Danny DeVito made his debut in the 1970 drama film ‘Dreams of Glass,’ directed by Robert Clouse. The following year, he starred as ‘Fred Mancuso’ in the Italian-French comedy film ‘Lady Liberty.’ The film received negative reviews from critics. He was next seen in films like ‘Hot Dogs for Gauguin’ (1972), ‘Hurry Up, or I'll Be 30’ (1973), and ‘Scalawag’ (1973). In the 1975 psychological comedy-drama film ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,’ DeVito played the role of ‘Martini.’ The film opened to universal acclaim and was a phenomenal box office success, grossing over $163.3 million against a budget of $3–4.4 million. ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest’ came to be considered as one of the greatest films ever made.
In 1978, he joined the main cast of the American sitcom ‘Taxi’ in which he played the role of ‘Louie De Palma.’ The show ran for 5 years and aired its final episode in 1983. DeVito also bagged the ‘Golden Globe Award,’ ‘Primetime Emmy Award,’ and ‘TV Land Award’ for his performance in the series. In 1983, he appeared in the American family comedy-drama film ‘Terms of Endearment’ directed by James L. Brooks. The film opened to critical acclaim and was a massive financial success. He next starred in films like ‘Romancing the Stone’ (1984), ‘The Jewel of the Nile’ (1985), ‘Tin Men’ (1987), Throw Momma from the Train’ (1987), ‘Twins’ (1988), ‘The War of the Roses’ (1989), and ‘Other People's Money’ (1991). In 1992, he was seen playing the role of ‘Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin’ in the American superhero film ‘Batman Returns,’ directed by Tim Burton. The film received mostly positive reviews and was a financial success. That same year, he also appeared in the biographical crime film ‘Hoffa’ which was a commercial failure. DeVito was also the director of the film.Â
He next appeared in films like ‘Jack the Bear’ (1993), ‘Reality Bites’ (1994), ‘Junior’ (1994), ‘Get Shorty’ (1995), ‘Mars Attacks!’ (1996), ‘The Rainmaker’ (1997), ‘L.A. Confidential’ (1997), ‘Out of Sight ‘(1998), ‘Living Out Loud’ (1998), ‘Man on the Moon’ (1999), ‘The Virgin Suicides’ (1999), and ‘Drowning Mona’ (2000). DeVito starred as ‘Mickey Bergman’ in the 2001 heist film ‘Heist,’ directed by David Mamet. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics and was a financial success. That same year, he also starred in the comedy film ‘What's the Worst That Could Happen?’ which was a financial disappointment. In 2006, he joined the cast of the American sitcom ‘It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.’ The show’s fifteenth season premiered on December 1, 2021.
DeVito went on to star in films like ‘Just Add Water’ (2008), ‘House Broken’ (2009), ‘When in Rome’ (2010), ‘Girl Walks into a Bar’ (2011), ‘The Lorax’ (2012), ‘All the Wilderness’ (2014), ‘Curmudgeons’ (2016), ‘Animal Crackers’ (2017), ‘Smallfoot’ (2018), ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ (2019), and ‘The One and Only Ivan’ (2020). He was last seen in the 2021 American biographical drama film ‘The Survivor,’ directed by Barry Levinson. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics. He is all set to appear in the upcoming American family-horror film ‘Haunted Mansion.’
Renaissance Man is a comedy drama film which tells the story of a failed advertisement executive who is offered a job by the US Army to teach a group of underachieving recruits, so that they can pass basic training.
After being convicted, Randle Patrick McMurphy pleads insanity to avoid hard labor at a prison farm and is sent to the mental institution run by the tyrannical head nurse Mildred Ratched, who keeps everyone subdued with abuse and medication. Rebellious McMurphy quickly comes into conflict with authoritarian Ratched, and leads an uprising with his fellow inmates.
In typical Tim Burton style, Big Fish is the story of Edward Bloom, a retired salesman, and his son, Will, in a fantasy setting. On his deathbed, Bloom, who has the gift of storytelling, narrates fictional tales of his youth to Will, as he attempts to mend their relationship. Though initially sceptical, Will ultimately realizes his father’s zest for life.
