Tributes poured in on Sunday as fans, friends, and castmates filled social media with admiration and love. They spoke of a man who could light up any room, make everyone feel special, and outshine everyone around him. Words like treasure, icon, and force of nature trended worldwide. But this was not a farewell—it was a celebration. Danny DeVito had just turned 80.
Born in Neptune Township, New Jersey, in 1944, DeVito grew up in a close-knit Italian-American family. Standing just under five feet tall, he knew he would never fit the mold of a traditional Hollywood leading man. Yet his charisma, fearless energy, and sharp comedic timing propelled him forward.
After training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he began in theater before landing small film roles. His breakthrough came with the television series Taxi (1978–1983), where his portrayal of the irascible dispatcher Louie De Palma won him an Emmy and cemented his reputation as a comic powerhouse.
Though DeVito dominated film in the 1980s and 1990s with hits like Ruthless People, Twins, and Batman Returns, his career saw a remarkable reinvention in the 2000s. Joining It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia in 2006 as Frank Reynolds, DeVito embraced grotesque, outrageous, and inappropriate humor, becoming the unhinged heart of the show and introducing himself to a new generation.
His role as Frank redefined late-career success in Hollywood. At an age when most actors settle into supporting parts, DeVito doubled down, making himself indispensable to a bold, risk-taking series.
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