- Danny DeVito
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Danny DeVito 
DeVito at a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in August 2011Born Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr.
November 17, 1944
Neptune Township, New Jersey, U.S.Occupation Actor, comedian, director, producer Years active 1970–present Spouse Rhea Perlman
(1982–present)
3 childrenDaniel Michael DeVito, Jr. (born November 17, 1944), better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi (1978–1983), for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.
DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman, founded Jersey Films, a production company known for films such as Pulp Fiction, Garden State, and Freedom Writers. DeVito also owns Jersey Television, which produced the Comedy Central series Reno 911!. DeVito and Perlman also starred together in his 1996 film Matilda, based on Roald Dahl's children's novel. He currently stars as Frank Reynolds on the FX sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
He also has a website called "The Blood Factory.com" where he produces very graphic horror short films, many of which he or other members of his family star in.
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Early life
DeVito was born in Neptune Township, New Jersey, the son of Julia, a homemaker, and Daniel Michael DeVito, Sr., who owned several small businesses, including a dry cleaning store, a dairy outlet, a luncheonette, and a pool hall.[1][2] DeVito is of Italian descent and was raised a Roman Catholic,[3] growing up in Asbury Park.[4] He boarded at Oratory Preparatory School, in Summit, New Jersey, graduating in 1962, and subsequently trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, from which he graduated in 1966.
Film acting career
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 name. He 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. After Taxi ended, DeVito began a successful film career, starting with roles in 1983's Terms of Endearment, and as the comic rogue in the romantic adventure Romancing the Stone, starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, and its 1985 sequel, The Jewel of the Nile. 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. Two years later, DeVito reunited with Douglas and Turner in The War of the Roses, which he directed and in which he co-starred.
DeVito's work during this time includes Other People's Money with Gregory Peck, director Barry Levinson's Tin Men as a competitive rival salesman to Richard Dreyfuss' character, two co-starring vehicles with Arnold Schwarzenegger (the comedies Twins and Junior), and playing The Penguin as a deformed sociopath in director Tim Burton's Batman Returns (1992).
DeVito at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2010
Although generally a comic actor, DeVito expanded into dramatic roles with The Rainmaker, Hoffa (1992), which he directed and in which he co-starred with Jack Nicholson, Jack the Bear (1993), L.A. Confidential, The Big Kahuna, and Heist (2001), as a gangster nemesis to Gene Hackman's character.
DeVito has an interest in documentaries: In 2006, he began a partnership with Morgan Freeman's company ClickStar, on which he hosts a documentary channel called Jersey Docs.
One notable feature about DeVito is that he is recognized for his short stature (approximately 5 feet or 150 centimetres).[5]
Producing
DeVito has become a major film and television producer. Through Jersey Films, he has produced many films, including Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Erin Brockovich (for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture), Gattaca, and Garden State.
In 1999, DeVito produced and co-starred in Man on the Moon, a film about the unusual life of his former Taxi co-star, Andy Kaufman, who was played in the film by Jim Carrey. DeVito also produced the Comedy Central series Reno 911!, as well as the film spin off Reno 911!: Miami.
Directing
DeVito has directed the following motion pictures:
- Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
- The War of the Roses (1989)
- Hoffa (1992)
- Matilda (1996)
- Death to Smoochy (2002)
- Duplex (2003)
DeVito is due to start filming his latest feature Charlotte Doyle early next year. The feature will be shot on location around Ireland and will feature actors Pierce Brosnan and Morgan Freeman[6]
His films often have a bizarre, neo-surrealistic sensibility and gallows humor, though these elements were absent in the straightforward Hoffa biopic. The approach served him well at times, especially in The War of the Roses, a commercial and critical success, as well as Matilda, where it matched the style of Roald Dahl's story of a young girl and a strict teacher; however, his last two films, Death to Smoochy and Duplex, have not been as financially successful.[7]
Television and voice over work
DeVito at the Beverly Hills Film Festival, 2008In 1977 DeVito played the role of John John "the apple" in the Starsky and Hutch episode titled "The Collector." In 1986, DeVito directed and starred in an episode of Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories. In the black comedy episode from season two, titled "The Wedding Ring", DeVito acquires an engagement ring for his wife (played by his real-life wife, actress Rhea Perlman). When the ring is slipped on his wife's finger, she becomes possessed by the ring's former owner, a murderous black widow.