The multiple Academy Award-winning movie features widowed Aurora Greenway and daughter Emma, who share a deep bond despite their frequent squabbles. Lonely after Emma’s marriage, Aurora finds love with neighbor Garrett. Emma, who is facing marital discord and difficulties in managing children, is diagnosed with terminal cancer. As Garrett breaks up with Aurora, she keeps her pain aside to be with Emma.
Romance novelist Joan Wilder finds herself in the middle of the Colombian jungle with a treasure map. She is supposed to give the map to smugglers as ransom for her sister Elaine. Brash mercenary, Jack T. Colton, agrees to help her. The two end up falling in love while trying to recover the treasure, a massive emerald.
The Rainmaker is a legal drama film, revolving around an inexperienced young lawyer, who agrees to fight for a helpless boy dying from leukemia, after the insurance company refuses to pay for his operation that would save his life.
Based on James Ellroy's 1990 bestselling novel, L.A. Confidential follows three LAPD officers—Bud White, Ed Exley and Jack Vincennes—as they go about investigating multiple murders at a downtown Los Angeles coffee shop, in the early 1950s, in their own individual way.
This black comedy film revolves around a bitter writing instructor who wants his former spouse dead and his student who wants his mother dead. They come up with a plan: The boy will kill the instructor’s spouse and the instructor will kill his student’s mother.
Julius Benedict is strong, intelligent and empathic man who was the product of a genetic experiment and was raised by one of the scientists conducting the experiment. After learning that the experiment had an unexpected byproduct, he journeys to Los Angeles to find his twin brother Vincent, who had lesser qualities and grew up to be a lowlife.
Johnny Kelly is an honest newsboy in New York City. However, he is quite poor, and his mother needs an operation which his family can’t afford. Johnny’s life soon takes a turn when he gets into a street fight and attracts the attention of a local crime boss named Jocko Dundee, who offers him a job. Johnny agrees, as he sees no honest way to earn the money required for the operation.
In this movie, batman faces two enemies. The evil Penguin forces the devious businessman Max Schreck to back him in his attempt to get accepted in the society and later become mayor. Then there is the Catwoman who joins the two in their mission to destroy Batman. Batman now has to defeat his enemies and prevent Gotham city from becoming a centre of crime.
The biographical drama tells the story of American comedy legend Andy Kaufman. The movie celebrates Kaufman’s unparalleled talent and enigmatic journey and from a small-time performer to landing the series Taxi, to creating the character of Tony Clifton, to his kayfabe feud with Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler, until his untimely death from lung cancer.
Jumanji: The Next Level is an adventure comedy fantasy film which revolves around a team of friends who return to Jumanji, in order to rescue one of their own. However, they soon find themselves in one of the world’s most dangerous games, which includes traveling unexplored deserts and snowy mountains.
Chill Palmer, a loan-shark and movie-fan from Miami, is sent to Hollywood to collect a gambling debt from Harry Zimm, producer of tacky horror films. As Chill gets acquainted with the Hollywood bunch and toys with the idea of a film based on his life-story, he realizes that a mobster like him can easily fit in the role of a Hollywood producer.
When businessman Sam Stone steals Ken and Sandy Kessler’s design to earn a fortune, the Kesslers take revenge by kidnapping Sam’s wife, Barbara. But Sam in fact is happy as he hates Barbara and was planning to kill her to marry hia mistress Carol. While Sam’s delay in paying ransom puts Kesslers and Barbara in quandary, Carol hatches a plan to blackmail Sam.
Set in 1970s, the film revolves around 5 teenaged Lisbon sisters growing up in Michigan’s upscale neighborhood. After the youngest sister Cecilia attempts suicide, their protective parents take the girls out of school and isolate them from the world. The film is narrated through the perspective of a group of neighborhood boys who are obsessed and intrigued by the mysterious sisters.
The War of the Roses is a romantic comedy film, revolving around a Washington lawyer and his wife, who decide to get divorced after a reasonably happy life. However, they face a vicious divorce battle, while trying to divide the possessions.
A fictionalized version of the infamous Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa’s life. He starts as a Teamster union organizer and rises to become the president of the 'International Brotherhood of Teamsters.' Forming an alliance between the union and mafia, he illegally uses Teamster funds for mob. Following frequent battles with industry management and the Attorney General, he serves prison sentence, but after his release, disappears mysteriously in 1975.
