action sitcom.
In 2012 Danny DeVito lent his voice to the character Lorax, a mystical orange furry humanoid creature with a yellow moustache, in the animated musical comedy 'The Lorex.'
Following Lorax was 'Wiener-Dog.' DeVito was part of an ensemble cast in this anthology comedy, working alongside the likes of Ellen Burstyn and Julie Delpy.
Tim Burton's 'Dumbo' brought together a zany cast of characters played by the likes of Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Eva Green, and Alan Arkin. Danny DeVito's role is as ringmaster Maximilian "Max" Medici.
The same year, 2019, DeVito appeared in 'Jumanji: The Next Level,' ably supporting Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan.
In 'Haunted Mansion,' Danny DeVito's character is a college historian who helps exorcise the ghostly inhabitants of the titular mansion.
In fact, 2023 was a busy year for the actor. After 'Haunted Mansion' had wrapped, DeVito made 'Poolman' with Chris Pine, who also directed the movie. He then voiced the character of Uncle Dan in the animated feature 'Migration.'
Danny DeVito arrived for the 75th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on January 15, 2024, cutting a dapper figure on the red carpet.
On March 10, 2024, DeVito joined his "twin," Arnold Schwarzenegger, on stage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, California.
On October 21, 2024, DeVito, suitably dressed down, attended the Los Angeles premiere of 'Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band' at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, on the cusp of his 80th birthday, cinema audiences can enjoy Danny DeVito's latest movie, 'A Sudden Case of Christmas,' which was released on November 7, 2024.
Sources: (Britannica) (Biography)
See also: Who are the tallest women in Hollywood?
A short history of Danny DeVito
The actor turned 80 on November 17, 2024
CELEBRITY Movies
Danny DeVito is one of the entertainment industry's most versatile individuals, excelling as actor, producer, and director. Indeed, he is as comfortable on stage as he is in film and television. While he is known for his comedic roles, the award-winning actor is equally compelling in more dramatic productions. Now on the cusp of his eighth decade, the diminutive star shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, his latest movie has recently been released.
To celebrate his life and career so far, click through this gallery for a review of the work of one of the biggest little actors in Hollywood.