Discover the career path of Danny DeVito, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Danny DeVito is a celebrated American actor and filmmaker. He rose to fame as Louie De Palma in the TV series *Taxi*, earning him both a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award. DeVito continues to entertain audiences as Frank Reynolds in the long-running sitcom *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*.
1969: Off-Broadway Acting Debut
In 1969, Danny DeVito began his acting career off-Broadway in plays such as 'Shoot Anything With Hair That Moves'.
1975: Starred in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'
In 1975, Danny DeVito played Martini in the film 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', reprising his role from the 1971 play.
1977: Starsky & Hutch
In 1977, Danny DeVito played John "John John the Apple" DeAppoliso in the Starsky & Hutch episode "The Collector".
1978: Gained Fame on Taxi
In 1978, Danny DeVito gained fame playing Louie De Palma on the TV show Taxi.
1983: Terms of Endearment Film Role
In 1983, Danny DeVito appeared in "Terms of Endearment", contributing to his growing film career.
1983: Acted in Terms of Endearment
In 1983, Danny DeVito took a supporting role in "Terms of Endearment", which received critical acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
1984: Acted in Johnny Dangerously and Romancing the Stone
In 1984, Danny DeVito acted in "Johnny Dangerously" and "Romancing the Stone", starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
1984: Directorial Debut with The Ratings Game
In 1984, Danny DeVito made his directorial debut with the film "The Ratings Game".
1985: Acted in The Jewel of the Nile
In 1985, Danny DeVito took the role as the comic rogue Ralph in the romantic adventure "The Jewel of the Nile".
1986: Directing and Starring in "The Wedding Ring"
In 1986, Danny DeVito directed and starred in "The Wedding Ring," an episode of "Amazing Stories," alongside his wife Rhea Perlman.
1986: Starred in Ruthless People
In 1986, Danny DeVito starred in "Ruthless People" with Bette Midler.
1987: Acted in Tin Men
In 1987, Danny DeVito acted in Barry Levinson's 'Tin Men'.
1987: Feature Directing Debut with Throw Momma from the Train
In 1987, Danny DeVito made his feature-directing debut with the dark comedy "Throw Momma from the Train", starring with Billy Crystal and Anne Ramsey, earning a Golden Globe nomination.
1988: Twins
In 1988, Danny DeVito acted opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the comedies "Twins".
1988: Starred in Living Out Loud
In 1988, Danny DeVito starred in "Living Out Loud" alongside Helen Hunt and Queen Latifah.
1989: Directing and Starring in The War of the Roses
In 1989, Danny DeVito directed and starred in "The War of the Roses" alongside Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
1990: The Earth Day Special
In 1990, Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman played the couple Vic & Paula in The Earth Day Special.
1991: Acted in Other People's Money
In 1991, Danny DeVito acted in "Other People's Money" with Gregory Peck.
1991: Founded Jersey Films
In 1991, Danny DeVito founded Jersey Films, a production company.
1992: Voiced Herb Powell in The Simpsons
In 1991 and 1992, Danny DeVito voiced Herb Powell in The Simpsons episodes "Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?" and "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?".
1992: Portrayed The Penguin in Batman Returns
In 1992, Danny DeVito portrayed the villain Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin in 'Batman Returns'.
1994: Acted in Junior
In 1994, Danny DeVito acted opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the comedies "Junior".
1994: Founded Jersey Films and Acted in Pulp Fiction
In 1994, Danny DeVito founded Jersey Films and the company produced Pulp Fiction.
1994: Production of Pulp Fiction
In 1994, Jersey Films produced Pulp Fiction.
1995: Appeared in Get Shorty
In 1995, Danny DeVito appeared in the gangster comedy "Get Shorty".
1995: Production of Get Shorty
In 1995, Jersey Films produced Get Shorty.
1996: Starred in Matilda
In 1996, Danny DeVito and his wife Rhea Perlman starred together in the movie Matilda.
1996: Directing Matilda
In 1996, Danny DeVito directed "Matilda", a film adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel, also serving as the narrator and playing Harry Wormwood alongside Rhea Perlman.
1996: Acted in Space Jam and Mars Attacks!
In 1996, Danny DeVito took supporting roles in Space Jam and Mars Attacks!
1997: Acted in The Rainmaker and L.A. Confidential
In 1997, Danny DeVito played Deck Shifflet in 'The Rainmaker' and Sid Hudgens in 'L.A. Confidential'.
1997: Hercules
In 1997, Danny DeVito voiced Phil in the Walt Disney Animated film "Hercules".
1998: Commitment to Directing Sci-Fi film Barthe
In 1998, Danny DeVito committed to star in and direct the sci-fi film "Barthe" for TriStar.
1999: Acted in Man on the Moon and The Virgin Suicides
In 1999, Danny DeVito produced and co-starred in Man on the Moon and played Dr. Hornicker in The Virgin Suicides.
1999: Acted in The Big Kahuna and Hosted SNL
In 1999, Danny DeVito reunited with Kevin Spacey in 'The Big Kahuna' and hosted Saturday Night Live.
1999: Attached to Sugar's Sweet Science of Bruising
In 1999, Danny DeVito was attached to star, direct, and produce Jason Keller's spec script "Sugar's Sweet Science of Bruising" for New Line Cinema.
