Editing Danny DeVito (section)

==Career==
=== Acting ===
DeVito started his career acting [[off-Broadway]] in the plays ''Shoot Anything With Hair That Moves'' and ''[[The Man with the Flower in His Mouth]]'' both in 1969. DeVito played Martini in the 1975 film ''[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film)|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest]]'' directed by [[Milos Forman]], reprising his role from the 1971 [[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (play)|off-Broadway play]] of the same title. He had his feature film debut in the drama ''[[Dreams of Glass]]'' (1970). Early film roles include ''[[Lady Liberty (film)|Lady Liberty]]'' (1971), ''[[Hurry Up, or I'll Be 30]]'' (1973) and ''[[Deadly Hero]]'' (1975).

In 1977, DeVito played the role of John "John John the Apple" DeAppoliso in the ''[[Starsky & Hutch]]'' episode "The Collector".<ref name=Esquire>{{cite magazine|last=Raab|first=Scott|title=The Serene Beauty of the Five-Foot Fury of Asbury Park|url=http://www.esquire.com/features/danny-devito-interview-0214|magazine=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> DeVito gained fame in 1978 playing Louie De Palma, the short but domineering dispatcher for the fictional Sunshine Cab Company, on the hit TV show ''[[Taxi (TV series)|Taxi]]''. For his performance he received a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series]] and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film]]. He got the role by astonishing the show’s creators during the audition when asking them “Who wrote this shit?” then throwing the script on the table.<ref name=AARP>{{cite magazine|last=Rosen|first=Lisa|title= Danny DeVito: 'You Gotta Tamp Me Down in the Joy Department!'|url=https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/members-only-access/info-2024/danny-devito-what-i-know-now.html |magazine=[[AARP: The Magazine]]|date=December 2024 – January 2025}}</ref>

After his breakthrough on the sitcom ''[[Taxi (TV series)|Taxi]]'', DeVito devoted more effort to a growing successful film career. He took a supporting role as Vernon Dalhart in the [[James L. Brooks]] directed comedy-drama ''[[Terms of Endearment]]'' (1983) acting alongside [[Shirley MacLaine]], [[Debra Winger]] and [[Jack Nicholson]]. The film earned critical acclaim as well as the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]].

The following year he acted in the crime comedy ''[[Johnny Dangerously]]'' (1984) and took the role as the comic rogue Ralph in the romantic adventure ''[[Romancing the Stone]]'' (1984), starring [[Michael Douglas]] and [[Kathleen Turner]]; and its sequel, ''[[The Jewel of the Nile]]'' (1985). In 1986, DeVito starred in ''[[Ruthless People]]'' with [[Bette Midler]] and [[Judge Reinhold]] and also voiced the character Grundle King in ''[[My Little Pony: The Movie (1986 film)|My Little Pony: The Movie]]''. In 1987 he acted in director [[Barry Levinson]]'s ''[[Tin Men]]'' (1987), as a rival salesman to [[Richard Dreyfuss]]' character.

In 1990, he and Rhea Perlman played the couple Vic & Paula, commenting on the state of the environment in ''[[The Earth Day Special]]''. The following year he acted in ''[[Other People's Money]]'' (1991) with [[Gregory Peck]]. In 1991 and 1992, DeVito voiced [[Simpson family#Herbert Powell|Herb Powell]] in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episodes "[[Brother, Can You Spare Two Dimes?]]" and "[[Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Danny DeVito lends his voice to 'The Simpsons'|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19910211&id=Z65dAAAAIBAJ&pg=4448,1717906|newspaper=[[Observer-Reporter]]|access-date=April 25, 2014|date=February 11, 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="The Simpsons" guests stars over the years|date=February 17, 2012 |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/the-simpsons-guests-stars-over-the-years/44/|publisher=[[CBS]]|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> In 1992 he portrayed the villain [[Oswald Cobblepot (Batman Returns)|Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin]] in director [[Tim Burton]]'s ''[[Batman Returns]]'' (1992) acting opposite [[Michael Keaton]], [[Michelle Pfeiffer]] and [[Christopher Walken]]. That same year he directed and produced the biographical drama film ''[[Hoffa (film)|Hoffa]]'' (1992) starring [[Jack Nicholson]]. He also acted in the film portraying Bobby Ciaro. DeVito also acted opposite [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] in the comedies ''[[Twins (1988 film)|Twins]]'' (1988) and ''[[Junior (1994 film)|Junior]]'' (1994).

