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Daniel Michael DeVito (born November 17, 1944) is an Emmy Award-winning American actor, a director, and an Oscar-nominated producer, who first gained prominence for his portrayal of "Louie De Palma" on the popular ABC and NBC TV series, Taxi (1978–1983). Because this sitcom was not widely distributed abroad, he is known primarily for his movie work in most other countries.

Biography

DeVito was born in Neptune, New Jersey to Italian-American Catholic parents. He boarded at Oratory Preparatory School, in Summit, New Jersey, graduating in 1961. He married actress Rhea Perlman on January 28, 1982. They have three children, Lucy Chet DeVito (born March 1983), Grace Fan DeVito (born March 1985) and Jacob Daniel DeVito (born October 1987).

After Taxi, DeVito launched a successful movie career, beginning as the comic rogue in the 1984 romantic adventure Romancing the Stone, starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. All three reprised their roles in the 1985 sequel, The Jewel of the Nile. In 1987, DeVito made his feature directing debut on dark comedy Throw Momma from the Train, in which he additionally starred, opposite Billy Crystal and Anne Ramsey. Two years later. DeVito reunited with Douglas and Turner to direct and star with them in the The War of the Roses.

Other notable work during this time includes director Barry Levinson's Tin Men, two co-starring vehicles with Arnold Schwarzenegger, the comedies Twins and Junior, and the villain The Penguin in director Tim Burton's Batman Returns (1992).

Although generally a comic actor, DeVito expanded into drama with such movies as Hoffa (1992), which he directed and in which co-starred with Jack Nicholson; L.A. Confidential as a nosy reporter (1997); The Big Kahuna as a compassionate salesman (1999); and Heist (2001), as a gangster nemesis to Gene Hackman.

Producer

In addition to acting, DeVito has become a major film and television producer. Through his production company, Jersey Films, he has produced many movies, including Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Erin Brockovich, and Garden State. Devito has also produced the Comedy Central series Reno 911!.

In 1999, Devito produced and co-starred in Man On The Moon, a movie about the unusual life of his former Taxi co-star, Andy Kaufman.

Television

In addition to his Taxi work, DeVito has voiced the animated character Herb Powell on two episodes of The Simpsons. He has also been the voice of Philoctetes (Phil) in the 1997 Disney animated movie Hercules. He earned a 1004 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, 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.

Personal

DeVito and his family live in Manalapan, New Jersey. He is a vegetarian

Selected filmography

References

  • Lovece, Frank. Hailing "Taxi": The Official Book of the Show (Prentice-Hall Press, 1988), reissued as "Taxi": The Official Fan's Guide (Citadel, 1996; ISBN 0806518014)

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