In addition to his Taxi work, DeVito voiced Herb Powell, Homer Simpson's half-brother, on two episodes of The Simpsons. In 1997, he was the voice of the goatman Philoctetes in the 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, following four Emmy nominations (including a 1981 win) for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy, for Taxi. In 2006, DeVito joined the cast of the FX Networks television series 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.[8]
DeVito will star as The Lorax in The Lorax. The film is targeted for a March 2, 2012 release, the 108th birthday of Dr. Seuss, who died at 87 in 1991.
Personal life
DeVito married actress Rhea Perlman on January 28, 1982.[9] They have three children: Lucy Chet DeVito (born March 1983), Grace Fan DeVito (born March 1985) and Jacob Daniel DeVito (born October 1987). The family lives in Beverly Hills, California, and have a vacation home in Interlaken, New Jersey.[10] His daughter Lucy starred as Anne Frank in a production of Anne Frank at the INTIMAN Theatre in Seattle, Washington, in 2008.
DeVito is a staunch Democrat, and a supporter of the OneVoice Movement, a non-profit organization that strives to help moderate Israelis and Palestinians to take a more assertive role in resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He is also a member of the steering committee of the Friends of the Apollo, along with his wife and filmmaker Jonathan Demme.[11]
DeVito co-owns a restaurant called DeVito South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida.
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes 1971 Lady Liberty Fred Mancuso 1972 Hot Dogs for Gauguin Adrian 1973 Hurry Up, Or I'll Be 30 Petey Also known as I Am Waiting No More 1975 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Martini 1976 Car Wash Joe 1977 The Van Andy 1978 Goin' South Hog, Moon's Old Gang 1981 Going Ape! Lazlo Nominated - Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor 1983 Terms of Endearment Vernon Dahlart 1984 Romancing the Stone Ralph The Ratings Game Vic De Salvo Showtime Directing debut Johnny Dangerously Burr 1985 The Jewel of the Nile Ralph Head Office Dicks 1986 Wise Guys Harry Valentini Ruthless People Sam Stone Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy My Little Pony: The Movie The Grundle King Voice 1987 Throw Momma from the Train Owen Lift Director
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyTin Men Ernest Tilley 1988 Twins Vincent Benedict 1989 The War of the Roses Gavin D'Amato Director
Nominated — Golden Bear (Berlin)[12]1991 Other People's Money Larry Garfield 1992 Batman Returns The Penguin
Nominated — Razzie Award for Worst Supporting ActorHoffa Bobby Ciaro Producer, Director
Nominated — Golden Bear (Berlin)[13]1993 Jack the Bear John Leary Last Action Hero Whiskers Voice, Uncredited Look Who's Talking Now Rox Voice 1994 Reality Bites N/A Producer Junior Dr. Larry Arbogast Pulp Fiction N/A Executive producer Renaissance Man Bill Rago 1995 Get Shorty Martin Weir Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 1996 Mars Attacks! Rude Gambler Matilda Harry Wormwood Director, Producer, Narrator
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion PictureSpace Jam Mr. Swackhammer Voice 1997 The Rainmaker Deck Shifflet Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture Gattaca N/A Producer Hercules Philoctetes Voice L.A. Confidential Sid Hudgens Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 1998 Living Out Loud Pat Francato Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Actor 1999 The Big Kahuna Phil Cooper Man on the Moon George Shapiro Producer The Virgin Suicides Dr. Hornicker 2000 Drowning Mona Wyatt Rash Erin Brockovich N/A Producer
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Picture
Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best PictureHow High N/A Producer Screwed Grover Cleaver 2001 Heist Bergman What's the Worst That Could Happen? Max Fairbanks 2002 Austin Powers in Goldmember Cameo in film "Austinpussy" Death to Smoochy Burke Bennet Director 2003 Anything Else Harvey Wexler Big Fish Amos Calloway Camp N/A Producer Duplex N/A Director and Narrator (aka Our House in UK) 2004 Christmas in Love Brad LaGuardia Garden State N/A Producer Friends Officer Goodbody Guest Actor
Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series2005 Be Cool Martin Weir Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Booth 2006–present It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Frank Reynolds 2006 Relative Strangers Frank Menure Even Money Walter The Oh in Ohio Wayne Deck the Halls Buddy Hall 2007 The Good Night Mel Reno 911!: Miami District Attorney Also producer Just Add Water Merl Nobel Son Gastner 2009 House Broken Cathkart Solitary Man Jimmy 2010 When in Rome Al 2011 Girl Walks Into a Bar Aldo 2012 The Lorax The Lorax Voice role The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle N/A Director, Screenwriter
in productionReferences
- ^ "Danny DeVito Biography - Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. 1944-11-17. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800019132/bio. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
- ^ "Danny DeVito Biography (1944-)". Filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/91/Danny-DeVito.html. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
- ^ "Kevin Spacey and Danny DeVito". Reel.com. http://reel.com/reel.asp?node=features/interviews/kahuna. Retrieved 2010-02-10.[dead link]
- ^ 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", 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)."