[[File:Danny DeVito by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|left|upright|DeVito at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] in July 2010]]

In 1995, DeVito appeared in the gangster comedy ''[[Get Shorty (film)|Get Shorty]]''. In 1996, he took supporting roles as Swackhammer in the [[Looney Tunes]] live-action / animated sports comedy ''[[Space Jam]]'' and reunited with [[Tim Burton]]'s science fiction comedy ''[[Mars Attacks!]]'' starring [[Jack Nicholson]], [[Glenn Close]], [[Annette Bening]], [[Pierce Brosnan]], [[Martin Short]] and [[Natalie Portman]].

In 1997, he played Deck Shifflet in the legal thriller ''[[The Rainmaker (1997 film)|The Rainmaker]]'' starring [[Matt Damon]] and [[Claire Danes]] as well as Sid Hudgens, editor of a sleazy [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] called ''Hush-Hush'', who gets tips ahead of time of celebrity arrests in the [[neo-noir]] thriller ''[[L.A. Confidential (film)|L.A. Confidential]]'' with [[Russell Crowe]], [[Guy Pearce]] and [[Kevin Spacey]], the latter of which was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]]. That same year he also voiced [[Philoctetes|Phil]] in the [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Animated film]] ''[[Hercules (1997 film)|Hercules]]'' (1997). Leonard Klady of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' praised the voice performances writing, "As in ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'', the melding of character animation with the screen personae of the actors voicing the roles provides forceful and amusing entertainment, particularly in DeVito's turn as a physical trainer and the acid wit [[James Woods]] brings to his villainous role."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/hercules-2-1200450181/|title= Hercules|website= Variety|date= June 16, 1997|accessdate= November 13, 2023}}</ref>

He starred in ''[[Living Out Loud]]'' (1998) alongside [[Helen Hunt]] and [[Queen Latifah]], reunited with Kevin Spacey in ''[[The Big Kahuna (film)|The Big Kahuna]]'' (1999) and hosted the last ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' episode before the year 2000. In 1999, he produced and co-starred in the biographical drama film ''[[Man on the Moon (film)|Man on the Moon]]'', a film about the unusual life of his former ''Taxi'' co-star [[Andy Kaufman]], played in the film by [[Jim Carrey]]. He also played Dr. Hornicker in the [[Sofia Coppola]] directed ''[[The Virgin Suicides]]'' (1999) starring [[Kirsten Dunst]]. He continued to take roles in comedy films such as ''[[Drowning Mona]]'' (2000), ''[[Screwed (2000 film)|Screwed]]'' (2000), ''[[What's the Worst That Could Happen?]]'' (2001), ''[[Austin Powers in Goldmember]]'' (2002), ''[[Anything Else]]'' (2003) and ''[[Be Cool]]'' (2005).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Director&id=dannydevito.htm |title=Danny DeVito Movie Box Office Results |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=February 10, 2010}}</ref> He also acted in the drama films ''[[Heist (2001 film)|Heist]]'' (2001) and ''[[Big Fish]]'' (2004). He earned a 2004 [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series]] nomination for his role of a stripper in the [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[Friends]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/danny-devito|title=Danny DeVito|publisher=[[Emmy Award]]}}</ref>