2000: Acted in Drowning Mona and Screwed
In 2000, Danny DeVito continued to take roles in comedy films such as "Drowning Mona" and "Screwed".
2000: Production of Erin Brockovich
In 2000, Jersey Films produced Erin Brockovich, for which Danny DeVito received an Academy Award nomination.
2001: Acted in What's the Worst That Could Happen? and Heist
In 2001, Danny DeVito acted in What's the Worst That Could Happen? and Heist.
2002: Acted in Austin Powers in Goldmember
In 2002, Danny DeVito acted in Austin Powers in Goldmember.
2002: Release of Death to Smoochy
In 2002, Danny DeVito resurfaced with the release of "Death to Smoochy".
2003: Acted in Anything Else
In 2003, Danny DeVito acted in Anything Else.
2003: Release of Duplex
In 2003, Danny DeVito released the film "Duplex".
2004: Acted in Big Fish and Emmy Nomination for Friends
In 2004, Danny DeVito acted in the drama films Big Fish and earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his role of a stripper in the NBC sitcom Friends.
2004: Production of Garden State
In 2004, Jersey Films produced Garden State.
2005: Directing the Pilot of Queen B
In 2005, Danny DeVito directed the pilot episode for the proposed Imagine TV sitcom "Queen B", which was not picked up for series.
2006: Starred in Deck the Halls
Also in 2006, Danny DeVito starred opposite Matthew Broderick in the Christmas comedy film "Deck the Halls".
2006: Partnership with ClickStar
In 2006, Danny DeVito began a partnership with Morgan Freeman's company ClickStar, for whom he hosts the documentary channel Jersey Docs.
2006: Joined It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
In 2006, Danny DeVito joined the cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Frank Reynolds.
2008: Attached to direct The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Since 2008, Danny DeVito has been attached to direct "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle".
2009: Reported to Direct and Produce Crazy Eddie
In 2009, it was reported that Danny DeVito would direct and produce the biopic "Crazy Eddie", but the film was not made.
April 2012: West End Debut in The Sunshine Boys
In April 2012, Danny DeVito made his West End acting debut in The Sunshine Boys as Willie Clark.
April 27, 2012: West End Debut in The Sunshine Boys
On April 27, 2012, Danny DeVito made his West End acting debut in a revival of The Sunshine Boys.
2012: Voiced The Lorax
In 2012, Danny DeVito voiced the title character in the animated version of Dr. Seuss' 'The Lorax'.
2012: Post-Production Completed on St. Sebastian
In 2012, Danny DeVito's apocalyptic horror thriller, St. Sebastian, completed post-production but has not been released.
February 2013: Looking for Actress for Charlotte Doyle
In February 2013, Danny DeVito returned to the project of directing "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle", looking for a young actress and scouting locations.
2013: Returned as Herb in The Simpsons
In 2013, Danny DeVito would voice Herb for a third time in The Simpsons episode "The Changing of the Guardian".
July 2014: Expected restart of "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" production
In July 2014, production of "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" was expected to restart, but the release date is still to be determined.
2014: Steal My Girl Music Video
In 2014, Danny DeVito played a fictional version of himself in the music video of One Direction's song "Steal My Girl".
September 2015: Appeared in Angry Birds Advertisement
In September 2015, Danny DeVito appeared in the Angry Birds Friends "Champions for Earth" tournament advertisement.
2016: Included Faith No More music in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
In 2016, Danny DeVito included music from Mike Patton's band Faith No More on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia".
February 16, 2017: The Price
On February 16, 2017, Danny DeVito's performance in a Roundabout Theatre Company revival of the Arthur Miller play "The Price" began preview performances at the American Airlines Theatre.
2017: Broadway Debut in The Price
In 2017, Danny DeVito made his Broadway debut in The Price, earning a Tony Award nomination.
2018: Guest Role in The Kominsky Method and Voiced Dorgle in Smallfoot
In 2018, Danny DeVito had a guest starring role in The Kominsky Method and voiced Dorgle in Smallfoot.
2019: Acted in Dumbo and Jumanji: The Next Level
In 2019, Danny DeVito reunited with Tim Burton in Dumbo and played Eddie Gilpin in Jumanji: The Next Level.
2019: Jersey Films options Toms River
In 2019, Danny DeVito's company Jersey Films optioned the screen rights to make a film of "Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation", by Dan Fagin.
2020: Voiced Bob in The One and Only Ivan
In 2020, Danny DeVito voiced Bob, a stray dog in The One and Only Ivan.
2021: Acted in The Survivor and Wrote Gotham City Villains Story
In 2021, Danny DeVito played Charlie Goldman in The Survivor and wrote a story for Gotham City Villains.
September 2022: Became Jersey Mike's Spokesman
In September 2022, Danny DeVito became the first celebrity spokesman for Jersey Mike's Subs.
2023: Acted in Haunted Mansion, Poolman, and Migration
In 2023, Danny DeVito acted in Haunted Mansion, Poolman, Migration and returned to Broadway in the play I Need That.
2023: Returned to Broadway in I Need That
In 2023, Danny DeVito returned to Broadway in the play 'I Need That'.