- ^ "Danny DeVito Biography - IMDB". imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000362/bio. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
- ^ "Morgan Freeman & Pierce Brosnan in Danny DeVito's 'Charlotte Doyle', Filming in Ireland 2012". IFTN. http://iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4284238&tpl=archnews&force=1. Retrieved 09 September 2011.
- ^ "Danny DeVito Movie Box Office Results". Boxofficemojo.com. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Director&id=dannydevito.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
- ^ "Danny DeVito gets star on Hollywood Walk". KTAR.com. Associated Press (Bonneville International). August 18, 2011. http://ktar.com/category/tv-news-articles/20110819/Danny-DeVito-gets-star-on-Hollywood-Walk/. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
- ^ "Danny DeVito & Rhea Perlman Sell Up On Their Anniversary". starpulse.com. 29 Jan 2007. http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/01/29/danny_devito_aamp_rhea_perlman_sell_up_o. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ "Monmouth County, New Jersey Tax Assessor's Office property record for Danny De Vito and Rhea Perlman". Tax1.co.monmouth.nj.us. http://tax1.co.monmouth.nj.us/cgi-bin/m4.cgi?&district=1322&block=13&lot=16&qual=. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
- ^ "Friends of the Apollo". Oberlin College. http://new.oberlin.edu/apollo/friends.dot. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "Berlinale: 1990 Programme". berlinale.de. http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1990/02_programm_1990/02_Programm_1990.html. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
- ^ "Berlinale: 1993 Programme". berlinale.de. http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1993/02_programm_1993/02_Programm_1993.html. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
External links
- Danny DeVito at the Internet Movie Database
- Danny DeVito at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Danny DeVito on Charlie Rose
- Danny DeVito's Guest DJ Set on KCRW KCRW Guest DJ Set
Films directed by Danny DeVito 1980s 1990s 2000s Death to Smoochy (2002) · Duplex (2003)Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Comedy Series (1976–2000) Ted Knight (1976) · Gary Burghoff (1977) · Rob Reiner (1978) · Robert Guillaume (1979) · Harry Morgan (1980) · Danny DeVito (1981) · Christopher Lloyd (1982) · Christopher Lloyd (1983) · Pat Harrington, Jr. (1984) · John Larroquette (1985) · John Larroquette (1986) · John Larroquette (1987) · John Larroquette (1988) · Woody Harrelson (1989) · Alex Rocco (1990) · Jonathan Winters (1991) · Michael Jeter (1992) · Michael Richards (1993) · Michael Richards (1994) · David Hyde Pierce (1995) · Rip Torn (1996) · Michael Richards (1997) · David Hyde Pierce (1998) · David Hyde Pierce (1999) · Sean Hayes (2000)
Complete List · (1954–1975) · (1976–2000) · (2001–2025) Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1970–1989) James Brolin (1970) · Edward Asner (1971) · James Brolin (1972) · McLean Stevenson (1973) · Harvey Korman (1974) · Edward Asner/Tim Conway (1975) · Edward Asner (1976) · Norman Fell (1978) · Danny DeVito/Vic Tayback (1979) · Pat Harrington, Jr./Vic Tayback (1980) · John Hillerman (1981) · Lionel Stander (1982) · Richard Kiley (1983) · Paul Le Mat (1984) · Edward James Olmos (1985) · Jan Niklas (1986) · Rutger Hauer (1987) · Barry Bostwick/John Gielgud (1988) · Dean Stockwell (1989)
Complete List · (1970–1989) · (1990–2009) · (2010–2029) Categories:- 1944 births
- Actors from New Jersey
- American film actors
- American film directors
- American film directors of Italian descent
- American film producers
- American people of Italian descent
- American television actors
- American television producers
- American voice actors
- Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (television) winners
- Emmy Award winners
- Living people
- New Jersey Democrats
- People from Neptune Township, New Jersey
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