[[File:KaitlinOlsonDannyDeVitoRobMcElhenneyAug2011.jpg|thumb|upright|DeVito with ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'' cast mates [[Kaitlin Olson]] and [[Rob McElhenney]] at the ceremony for DeVito on August 18, 2011]]
In 2006, he joined the cast of the [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] / [[FXX]] [[sitcom]] ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'' as [[List of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia characters#Frank Reynolds (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)|Frank Reynolds]]. DeVito stars opposite [[Glenn Howerton]], [[Rob McElhenney]], [[Kaitlin Olson]] and [[Charlie Day]]. The character of Frank Reynolds is introduced at the beginning of [[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 2|Season 2]]. He received a nomination for the [[13th Satellite Awards|Satellite Award for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Series]]. DeVito said of the show "I loved it. It was fucking outrageous just the way they are. I immediately said, 'Yeah, this is an amazing show.{{'"}}<ref>{{cite web|url= https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/how-danny-devito-joined-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia/|title= The story of how Danny DeVito joined 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'|website= Far Out|date= December 22, 2022|accessdate= November 13, 2023}}</ref> Also in 2006 he starred opposite [[Matthew Broderick]] in the Christmas comedy film ''[[Deck the Halls (2006 film)|Deck the Halls]]''.

DeVito has an interest in documentaries. In 2006 he began a partnership with [[Morgan Freeman]]'s company [[ClickStar]], for whom he hosts the documentary channel Jersey Docs. He was also interviewed in the documentary ''[[Revenge of the Electric Car]],'' discussing his interest in and ownership of [[electric vehicle]]s. DeVito has directed eight short films between 1973 and 2016, five of which were released across 2010 and 2011. These are ''The Sound Sleeper'' (1973), ''Minestrone'' (1975), ''Oh Those Lips'' (2010), ''Evil Eye'' (2010), ''Poison Tongue'' (2011), ''Skin Deep'' (2011), ''Nest of Vipers'' (2011) and ''Curmudgeons'' (2016). In 2011, DeVito received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] for his work in television.<ref>{{cite web|title=Danny DeVito gets star on Hollywood Walk |url=http://ktar.com/category/tv-news-articles/20110819/Danny-DeVito-gets-star-on-Hollywood-Walk/ |agency=[[Associated Press]] |website=KTAR.com |publisher=Bonneville International |date=August 18, 2011 |access-date=August 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001132000/http://ktar.com/category/tv-news-articles/20110819/Danny-DeVito-gets-star-on-Hollywood-Walk/ |archive-date=October 1, 2011 }}</ref> In 2012, he voiced the title character in the animated version of [[Dr. Seuss]]' ''[[The Lorax (film)|The Lorax]]''. He appeared in the ''[[Angry Birds Friends]]'' "Champions for Earth" tournament advertisement in September 2015. Following the Japanese release of the [[Nintendo 3DS]] game ''[[Detective Pikachu (video game)|Detective Pikachu]]'', dedicated ''[[Pokémon]]'' fans submitted a 40,000-signature petition requesting that DeVito be the English voice actor for the title character. However, he declined to audition for the role, commenting that he was unfamiliar with the franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Pokémon Fans Petitioning to Make Danny DeVito the Voice of Pikachu (He'd Be Perfect)|url = https://www.yahoo.com/tech/pokemon-fans-are-petitioining-to-make-danny-174608577.html|website=[[Yahoo!]]| date=February 2, 2016 |access-date =February 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user=paleycenter|title = Paley Center on Twitter: "Audience Q:Will Danny DeVito voice the Detective Pikachu videogame? Danny says "No" and asks what it is, "What the F is Pokemon?" #PaleyLive|url = https://twitter.com/paleycenter/status/716108571969126407|number=716108571969126407|website=[[Twitter]]|access-date = May 2, 2016}}</ref>

