A little cute fat man with a typical Italian appearance - such Denis De Vito appears before us on TV screens. This actor for his long life starred in more than two hundred and sixty films. But most of all, he managed small, episodic roles and the roles of a comedian. De Vito tried himself both in dubbing animations and as a film producer. His fate is another confirmation of the American dream of a "man who made himself." Before breaking into the screens and getting at least the smallest role, Denis had to change several professions. So, read the story of how a hairdresser 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. Denis is a scorpio by the zodiac sign. He celebrates his birthday on November 17. He considers Neptune, in the US state of New Jersey, to be his hometown. His parents were very far from the film industry. My father tried to earn money as best he could: first opened a confectionery shop, then a laundry room, tried to manage a billiard room until he decided on a hairdresser. Therefore, it was decided that the son should become a ladies' master. Ever since childhood, his father was worried about some physical qualities of Denis De Vito - growth, or rather, his lack. He even showed the boy to the doctor, but he did not find any illness. The artist and now undersized - only a meter and fifty-two centimeters. But this only adds charm to the short actor. After graduating from a private school for Catholic boys and hairdressing at Wilfred Academy, Daniel began working in his father's workshop.
Way to Hollywood
At the hairdresser there were two co-owners: father Denis De Vito and a certain Mrs. Nicholson. Does this surname tell you nothing? Once Lady Nicholson began to talk about her nephew Jack. He worked as an actor in Hollywood and recently starred in the movie “The Shop of Horrors”. Interested in Daniel went to the cinema to look at the game of
Jack Nicholson. He really liked the film. And he began to dream about an actor’s career. But the path to the set was long. To begin with, Denis entered the Academy of Dramatic Art in New York for make-up courses. The course also included acting lessons. After graduating from the Academy, Denis went to Hollywood, went to audition, but everywhere 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 the offer to work at the Eugene O'Neill Summer Center in Connecticut. There he met actor Michael Douglas. We can say that he introduced Denis into the world of the film industry. However, success and world fame was still very far away. The first role that went to De Vito was very small. But in which film and in which director! The film was called "Bananas." Not the most brilliant tape of Woody Allen, but still ... By the way, in this film, which was released in 1971, Stallone made his debut. Then the white stripe again changed to black. The actor got only small replicas of the third plan in the films "Loafer", "Hot Dogs for Gauguin" and "Lady Liberty". De Vito received a ticket to the great movie only in 1975, when he played the role of a patient in a psychiatric hospital in the cult film "Flying Over the Cuckoo's Nest."
Here it is, popularity!
The touching, slightly comedic image of the mentally ill hero created by the actor did not go unnoticed by the public. The picture of
Milos Forman brought fame not only to Denis De Vito, whose filmography began in fact with this tape, but also to Michael Douglas, and who played the main role, Jack Nicholson - the very nephew of the co-owner of the hairdresser. Critics often began to mention the "small, but very characteristic" actor. Denis began to be invited to appear in television series (The Policewoman, Starsky and Hutch) and films. He also appeared in the frames of the picture "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 "Novel with a Stone", where he played a short-gangster.
Denis De Vito: filmography
If you count from 1970, then in the track record of De Vito is 262 films. In some he played as an actor, in others he was a director. He also supported projects as a film producer. In 1992, he created a company called Jersey Films. It was under her auspices that such cult tapes as “Pulp Fiction” and “Reality Bites” came out. In 2011, a new star appeared on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in honor of Denis De Vito. The filmography of this amazing person is not limited only to acting in films and series and directing work. Denis also willingly takes on voicing cartoon characters. In this field, world fame brought him work in the animated film "Lorax", which was released in 2012. Interestingly, 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 Watching
Of course, viewing the tapes with the actor should begin with "Flying Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Robert Zemeckis’s film “A Novel with a Stone” was praised by critics, and although they called its continuation The Pearl of the Nile a failure, De Vito's acting work was praised there. Do not lose sight of the directorial talent of Denis. In this field, the actor made his debut in 1987, when he shot the black comedy "Throw Mom Off the Train." The director's work did not force De Vito to leave the stage. In 1988, the movie “Twins” was released, where the short actor works in a duet with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Fans of children's films will surely like the villain Penguin in "Batman Returns", in which, despite the thick layer of makeup, you can recognize Denis De Vito. No less bright actor in the performance of supporting roles. Watch Francis Ford Coppola's films The Benefactor and Get the Short One.
Animated tapes and comedies
As for the cartoons, in addition to the acclaimed "Lorax", De Vito also voiced Homer's stepbrother in the series "The Simpsons". But still, do not forget that the main role of the actor is comic. In such roles, his talent is revealed in full force. It is worth watching such comedies with Denis De Vito: “Ruthless People”, “Sensible Guys”, “Tinsmiths”, “Gemini”, “Someone else's Money”, “Jack Bear”, “Junior”. If you are interested in the life of Daniel Michael himself, then a certain interest is the picture of "Hoff", which, in fact, is biographical. De Vito’s comedy genre remains true in directing: his film “The War in the Rose Family” is full of sparkling but black humor.
Personal life
Many are interested in the life of Hollywood stars off the stage. Is this 69-year-old actor married? Does anyone have Denis De Vito now? His wife, actress Rea Perlman, gave him three children - two daughters and a son. Frequent spouses are common in Hollywood. But the couple of De Vito succumbed to the general trend only once - in 2012. The couple parted and tried to live separately ... But a long life together (the actors married in 1982) took their toll. In March 2013, the couple reconciled. Rea Perlman is actively involved in producing at Jersey Films, making documentaries. Denis is truly happy with her. And his life motto “Do not think about tomorrow, do not make a future - live and enjoy today” helps create a warm spiritual atmosphere of the house.