01of 15Danny DeVito’s Early YearsSeth Poppel/Yearbook LibraryBorn on Nov. 17, 1944,Danny DeVitogrew up in Ashley Park, New Jersey, with his mother, father and two sisters. He found acting through a pursuit of stage makeup, having learned to be a beautician while working at his sister’s salon. The 4-ft., 10-in. actor fell in love with theater and performed in Off-Broadway productions throughout the 1960s and early 1970s.
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Danny DeVito’s Early Years
Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library
Born on Nov. 17, 1944,Danny DeVitogrew up in Ashley Park, New Jersey, with his mother, father and two sisters. He found acting through a pursuit of stage makeup, having learned to be a beautician while working at his sister’s salon. The 4-ft., 10-in. actor fell in love with theater and performed in Off-Broadway productions throughout the 1960s and early 1970s.
02of 15Best FriendsAdam Scull/REX/Shutterstock"That’s my wonderful Mikey," DeVito told PEOPLE in 2019 of longtime pal and four-time costarMichael Douglas, who was his roommate in 1960s New York. “I still talk to him all the time — I wonder whatever happened to that scarf?” he added of their throwback shot.
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Best Friends
Adam Scull/REX/Shutterstock
“That’s my wonderful Mikey,” DeVito told PEOPLE in 2019 of longtime pal and four-time costarMichael Douglas, who was his roommate in 1960s New York. “I still talk to him all the time — I wonder whatever happened to that scarf?” he added of their throwback shot.
03of 15Going CuckooCourtesy Everett Collection"Jack and I are still buddies," said DeVito (pictured withJack Nicholsonmaking 1975’sOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest). They shot the film in a real mental hospital: “We wanted to sleep there overnight, but they wouldn’t let us.”
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Going Cuckoo
Courtesy Everett Collection
“Jack and I are still buddies,” said DeVito (pictured withJack Nicholsonmaking 1975’sOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest). They shot the film in a real mental hospital: “We wanted to sleep there overnight, but they wouldn’t let us.”
04of 15Love and WarSnap/REX/ShutterstockAfter working together onRomancing the StoneandJewel of the Nile, DeVito directed Douglas andKathleen Turnerin 1989’sThe War of the Roses. “Mikey and Kathleen and I [together] again,” he said in the same 2019 chat with PEOPLE. “Look at that; what a couple!”
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Love and War
Snap/REX/Shutterstock
After working together onRomancing the StoneandJewel of the Nile, DeVito directed Douglas andKathleen Turnerin 1989’sThe War of the Roses. “Mikey and Kathleen and I [together] again,” he said in the same 2019 chat with PEOPLE. “Look at that; what a couple!”
05of 15The Greatest RoleJim Smeal/BEI/REX/ShutterstockDeVito shares three kids with his exRhea Perlman:Lucy, 39, Grace, 37, and Jacob, 35. Lucy, Jacob and their father currently work together on FXX’s animated comedyLittle Demons. DeVito and his eldest voice characters Satan and Chrissy, and both Lucy and Jacob are executive producers on the show.
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The Greatest Role
Jim Smeal/BEI/REX/Shutterstock
DeVito shares three kids with his exRhea Perlman:Lucy, 39, Grace, 37, and Jacob, 35. Lucy, Jacob and their father currently work together on FXX’s animated comedyLittle Demons. DeVito and his eldest voice characters Satan and Chrissy, and both Lucy and Jacob are executive producers on the show.
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Still Friends
Universal/courtesy Everett Collection
After 35 years of marriage, Perlman and Devito separated in 2017. However the two haveremained closedespite their breakup. “We’re friends,” said the actor. “We’re happy. Everybody’s happy.”
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Feathered Fiend
DeVito played the Penguin in 1992’sBatman Returns, the first of four collaborations with director Tim Burton. “It was an operatic, wonderful experience,” the actor said, speaking to PEOPLE in 2019.
08of 15Magical MatildaTriStar/courtesy Everett Collection"My kids brought the book to me," DeVito said of making the Roald Dahl classicMatildawith Perlman and Mara Wilson (center) in 1996. “We read it at bedtime, and I thought, ‘Boy, this would make a good movie!'”
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Magical Matilda
TriStar/courtesy Everett Collection
“My kids brought the book to me,” DeVito said of making the Roald Dahl classicMatildawith Perlman and Mara Wilson (center) in 1996. “We read it at bedtime, and I thought, ‘Boy, this would make a good movie!'”
09of 15The Taxi TeamMarilu Henner and Tony Danza on Taxi.Everett"Taxiwas the launchpad," said DeVito of the iconic series. The cast (from left) of Judd Hirsch,Marilu Henner,Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman andChristopher Lloyd, “was very social. We had incredible Friday-night parties on the Paramount lot everybody was invited to.”
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The Taxi Team
Marilu Henner and Tony Danza on Taxi.Everett
“Taxiwas the launchpad,” said DeVito of the iconic series. The cast (from left) of Judd Hirsch,Marilu Henner,Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman andChristopher Lloyd, “was very social. We had incredible Friday-night parties on the Paramount lot everybody was invited to.”
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The Odd Couple
HisTwinspalArnold Schwarzeneggertried to sabotage his diet during filming. “He’d send pastries to my trailer just to bust my chops,” DeVito told PEOPLE.
11of 15Major ProductionSGranitz/WireImageDeVito worked behind the camera in the 2000 legal dramaErin Brockovich. His production work on the film earned the Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
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Major Production
SGranitz/WireImage
DeVito worked behind the camera in the 2000 legal dramaErin Brockovich. His production work on the film earned the Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
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Shining Star
Stewart Cook/Shutterstock
13of 15Sunny and FunnyRob McElhenney, Danny DeVito, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.Patrick McElhenney/FXX"With Matilda I have young fans," said DeVito, who currently stars on the long-running seriesIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. “Now I have my crazySunnyfan base, whom I love.”
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Sunny and Funny
Rob McElhenney, Danny DeVito, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.Patrick McElhenney/FXX
“With Matilda I have young fans,” said DeVito, who currently stars on the long-running seriesIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. “Now I have my crazySunnyfan base, whom I love.”
14of 15Speaking for the TreesSimon Burchell/Getty ImagesIn 2012, DeVito lent his voice to the titular character in the animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’The Lorax.
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Speaking for the Trees
Simon Burchell/Getty Images
In 2012, DeVito lent his voice to the titular character in the animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’The Lorax.
15of 15Doing DumboDanny DeVito, Nico Parker and Colin Farrell inDumbo.Jay Maidment/DisneyDeVito (with Nico Parker andColin Farrell) played a circus owner in his 2019 movieDumbo. “It’s about being different and embracing your strengths,” he told PEOPLE around the time of its release, reflecting on the classic story. “All the great things we like to tell our kids.”
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Doing Dumbo
Danny DeVito, Nico Parker and Colin Farrell inDumbo.Jay Maidment/Disney
DeVito (with Nico Parker andColin Farrell) played a circus owner in his 2019 movieDumbo. “It’s about being different and embracing your strengths,” he told PEOPLE around the time of its release, reflecting on the classic story. “All the great things we like to tell our kids.”
source: people.com