In April 2012, DeVito made his [[West End theatre|West End]] acting debut in a revival of the [[Neil Simon]] play ''[[The Sunshine Boys]]'' as Willie Clark, alongside [[Richard Griffiths]].<ref name=Esquire /> It previewed at the [[Savoy Theatre]] in London from April 27, 2012, opened on May 17 and played a limited 12-week season until July 28.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Sunshine Boys – Reviews|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/west-end-theatre/reviews/05-2012/the-sunshine-boys_4231.html|publisher=What's On Stage|access-date=April 25, 2014|date=May 18, 2012}}</ref> DeVito played a fictional version of himself in the music video of [[One Direction]]'s song "[[Steal My Girl]]" (2014).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1960554/one-direction-steal-my-girl-video-features-danny-devito/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014010630/http://www.mtv.com/news/1960554/one-direction-steal-my-girl-video-features-danny-devito/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 14, 2014|title=One Direction's 'Steal My Girl' Video Features Danny DeVito... What!?|work=MTV News|access-date=May 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6281535/one-direction-danny-devito-steal-my-girl-video-photos|title=One Direction's New 'Steal My Girl' Video Will Feature Danny DeVito|date=October 11, 2014|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 19, 2014}}</ref> He also appeared in the short film ''[[Curmudgeons (film)|Curmudgeons]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.curmudgeonsfilm.com/|title=Curmudgeons|website=Curmudgeons|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013071615/http://www.curmudgeonsfilm.com/|archive-date=October 13, 2016}}</ref> which he also produced and directed. In 2013, he would voice Herb for a third time in the episode "[[The Changing of the Guardian]]".{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} DeVito made his [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut in a [[Roundabout Theatre Company]] revival of the [[Arthur Miller]] play ''[[The Price (play)|The Price]]'' as Gregory Solomon. He acted opposite [[Mark Ruffalo]] and [[Tony Shalhoub]]. Marilyn Stasio of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' praised DeVito's performance writing, "DeVito, who holds the audience in the palm of his hand, tends to favor the comic side, making an extended meal out of an egg-eating visual gag. But he also draws on down-to-earth Jewish wisdom to keep family hostilities from boiling over and spoiling the financial negotiations".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2017/legit/reviews/the-price-review-mark-ruffalo-broadway-1202009477/|title= Broadway Review: 'The Price' Starring Mark Ruffalo, Tony Shalhoub, Danny DeVito|website= Variety|date= March 17, 2017|accessdate= November 13, 2023}}</ref> He went on to be nominated for a [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play]]. The production began preview performances at the [[American Airlines Theatre]] on February 16, 2017 and opened on March 16 for a limited run-through on May 7.

In 2018 he had a guest starring role in the [[Netflix]] comedy series ''[[The Kominsky Method]]'' acting opposite [[Michael Douglas]] and [[Alan Arkin]]. He also voiced Dorgle in the [[Warner Bros.]] animated film ''[[Smallfoot]]'' (2018). The following year in 2019 he reunited with [[Tim Burton]] playing Max Medici in the live action [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures]] ''[[Dumbo (2019 film)|Dumbo]]'', a remake of the [[Dumbo (1941 film)|1941 animated film]]. He acted alongside [[Colin Farrell]], [[Michael Keaton]] and [[Eva Green]]. He also played Eddie Gilpin in the action comedy film ''[[Jumanji: The Next Level]]'' starring [[Dwayne Johnson]], [[Kevin Hart]], [[Jack Black]] and [[Karen Gillan]]. The film was a box office and critical success. In 2020 he voiced Bob, a stray dog in ''[[The One and Only Ivan]]''. In 2021 he played Charlie Goldman the biographical [[HBO]] drama film ''[[The Survivor (2021 film)|The Survivor]]''. That same year DeVito wrote a 12-page story centered on the [[Penguin (character)|Penguin]] and [[Catwoman]] for the anthology comic ''Gotham City Villains''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/books/danny-devito-explains-why-he-returned-to-the-penguin-for-new-batman-comic/|title=Danny DeVito on why he returned to the Penguin for new Batman comic 'Gotham City Villains'|author=Christian Holub|date=November 30, 2021 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> In 2023 he acted in the Disney horror comedy ''[[Haunted Mansion (2023 film)|Haunted Mansion]]'', [[Chris Pine]]'s directorial film debut ''[[Poolman (film)|Poolman]]'' and the [[Illumination (company)|Illumination]] animated film ''[[Migration (2023 film)|Migration]]''. Also in 2023 he returned to Broadway in the [[Theresa Rebeck]] play ''[[I Need That]]''.