An actor who is preparing for an upcoming role and a feisty clerk working at a grocery store, meet through circumstances, and drive around Los Angeles together. They have several conversations where they explore the differences as well as the similarities between their worlds.
With the help of their protégé, two industrial salesmen analyze a sales pitch to a wealthy client, although their senior colleagues are frustrated because of it.
Ernest and Bill are two rival salesmen who sell aluminum siding. They both are willing to go to extreme heights to close a sale. Meanwhile, both men are going through their own personal troubles as well. While Bill’s older partner is hospitalized due to a serious heart condition, Ernest is struggling with his gambling problem, which has even lead to problems with the IRS. Things get even more complicated between them, because of their mututal love for a woman named Nora.
After falling in love, Judith quits her medical studies and gets married. However, things get ugly when years later, her husband divorces her for another woman. She finds herself lonely and frustrated, and looks for a new meaning in her life. She soon gets acquainted and develops a connection with a man named Pat, who is dealing with problems of his own.
Joe Moore who is a professional jewel thief, gives up his lifestyle after his identity is captured by a security surveillance tape. However, a time comes when he and his partner are bankrupt, and therefore they decide to go on one last heist.
Earth is surrounded by a fleet of Martians spaceships who initially claim to have come in peace. But they soon kill the entire U.S. Congress and later assassinate President James Dale. Earth survives when it is accidentally discovered that Martians die on hearing Slim Whitman’s song “Indian Love Call” which is then played all over the world.
Rainbow Randolph, the star of a popular children’s television show, is fired from his job for taking bribes and replaced by "squeaky clean" Sheldon Mopes and his character Smoochy the Rhino. Very soon, Sheldon starts scoring high ratings and becomes famous, making Randolph furious, who vows to reclaim his position.
Jerry Falk, an aspiring writer living in New York, falls for a beautiful and free-spirited young woman named Amanda. Although he leaves his girlfriend for Amanda, his relationship with her turns out to be quite complicated.
Holt is a circus performer who is tasked with caring for a young elephant named Dumbo, having oversized ears. However, it is soon discovered that Dumbo’s ears can help him to fly, and a few cunning men try to take advantage of the situation.
Solitary Man is a romantic drama film which tells the story a successful car magnate who finds his life falling apart, due to some mishaps in his personal as well as his professional life.
Steve Finch is an optometrist, who is looking forward to have a great Christmas with his kids. However, his new neighbor starts decorating his house so brightly that it can be seen from outer space. This makes Steve jealous and the two begin competing with each other.
The movie starts with super spy Austin Powers arresting Dr. Evil and foiling his plan to bring back the evil Goldmember. But when his father Nigel Powers is kidnapped, Austin travels back in time and teams up with Foxxy Cleopatra to stop Goldmember and Dr. Evil’s son Scott from destroying the world and save his father.
Well-known actor Joaquin Phoenix decides to retire from the world of acting and focus on a new career as a hip-hop musician. Later he approaches Sean Combs, American rapper and record producer, hoping he will produce the record.
A publicly traded company is threatened by a corporate raider who seeks a hostile take-over. The patriarch of the company therefore seeks the help of his stepdaughter, as she is a lawyer, to protect his company. Meanwhile, the raider finds himself attracted to her, and tries to win her heart.
After traveling around for months in their yacht, adventurer Jack Colton and novelist Joan Wilder get tired of easy life. Joan decides to travel to a Middle Eastern country on Sheik Omar’s invitation, but is abducted on reaching there; so Jack, with friend Ralph, rushes to her rescue. They brave their way through adventures, but do they get the ‘Jewel of the Nile?’
The epicenter of this cult comedy is a group of friends. They work at Sully Boyar's Car Wash. This team meets a number of people everyday - from a wacky cab driver, to an eloquent preacher, to an ex-convict and others. Set up in a manic energy, the eccentric customers talk about everything under the sun, from politically incorrect jokes to disco and funk. Some of the team members find romance while the others feel glad that they got through another shift.
Goin’ South is a western romantic comedy film which takes us to a town in Texas, shortly after the Civil War. Henry Moon is an outlaw who is captured while trying to make his escape to Mexico. Due to lack of men after the war, the town has a special law that if a single woman offers to marry a condemned man, he can walk free. Henry is in luck since a woman named Julia offers to marry him, but it soon turns out that her main purpose is to have someone to search for gold in her property.
