Danny Michael DeVito, Jr, famous for his role in TV serial Taxi (1978-1983), is an American actor and filmmaker. He won Golden Globe Award and an Emmy award for his role and performance in the series. Danny is also famous for his performance in films like Tin Men, Be Cool, Ruthless People, Man on the Moon, Big Fish and many more.
The early life of Devito
Danny was born on 17 November 1944, in Neptune Township, New Jersey to Daniel, Sr. and Julia DeVito. He was brought up in Asbury Park, New Jersey with his two older sisters Theresa Scialla and Angela Lucia. Danny’s family is originally from San Fele, Basilicata and his decent is Italian.
Danny attended Oratory Preparatory School and later went to a boarding school in Summit, New Jersey from where he graduated in 1962. He was raised as a Catholic and at the age of 14, he went to a boarding school. Later, after his graduation, he went on to attend American Academy of Dramatic Arts and graduated from there in 1966.
Before his career professionally began, he performed at the Eugene O’Neil Theatre Center in Waterford with the Colonnades Theater Lab. He also appeared in plays with his now wife Rhea Perlman.
DeVito’s Career
In the 1975 film One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, he played the reprising role of Martini from the 1971 off-Broadway play. His career took off following his role in the hit TV show Taxi; he played the role of Louie De Palma in the TV show. He then starred in Romancing the Stone alongside Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
Danny starred in Ruthless People in 1986 with Bette Midler and Judge Reinhold. In 1987, in the dark comedy Throw Momma from the Train, Danny made his feature-directing debut where he starred along with Billy Crystal and Anne Ramsey.
Later, Danny united with Douglas and Turner and directed and co-starred in The War of the Roses. He also appeared in Tin Men, which was directed by Barry Levinson. He also appeared in Batman Returns as the deformed sociopath The Penguin. He also starred in the film adoption of Matilda, where he portrayed the role of Matilda’s father and a villainous car dealer.
Devito's other movies include The Rainmaker (1997), Hoffa (1992), Jack the Bear ( 1993), L.A. Confidential, The Big Kahuna and Heist.
He began a partnership with Morgan Freeman’s company ClickStar to host a documentary channel Jersey Docs due to his interest in documentaries. Danny was also interviewed about his interest in electric cars in the documentary Revenge of the Electric Car.
In April 2012, in a revival of the Neil Simon play The Sunshine Boys, he made his West End acting debut. Through Jersey Films, Danny has produced many films which include Garden State, Gattaca, Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Erin Brockovich. He also produced the comedy series Reno 911! And Reno 911!: Miami.
In 1984, Danny made his directing debut with The Rating Game, which was followed by The War of the Roses, Matilda, Death to Smoochy, Duplex. In 2005, DeVito directed the film named Queen B.
Danny’s Television and voice-over work
DeVito played the role of John DeAppoliso in the Starsky and Hutch. He also starred and directed in an episode of Amazing Stories.
In 1986, Danny voiced in My Little Pony: The Movie as The Grundle King and his wife voiced the witch Reeka. He also voiced in the episodes of ‘Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?’ and ‘Ooh Brother, Where Art Thou?’ of The Simpsons. Danny also voiced the character named Philoctetes in the film Hercules.
Danny received an Emmy award nomination in 2004 for his outstanding guest role in an episode of Friends. Likewise, Danny joined the cast of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia in 2006 as Frank Reynolds.
Personal life of DeVito
DeVito met his now wife Rhea Perlman on January 17, 1971, when she went to see a friend in the play The Shrinking Bride which featured DeVito. After two weeks of meeting, they moved in together and got married on January 28, 1982. They are blessed with three children, and two daughters: Lucy Chet DeVito (B. March 11, 1983), Grace Fan DeVito (B. March 1985) and a son Jacob Daniel DeVito (B. Ooctober 1987).
Rhea and Danny have starred in many films together which includes TV show Taxi, Matilda. However, the pair separated in October 2012 after 40 years of togetherness and 30 years of marriage.
They reconciled in March 2013 but again separated for the second time in March 2017. Danny mentioned in an episode of CBS Sunday Morning on March 26, 2017, that although they have separated they have no plans for getting a divorce.
DeVito’s earnings and net worth
Danny stands 4 feet 10 inches(height). His nationality is American. With his successful career, Danny has a net worth of $70 million.
Danny and Rhea resided in a house worth $18 millions until they sold it for $24 million in April 2015. DeVito also owned a hotel under a name DeVito South Beach, which was closed in 2011. Likewise, Devito endorsed democratic socialist Bernie Sanders for President in March 2016. Similarly, he also endorsed Jeremy Corbyn’s 2016 campaign in the Labour Party Leadership election in July 2016.
