Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Danny DeVito
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 best known for his iconic roles. He rose to fame portraying Louie De Palma in the TV series Taxi, earning him both a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award. Currently, he stars as Frank Reynolds in the long-running sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, further solidifying his status as a comedic icon.
1984: Directorial Debut with The Ratings Game
In 1984, Danny DeVito made his directorial debut with "The Ratings Game".
1986: Directing and Starring in "The Wedding Ring" Episode of Amazing Stories
In 1986, Danny DeVito directed and starred in the black comedy "The Wedding Ring", a season 2 episode of Steven Spielberg's anthology series "Amazing Stories", where his character acquires an engagement ring for his wife (played by DeVito's real-life wife, actress Rhea Perlman).
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", in which he starred with Billy Crystal and Anne Ramsey. For his performance he earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy nomination.
1989: Directing and Starring in The War of the Roses
In 1989, Danny DeVito reunited with Jewel of the Nile co-stars Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner when he directed and starred alongside them in "The War of the Roses".
1991: Founding of Jersey Films
In 1991, Danny DeVito founded Jersey Films, a production company.
1994: Production of Pulp Fiction
In 1994, Danny DeVito's Jersey Films produced the film "Pulp Fiction".
1995: Production of Get Shorty
In 1995, Danny DeVito's Jersey Films produced the film "Get Shorty".
1996: Directing and Starring in Matilda
In 1996, Danny DeVito directed "Matilda", a film adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children's novel. He also served as the Narrator and played the villainous used-car dealer father Harry Wormwood opposite his wife Rhea Perlman.
1997: Talks to Star and Direct Mystery Men Break Down
In 1997, Danny DeVito was in talks for a $13-million deal to both star in and direct "Mystery Men", but negotiations broke down over who would produce the soundtrack.
1997: Production of Gattaca
In 1997, Danny DeVito's Jersey Films produced the film "Gattaca".
1998: Commitment to Star in and Direct Barthe and The Man Who Came to Dinner Remake
In 1998, Danny DeVito committed to star in and direct both the sci-fi film "Barthe" for TriStar, about an alien who falls in love, and a remake of "The Man Who Came to Dinner" for DreamWorks.
1999: Attached to Star, Direct, and Produce 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: Production of Erin Brockovich
In 2000, Danny DeVito's Jersey Films produced the film "Erin Brockovich", for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
2002: Release of Death to Smoochy
In 2002, Danny DeVito resurfaced with "Death to Smoochy".
2004: Production of Garden State
In 2004, Danny DeVito's Jersey Films produced the film "Garden State".
2005: Directed Pilot Episode of Queen B
In 2005, Danny DeVito directed the pilot episode for a proposed Imagine TV sitcom "Queen B", which was not picked up by the network for series.
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", a film adaptation, starring Morgan Freeman, Pierce Brosnan, and Saoirse Ronan.
2009: Plans for Crazy Eddie Biopic and St. Sebastian
In 2009, it was reported that Danny DeVito would direct and produce the biopic "Crazy Eddie", based on the life of consumer electronics king Eddie Antar, but the film could not be made due to a life rights deal. Instead, he pivoted to making the apocalyptic horror thriller "St. Sebastian".
2012: Post-Production Completed for St. Sebastian
In 2012, post-production was completed for "St. Sebastian", but it has not been released to this day.
February 2013: Revival of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle project
In February 2013, Danny DeVito returned to the project "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle", looking for another young actress to star in the title role and scouting movie locations in Ireland.
July 2014: Expected Restart of Production for The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Production for "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" was expected to restart in July 2014, but the release date is still classified as "TBD" without any new information.
2016: Inclusion of 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".
2018: Guest starring role in The Kominsky Method and voicing Dorgle in Smallfoot
In 2018, Danny DeVito guest starred in the Netflix comedy series "The Kominsky Method" alongside Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. 2018 also saw him voicing Dorgle in the Warner Bros. animated film "Smallfoot".
2019: Reunion with Tim Burton in Dumbo and role in Jumanji: The Next Level
In 2019, Danny DeVito reunited with Tim Burton, playing Max Medici in the live-action remake of "Dumbo", by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, acting alongside Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton and Eva Green. He also played Eddie Gilpin in the action-comedy film "Jumanji: The Next Level", starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, which was a box office and critical success.
2019: Jersey Films Optioned Screen Rights for Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation
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: Voicing Bob in The One and Only Ivan
In 2020, Danny DeVito voiced Bob, a stray dog in "The One and Only Ivan".
2021: Playing Charlie Goldman in The Survivor and Writing for Gotham City Villains
In 2021, Danny DeVito played Charlie Goldman in the biographical HBO drama film "The Survivor". That same year, 2021, DeVito wrote a 12-page story centered on the Penguin and Catwoman for the anthology comic "Gotham City Villains".
2023: Acting in Haunted Mansion, Poolman, Migration, and I Need That
In 2023, Danny DeVito acted in the Disney horror comedy "Haunted Mansion", Chris Pine's directorial film debut "Poolman", and the Illumination animated film "Migration". Also in 2023, he returned to Broadway in the Theresa Rebeck play "I Need That".
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