Based on the Comedy Central series, the film revolves around a national law-enforcement police convention held during the spring break in Florida, which is also attended by a group of blundering police officers of Reno (Nevada) Police Department. When terrorists assault the area with bio-attack rendering all Miami cops sick, the gallant Reno Police Department delegates are called in to salvage the situation.
Weiner-Dog is a drama film which revolves around a dachshund, who changes homes, going from one owner to the other. It experiences bizarre moments due to the dysfunctional lives of its owners, before the dog finally finds its true home.
Officer Lacy is a veteran working for the New York Police Department, who finds himself demoted for his violent and trigger-happy behavior. Responding to a call on the West Side of Manhattan, he finds a musician named Sally, who was kidnapped by a mugger. Although the mugger was unarmed, Lacy kills him and tells Sally to lie to the detectives to make himself look like a hero.
Two Italian coworkers fall in love; but cannot marry because he is married and Italy does not permit divorce. So he moves to the USA and the lady follows him four years later. The problem is that the US customs will not allow the mortadella she has brought with her and she will not leave without it. Meanwhile she meets a reporter.
Mona Dearly dies in a car accident, but nobody, including her husband and son, seems to grieve her death. Meanwhile, Wyatt, the local police chief holds the entire town as suspects to her murder.
The Good Night is a fantasy romantic comedy drama musical film which tells the story of a former musician named Gary, who makes commercial jingles to earn a living. His life takes a turn when he begins dreaming about a beautiful woman named Anna, and gets drawn to her. However, things get complicated when he realizes that Anna is actually a real person.
Filmmaker Chili Palmer decides to enter the music industry to help his murdered friend, music producer Tommy Athens’ widow Edie and pay the US $300K owed to hip-hop producer LaSalle. However, when rival producers decide to kill Chili and the Russian mob gets involved, Chili has to find a way to triumph.
Tired of the constant ill-treatment by his boss, a chauffeur decides to kidnap her beloved pet dog, and hold it for ransom. However, things get extremely complicated when the dog escapes back to his boss, and everyone believes that it is the chauffer who is kidnapped.
Girl Walks into a Bar is a romantic comedy drama film which tells the story of a dentist in Los Angeles, who decides to get rid of his wife with the help of a hitman who is new in the business. This sets off a chain of events that begin to affect many lives over the course of one night.
Beth is a twenty-nine year old New Yorker, successful and ambitious; but totally disillusioned with love. But when she meets Nick on her way to Rome, she once again starts believing in love and becomes jealous when she sees him kissing another woman. Drunk and envious, she goes off to pick up some coins from the ‘fountain of love’.
Kevin, a thief, attempts to rob from the mansion of Max, a billionaire. However, Max catches him and takes his ring, which is Kevin’s lucky charm. Kevin tries to wreak havoc on Max’s life in his attempt to get back his ring.
Peg-legged pirate Peg, with parrot ‘Barfly’ and crew of land-locked pirates, is in search of a treasure buried by the deceitful Mudhook and his twin. Peg asks young Jamie and his sister Lucy-Ann to help locate the treasure. As they fight the Native Americans while traversing the rough territory, Peg and Jamie form a bond which is strained by Peg’s untruthful ways.
Two research scientists, Alex Hesse and Larry Arbogast, are developing a new drug to reduce chances of miscarriage in expectant women. However, when their research funds are withdrawn and they are not allowed to carry human experimentation, Larry convinces Hesse who agrees to get an embryo implant. It is to be tested only for three months, but what if the pregnancy continues?
Sigi is desperately in need of money to get the car repaired before his father returns from a trip. Along with his friends, he tries to come up with a way to earn some money before it is too late.
After 80-year old Max Sabatini passes away, he leaves his three prized orangutans in the care of Foster, his only son. Foster learns that he will need to take care of the apes for the next five years, if he wishes to inherit his father’s $ 5 million fortune.
Smart and sweet young girl, Matilda Wormwood, has a painful childhood among her mean parents and bratty brother, and is sent to a school run by the tyrannical principal, Agatha Trunchbull. She befriends her warm-hearted teacher, Miss Jennifer Honey, and discovers that she has telekinetic powers, with which she can make a stand against her oppressors.
