Denis DeVito (biography, filmography, personal life and photos)

A small, handsome fat man with a typical Italian appearance - this is Denis De Vito who appears before us on TV screens. This actor in his long life was shot in more than two hundred and sixty films. But most of all he managed small, episodic roles and role of the comedian. De Vito tried himself in the sound of animation, and as a film producer. His fate is yet another confirmation of the American dream of "a man who made himself". Before breaking through on the screens and getting at least the smallest role, Denis had to change several professions. So, read the story of how the barber became a movie star.

Childhood and youth

The real name of the star actor is Daniel Michael De Vito, Jr.. He was born into a family of Italian immigrants, even during the war, in 1944. On the zodiac sign Denis is a scorpion, his birthday celebrates on November 17. His native city is Neptune, in the US state of New Jersey. His parents were very far from the film industry people. Father tried to earn as he could: first he opened a confectionery shop, then a laundry, tried to manage a billiard room, until he decided on a hairdresser. Therefore, it was decided that the son should become a ladies' master. Since childhood, my father was troubled by some physical qualities of Denis De Vito - growth, more precisely, his lack. He even showed the boy to the doctor, but he found no illness. Actor and now short - just a meter and fifty-two centimeters. But this only adds to the charm of the short-acting actor. After graduating from a private school for Catholic boys and hairdressing courses at the Wilfred Academy, Daniel began working in his father's workshop.

Way to Hollywood

The hairdresser had two co-owners: Father Denis De Vito and a Mrs. Nicholson. Does this name not tell you this? One day, Lady Nicholson began to talk about her nephew, Jack. He worked as an actor in Hollywood and recently starred in the movie "Horror Shop". Concerned, Daniel went to the cinema to look at the game of Jack Nicholson. He liked the film very much. And he began to dream about the career of the actor. But the way to the set was long. To begin with, Denis entered the Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York for a make-up course. The course included lessons on acting. After graduating from the Academy, Denis went to Hollywood, went to the samples, but everywhere he was refused. So two years passed, during which the future actor worked as a night watchman to earn his living.

Start of activity

In 1966, Denis De Vito left Hollywood and accepted an offer to work in the summer center of Eugene O'Neil, in Connecticut. There he met actor Michael Douglas. One can say that he introduced Denis into the world of the film industry. However, to the success and world glory was still very far. The first role that De Vito got was very small. But in which film and which director! The film was called "Bananas". Not the most brilliant tape of Woody Allen, but still ... By the way, in this film, released on screens in 1971, Stallone also made his debut. Then the white band was replaced by black again. The actor received only small replicas of the third plan in the films "Bezdelnik", "Hot Dogs for Gauguin" and "Lady Liberty". De Vito received a ticket to the big cinema only in 1975, when he played the role of a patient in a psychiatric hospital in the cult tape "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

Here it is, popularity!

Touching, slightly comical image of the insane hero, who created the actor, did not go unnoticed by the public. Milos Forman's painting brought glory not only to Denis De Vito, whose filmography began in fact from this tape, but also to Michael Douglas, and starring Jack Nicholson - the very same nephew co-owner of a hairdresser. Critics often began to mention "a small but very characteristic" actor. Denis was invited to appear in television series ("Police Woman", "Starski and Hutch") and films. He also enlightened in the frames of the film "Ruthless People". In this film, the role of the actor as a comedian was fully revealed. And world fame brought him work in the movie "Roman with a stone," where he played a short gangster.

Denis De Vito: filmography

If counted from 1970, then De Vito's track record is 262 films. In some he acted as an actor, in others he was a director. He also supported the projects as a film producer. In 1992, he established a company called Jersey Films. It was under her aegis that such cultic tapes as "Pulp Fiction" and "Reality Bites" came out. In 2011, on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood , a new star appeared in honor of Denis De Vito. The filmography of this amazing person is not limited only to acting in films and serials and director's work. Denis also willingly undertakes to voice cartoon characters. In this field world fame brought to him the work in the animation tape "Lorax", which was released in the screens in 2012. It is interesting that in it De Vito voiced the role not only in English, but also in Russian, German, Italian and Spanish.

Movies with Denis De Vito, worth seeing

Of course, watching the tapes with the actor should start with "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Robert Zemeckis' novel "Roman with a stone" was praised by critics, and although their continuation "The Pearl of the Nile" they called a failure, De Vito's acting work there was praised. Do not forget the director's talent Denis. In this field, the actor made his debut in 1987, when he made a black comedy film "Shoot Mom from the Train". The director's work did not force De Vito to leave the stage. In 1988, the screen came out the film "Twins", where the short-acting actor works in a duet with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Fans of children's cinema will certainly like the villain Penguin in "Batman Returns", in which, despite the thick layer of makeup, you can find Denis De Vito. No less bright is the actor in the performance of the roles of the second plan. Look at the films of Francis Ford Coppola "The Benefactor" and "Get the Shorty".

Animation films and comedy

As for the cartoons, in addition to the sensational "Lorax", De Vito also announced his half-brother Homer in the series "The Simpsons." But do not forget that the main role of the actor is comic. In such roles, his talent is revealed in full force. It's worth watching such comedies with Denis De Vito: "Ruthless People", "Talking Guys", "Tinsmiths", "Twins", "Other People's Money", "Jack Bear", "Junior". If you are interested in the life of Daniel Michael himself, then some interest is represented by the picture of "Hoff", which, in fact, is biographical. The comic genre of De Vito remains faithful also in directing: his film "The War in the Family of Rose" is full of sparkling but black humor.

Personal life

Many people are interested in the life of Hollywood stars outside the scene. Is this 69-year-old actor married? Is there anyone now at Denis De Vito? His wife, actress Rea Perlman, gave him three children - two daughters and a son. Frequent replacement of spouses is a common thing in Hollywood. But the couple de Vito succumbed to the general trend only once - in 2012. The couple broke up and tried to live apart ... But a long life together (the marriage of the actors concluded in 1982) took its toll. In March 2013 the couple met again. Rea Perlman actively participates in the production work in Jersey Films, shoots documentary films. With her, Denis is really happy. And his life motto "Do not think about tomorrow, do not make plans for the future - live and enjoy today" help create a warm spiritual atmosphere at home.