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Danny DeVito

Acting

Born November 17, 1944 · Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA

Also known as Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. · Danny De Vito · Ντάνι Ντε Βίτο

Biography

Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. (born November 17, 1944) is an American actor, comedian, director, and producer. He first gained prominence as the irascible dispatcher Louie De Palma on Taxi, for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy. He plays Frank Reynolds on the long-running sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2006 - present). In film, DeVito is known for his roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Terms of Endearment (1983), Head Office (1985), Ruthless People (1986), Twins (1988), Batman Returns (1992), Jack the Bear (1993), Junior (1994), 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). DeVito has voiced characters in numerous animated films including Space Jam (1996), Hercules (1997), The Lorax (2012), Smallfoot (2018), and Migration (2023). He both directed and starred in several films such as Throw Momma from the Train (1987), The War of the Roses (1989), Matilda (1996), and Death to Smoochy (2002). He has served as a producer on notable films such as Reality Bites (1994), Pulp Fiction (1994), Gattaca (1997), Erin Brockovich (2000), and Garden State (2004). DeVito married actress Rhea Perlman in 1982; they have three children. The couple separated in 2012.

Awards & recognition

  • New Jersey Hall of Fame · 2010
  • Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series · 1981
  • star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
  • Academy AwardBest Picture · 2001 · nominated
  • European Film AwardBest Non-European Film · 2000 · nominated
Show all 6 awards →
  • Golden Raspberry AwardWorst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award · 1982 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

Rick and Morty

2013as Dr. Dogballs (voice)

Pulp Fiction

1994Executive Producer

A Very Sunny Christmas

2009as Frank Reynolds

Friends

1994as Roy

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

1975as Martini

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

2005as Frank Reynolds

Saturday Night Live in the '80s: Lost and Found

2005as Self

The Simpsons

1989as Herbert Powell (voice)

Arnold

2023as Self

Freedom Writers

2007Producer

Welcome to Wrexham

2022as Self

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

2014as Chemist

Big Fish

2003as Amos Calloway

L.A. Confidential

1997as Sid Hudgens

The Larry Sanders Show

1992as Danny DeVito

Gattaca

1997Producer

Little Demon

2022as Satan (voice)

Abbott Elementary

2021as Frank

The Kominsky Method

2018as Dr. Wexler

Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond

2017as Self

Hercules

1997as Philoctetes (voice)

Amazing Stories

1985as Herbert

Migration

2023as Uncle Dan (voice)

Minions & More 2

2022as The Lorax (voice)

The One and Only Ivan

2020as Bob (voice)

Erin Brockovich

2000Producer

Thank You Very Much

2023as Self

Taxi

1978as Louie De Palma

Starsky & Hutch

1975as John John the Apple / John DeAppoliso

Revenge of the Electric Car

2011as Self (EV1 Driver)

The Graham Norton Show

2007as Self

Reno 911!

2003as Danny DeVito

Man on the Moon

1999as George Shapiro

Men in Black

1997as Alien on TV Monitor (uncredited)

Matilda

1996as Harry Wormwood / Narrator (voice)

Garden State

2004Executive Producer

The Virgin Suicides

1999as Dr. Horniker

Mad TV

1995as Self

Terms of Endearment

1983as Vernon Dahlart

Minions & More 1

2022as The Lorax (voice)

The Fixies: Top Secret

2017Other

The Rainmaker

1997as Deck Shifflet

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

2024as Janitor

StoryBots: Answer Time

2022as Giuseppe

Jumanji: The Next Level

2019as Eddie

Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story

2015as Self

The Pentagon Wars

1998Executive Producer

Batman Returns

1992as Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin

The War of the Roses

1989as Gavin D'Amato

Saturday Night Live

1975as Self - Host