The War of the Roses is a romantic comedy film, revolving around a Washington lawyer and his wife, who decide to get divorced after a reasonably happy life. However, they face a vicious divorce battle, while trying to divide the possessions.
A fictionalized version of the infamous Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa’s life. He starts as a Teamster union organizer and rises to become the president of the 'International Brotherhood of Teamsters.' Forming an alliance between the union and mafia, he illegally uses Teamster funds for mob. Following frequent battles with industry management and the Attorney General, he serves prison sentence, but after his release, disappears mysteriously in 1975.
Rainbow Randolph, the star of a popular children’s television show, is fired from his job for taking bribes and replaced by "squeaky clean" Sheldon Mopes and his character Smoochy the Rhino. Very soon, Sheldon starts scoring high ratings and becomes famous, making Randolph furious, who vows to reclaim his position.
This black comedy film revolves around a bitter writing instructor who wants his former spouse dead and his student who wants his mother dead. They come up with a plan: The boy will kill the instructor’s spouse and the instructor will kill his student’s mother.
A young couple moves into a gorgeous duplex in the middle of New York. However, they did not expect the elderly lady upstairs to be an issue. Her annoying behavior eventually forces the couple to take desperate measures.
Smart and sweet young girl, Matilda Wormwood, has a painful childhood among her mean parents and bratty brother, and is sent to a school run by the tyrannical principal, Agatha Trunchbull. She befriends her warm-hearted teacher, Miss Jennifer Honey, and discovers that she has telekinetic powers, with which she can make a stand against her oppressors.
The One and Only Ivan is a fantasy adventure comedy drama film which tells the story of a young gorilla named Ivan, who doesn’t know about his past. Therefore, in order to find out, he sets out on a journey to learn about his past and his identity.
A magic movie ticket transports teenager Danny Madigan into the fictional world of his favorite movie character, the indestructible Los Angeles Cop Jack Slater. When the fictional villain, Mr. Benedict, uses the same ticket to escape into the real world, Danny and Slater must also travel back and team up to stop him.
A young couple moves into a gorgeous duplex in the middle of New York. However, they did not expect the elderly lady upstairs to be an issue. Her annoying behavior eventually forces the couple to take desperate measures.
In this third installment of the franchise, Mollie and James adopt a street dog, Rocks, and a pedigree poodle Daphne, who are able to talk to each other. But the Ubriaccos face other issues as Mollie loses her job, while James is hired by dazzling cosmetic magnate Samantha as her pilot. To Mollie’s consternation, Samantha seems determined to monopolize James for herself.
The Disney adaptation tells the story of Hercules, son of Zeus and Hera, who is kidnapped by Hades and forced to live as half-human, half-god amongst the mortals. As Hercules grows up, he must regain the right to live amongst the Gods in Olympus, defeat Hades, and save the love of his life, Megara.
Smallfoot is an animated adventure comedy film which revolves around Migo, a friendly yeti, living in the Himalayas, who believes that humans exist. He tells the people of his village about this, after witnessing a plane crash, but he has no proof. Due to this, he is eventually banished from his home. Therefore, he decides to embark on a mission to prove his claim, and earn the respect of his fellow yetis.
The alien Mr. Swackhammer wants to enslave the Looney Tunes for his amusement park, Moron Mountains. When his minions the Nerdlucks arrive, Bugs Bunny challenges them to a basketball game. But the aliens steal the powers of NBA basketball players. The Tunes then enlist the help of basketball legend Michael Jordan to take the Nerdlucks down.
In this feel good film, based on Dr. Seuss’s book, a twelve year old boy Ted has a tough task at hand. Audrey, his crush, desires to see a real living tree but Thneedville – the town they stay in – has nothing like nature. Even air is sold. Still Ted sets out to fulfil her wish and learns the story of Once-ler who once cut down all trees for profit and Lorax, the guardian of the trees.
Agent K recruits an NYPD officer, codenamed Agent J, into the super-secretive government agency, Men in Black, which polices aliens secretly living amongst humans and safeguards earth from extraterrestrial threats. Upon investigating a crash-landing, the duo uncover a vicious plot by an intergalactic terrorist Bug to steal a powerful jewel that houses an entire galaxy.
Danny DeVito Awards
| Taxi | Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Television Series | 1980 |
| Taxi | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series | 1981 |