=== Directing ===
DeVito made his directorial debut in 1984 with ''[[The Ratings Game]]''. In 1986, he directed and starred in the [[black comedy]] "The Wedding Ring", a season 2 episode of [[Steven Spielberg]]'s anthology series ''[[Amazing Stories (1985 TV series)|Amazing Stories]]'', where his character acquires an engagement ring for his wife (played by DeVito's real-life wife, actress [[Rhea Perlman]]). When the ring is slipped on his wife's finger, she is possessed by the ring's former owner, a murderous black widow. In 1987 he made his feature-directing debut with the [[Black comedy|dark comedy]] ''[[Throw Momma from the Train]]'', in which he starred with [[Billy Crystal]] and [[Anne Ramsey]].<ref>{{cite web | first=Janet|last=Maslin|author-link=Janet Maslin | title=Throw Momma from the Train| url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B0DE5D81139F932A25751C1A961948260 | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=December 1, 1987}}</ref> For his performance he earned a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]] nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/|title= 1988 Golden Globe Awards|website= [[Golden Globe Awards]]|accessdate= November 13, 2023}}</ref>

DeVito reunited with ''[[The Jewel of the Nile|Jewel of the Nile]]'' co-stars [[Michael Douglas]] and [[Kathleen Turner]] in 1989 when he directed and starred alongside them in ''[[The War of the Roses (film)|The War of the Roses]]''. In 1996 he directed ''[[Matilda (1996 film)|Matilda]]'' (1996), a film adaptation of [[Roald Dahl]]'s [[Matilda (novel)|1988 classic children's novel of the same name]]. Critic [[Roger Ebert]] of ''[[The Chicago Sun-Times]]'' wrote, "There is never a moment (except toward the happy ending) that we sense DeVito is anything other than quite serious about this material. He goes with Dahl's macabre vision."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/matilda-1996|title= Matilda movie review|website= Rogerebert.com|accessdate= November 13, 2023}}</ref> He also served as the Narrator and played the villainous used-car dealer father Harry Wormwood opposite his wife [[Rhea Perlman]]. The following year, he was in talks to direct the crime drama ''[[The Little Things (2021 film)|The Little Things]]'' with [[Robert De Niro]] at that time set to star,<ref name=Vulture>{{cite web|last=Bradford|first=Evans|url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/09/the-lost-roles-of-danny-devito.html|title=The Lost Roles of Danny DeVito|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|date=September 15, 2011|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref> and ''[[The Crowded Room]]'' with [[Leonardo DiCaprio]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael Fleming|url=https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/devito-checks-into-room-1116679647/|title=DeVito checks into 'Room'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 8, 1997|access-date=May 22, 2024}}</ref> Both projects were eventually realized in the 2020s, but without DeVito's involvement.

In 1997, DeVito was in talks for a $13-million deal to both star in and direct ''[[Mystery Men]]'', but negotiations broke down over who would produce the soundtrack. "It was a big deal for me," DeVito said. "I really wanted it, so I walked away from the project."<ref>''Los Angeles Times'', 16 Nov 1997: CAL, 5:1.</ref>

