Danny DeVito is an actor who is known for his many roles. He is someone that various generations love and admire. The actor made his movie debut in the 1970s. Since then he has had a tremendously successful career and has starred in several highly proclaimed movies and television shows including the hit sitcom Taxi.
In 1971, he met his future wife Rhea Perlman while he was working on Broadway.
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DeVito and Perlman both grew up on the east coast. Danny was born in 1944 in Neptune, New Jersey, while Rhea was welcomed to the world four years later in Brooklyn, New York.
Growing up, DeVito was teased because of his height.
“I was plagued; I couldn’t slow-dance with the girls I wanted to because my face would be in a spot where I might be thought of as moving too fast,” he told Far Out Magazine.
Rhea knew she wanted to leave Brooklyn, and eventually moved to Manhattan to attend Hunter College, where she majored in drama.
For DeVito, the road to professional acting is perhaps best described as a kiss from lady luck herself.
He had worked at his sister’s hair salon for two years before taking makeup classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Only, there was a caveat to attending those classes … regardless of what course you were studying at the Academy, you had to perform a monologue.
Low and behold, the teachers were so impressed by DeVito that they suggested that he switch to start acting classes instead. In 1966, he graduated from the American Academy.
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Thus did both Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito start working as actors. Rhea stayed on the east coast doing Off-Broadway plays, while Danny tried his luck in Hollywood. Needless to say, things didn’t end up quite as he thought they would.
“I worked as a car parker, and I hung around the Sunset Strip with all the flower children,” he recalled. “I haShutterstockd long hair, and I wore a raincoat and sneakers, and I fit right in. But I wanted to act.”
In the end, DeVito decided to return to New York City and work in Off-Broadway plays. Then, in 1970, Rhea and Danny’s paths crossed for the first time.
One night, Rhea and her friend went to see an Off-Broadway play Danny DeVito happened to be starring in. He played the role of a demented stable boy who could only speak in monosyllables. For her part, Rhea found it very attractive.
“He sang a song that didn’t make any sense at all,” Rhea told The Daily Times in 1983. “It was like a mating call. I knew I had to meet him if he wasn’t married. So we arranged a date.”
Rhea and Danny DeVito went out after the show and and immediately hit it off.
“He was a lot more fun and a lot more sexy,” Rhea told People in 1983.
“She was vibrant, with a great sense of humor, and real warm,” Danny added.
They were romantically involved with one another for quite a while before they decided to tie the knot in 1982. The year following their wedding, they welcomed their eldest daughter Lucy Grace.
In 1985, they welcomed their second daughter Grace Fan, and their last and youngest child, their son Jake in 1987.
In 2017, after 35 years of marriage, the couple suddenly announced their separation. People could not believe it since the couple seemed to get along so well with one another.
They have not finalized a divorce yet. And despite separating, they maintain a cordial relationship in order to be the best parents they can possibly be to their children.
Their eldest daughter Lucy has often talked about how lucky she feels because her parents understand her struggle as an actor. She said, “I feel so lucky because [when] a lot of my friends who are actors go through the ups and downs, their families don’t understand how hard it can be.” Adding, “With my parents, I am so close with them. It’s amazing [that] I can go to my parents for advice.
All three of Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman’s children followed in their parent’s footsteps.
Lucy Chet DeVito graduated with a theater degree from Brown University. Before she had even completed her degree, she appeared in minor roles with credits on her father’s hit television show It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
In 2022, she was interviewed on The Rich Eisen Show and she talked about her parents, singing their praises.
“They’re amazing parents, and they’re in the spotlight, of course,” Lucy said. “And everyone knows who they are, but they’re very down-to-earth people.”
In 2016, she played DeVito’s daughter in the film The Comedian. Danny on his end also adores working with his little girl. He shared in an interview, “I just adore working with Lucy. We’ve been working together since she was this big.”
As for their secondborn daughter Grace, she also followed in her parents’ footsteps with a career in Hollywood but she prefers to stay behind the camera instead of in front of it.
But she does act as well and has acting credits for 2015 movie Amboy and the 2017 TV series Jeff & Some Aliens.
Even with a Hollywood career, she manages to keep a low profile. In September 2003, she joined her family on the red carpet for an event in New York City and also showed up at the premiere of the series Kirstie in December 2013.
And their third and youngest child is their son Jake who also has a Hollywood career. He made his acting debut in 2014, with a minor role in the film The Better Angeles.
He also showed off his acting skills in the movie Curmudgeon which was directed and produced by his father. Over the years he has worked in sound, camera, and electrical departments for many movies and projects.