Overview (3)

Mini Bio (1)

Spouse (1)

Trade Mark (4)

Often directs and produces mean-spirited dark comedies with elements of crime in them.



Often portrays ruthless and sinister people in the movies he is in



Deep raspy voice



Short stature



Trivia (50)

Went to Oratory Prepatory School in Summit, NJ.



Before he became an actor he was a qualified hairdresser (stylist).





In his New Jersey hometown, one of his relatives ran a hair salon with the relatives of another actor from his neighborhood, Jack Nicholson



He was considered for the role of Sallah in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) but could not do it due to his TV commitments. The role went to John Rhys-Davies instead.



Brought a bag of carrots to munch on during the 73rd Annual Academy Awards. Host Steve Martin presented him with an impromptu bowl of ranch dip in the middle of the ceremony.



Often appears in Tim Burton movies.



In 1975, under a grant from the American Film Institute, he and Rhea Perlman wrote and produced Minestrone (1975), which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and has been translated into five languages.

Graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) in Hollywood, CA, in 1966.





Attended the final Phish concert with his son and 75,000 others in Coventry, VT, on August 16, 2004.



Was considered for the role of Detective John Kimble in Kindergarten Cop (1990), but could not secure it due to his small stature. The role went to Arnold Schwarzenegger instead.



He was originally set to play Mario in Super Mario Bros. (1993) but backed out and was replaced by the late Bob Hoskins



Is a huge fan of musician Mike Patton and his bands Fantomas and Peeping Tom , and asked to be in the video clip for the Peeping Tom single "Mojo". He was given a cameo.



Was considered for the role of George Costanza in Seinfeld (1989), which went to Jason Alexander

Provides the voice of Herbert Powell, Homer Simpson's half-brother.



Lives in Beverly Hills, CA, and attended the Beverly Hills Film Festival in 2008.



A staunch supporter of the Democratic Party.





Has been nominated for the Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor three different times in three different decade--in the 1980s for Going Ape! (1981), in the 1990s for Batman Returns (1992) and in the 2000s for Deck the Halls (2006). He has never won.



First connection with Michael Douglas happened when he starred in a New York stage production of "Down the Morning Line" in 1969, directed by Douglas and written by Martin Sheen

He was inducted into the 2010 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services and contributions to Arts and Entertainment.



Co-owner of a restaurant, called DeVito South Beach, in Miami, FL.



Has part of his family living in New Canaan, CT.



Has a vacation home in Interlaken, NJ.



Lives in Los Angeles and Malibu, CA.



Drives a Nissan Leaf 100% electric car.





The launch of his and wife Rhea Perlman 's production company, "Jersey Films", kicked off with the release of Hoffa (1992).



In the late 1960s he shared a New York apartment with fellow actor Michael Douglas at 338 West 89th Street in Manhattan where the rent was $75 each per month.



He and estranged wife Rhea Perlman met when she went to see him appearing in the off-Broadway play "The Shrinking Bride" in 1971.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6906 Hollywood Blvd. on August 18, 2011.





During his acting school years he lived with Michael Douglas . They remain great friends to this day.



Born on the same date as Lorne Michaels

Supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election.



Tracey Walter is godfather to Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman's children Lucy DeVito, Jake DeVito and Grace Fan DeVito.



Alumnus of the AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1966.



Personal Quotes (13)

It's fun to be on the edge. I think you do your best work when you take chances, when you're not safe, when you're not in the middle of the road, at least for me, anyway.



Jersey is always with me. I was one of the lucky ones. Asbury Park is just the greatest place in the world to spend your childhood.





I'll watch Ricky Gervais in anything he does. The guy's hilarious.



Rhea loves Downton Abbey (2010). The costumes are great, let's put it that way.



I enjoy watching Piers Morgan over here. He also took to task a couple of people who needed it during the gun-control debate. Piers is OK by me.



I never missed Homeland (2011) when it was on. Or Deadwood (2004). I watch Jon Stewart a lot, too - I'm a big leftie. And a lot of news.



I think Taxi (1978) is one of the seminal, great shows that was ever made on television. I mean, the story and those characters, that's what makes a great show -- it's the characters. And I always fell in love with the characters.

What you've got to do is think of now, this moment. If you're analyzing the past, or anticipating too far into the future, you don't really concentrate on what you're doing in this moment, and that's the most important thing. Right now! Right now is the most important moment in your entire life. It really is! And it's not because you're talking to me.



When I'm directing or producing, I like to do different kinds of stories. But you have to know what you really like and when you do, you have to front your position.



If something good happens to me, I embrace it and let it go. If something bad happens to me, I embrace it and let it go. You have to. It's like something the Dalai Lama once said -- that whole philosophy of going into the mouth of the dragon -- facing who you are. Most of us are insecure and the other portion of the world are assholes. So, you can be insecure -- so long as you're not an asshole!



Acting is like any other business if you've got it in your heart that you want to write stories, or paint paintings, or build bridges, if you want to do anything. Once you've been bitten by that bug, it's your passion and you have to follow it.



People would say to me, "Why don't you do Broadway?" and my big joke was, "Nah, the dressing rooms are too small".



Salary (1)