In 1998, he committed to star in and direct both the [[Science fiction|sci-fi]] film ''Barthe'' for [[TriStar Pictures|TriStar]], about an alien who falls in love,<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Variety Staff|url=https://variety.com/1998/voices/columns/devito-does-double-duty-love-troubles-1117466356/|title=DeVito does double duty; Love troubles|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 14, 1998|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref><ref name=Vulture/> and a remake of ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942 film)|The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'' for [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]].<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Hindes, Andrew|author2=Petrikin, Chris|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/d-works-devito-make-dinner-reservations-1117481317/|title=D'works, DeVito make 'Dinner' reservations|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 12, 1998|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref> In 1999, DeVito was attached to star, direct and produce [[Jason Keller (playwright)|Jason Keller]]'s [[spec script]] ''Sugar's Sweet Science of Bruising'' for [[New Line Cinema]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Cox|first=Dan|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/nl-offers-sweet-pic-deal-to-keller-1117500084/|title=NL offers 'Sweet' pic deal to Keller|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 6, 1999|access-date=May 22, 2024}}</ref><ref name=Vulture/>

For the next two years, DeVito was attached to film [[Michael Petroni]]'s ''Revelations'', a "supernatural religious thriller" that was to have starred [[George Clooney]]. The project was delayed due to rewrites however.<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Jones, Oliver|author2=Moerk, Christian|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/revelations-comes-to-devito-warners-1117758314/|title='Revelations' comes to DeVito & Warners|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 22, 1999|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/salerno-tries-on-jersey-deal-1117787515/|title=Salerno tries on Jersey deal|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 10, 2000|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref> DeVito was also at one time attached to direct ''[[How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Swanson |first1=Tim|last2=Dunkley | first2=Cathy |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/romantic-laffer-lose-loses-jersey-films-1117854230/|title=Romantic laffer 'Lose' loses Jersey Films|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 14, 2001|access-date=April 2, 2025}}</ref> He instead resurfaced with ''[[Death to Smoochy]]'' (2002) and ''[[Duplex (film)|Duplex]]'' (2003), which were made back-to-back. Before the release of the latter, DeVito agreed to direct a remake of 1942's ''[[I Married a Witch]]'' for [[Tom Cruise]] and [[Columbia Pictures]], announcing to ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' that he hoped to begin production by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Harris|first=Dana|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/embarrassment-of-witches-at-col-1117881146/|title=Embarrassment of witches at Col|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 24, 2003|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref>

Instead of ''I Married a Witch'', he sought to make ''Trump vs. Wynn'' as his next directorial project after receiving an offer from [[HBO]]. Written by [[Rick Cleveland]], the script chronicles business tycoons [[Donald Trump]] and [[Steve Wynn]]'s competition to build a casino in [[Atlantic City]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/2003/scene/markets-festivals/devito-plays-trump-card-for-wynn-gig-1117896653/|title=DeVito plays Trump card for Wynn gig|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 4, 2003|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref> DeVito was expected to direct, produce and star in an unspecified role, but he dropped out after meeting with both figures, who protested the film's production.<ref name=Vulture/>

He directed the [[Television pilot|pilot episode]] for a proposed 2005 [[Imagine TV]] sitcom ''Queen B'',<ref name=Variety>{{cite web|last=Schneider|first=Michael|title=DeVito king of 'Queen B'|url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/news/devito-king-of-queen-b-1117919178/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=April 25, 2014|date=March 9, 2005}}</ref> which was not picked up by the network for series.

In 2009, it was reported that DeVito would direct and produce the [[Biographical film|biopic]] ''Crazy Eddie'', based on the life of consumer electronics king [[Eddie Antar]], from a script by [[Peter Steinfeld]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/danny-devito-crazy-for-eddie-1118001049/|title=Danny Devito crazy for 'Eddie'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 10, 2009|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref> However the film could not be made due to a [[life rights]] deal that was made with Antar.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2010/04/how-a-rights-deal-killed-danny-devitos-movie-about-70s-discount-king-crazy-eddie-35498/|title=Why Rights Wrangling Is Crazy Business|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=April 26, 2010|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref> Instead, he pivoted to making the apocalyptic horror thriller ''St. Sebastian'',<ref>{{cite tweet|number=146844524856094721|user=DannyDeVito|title=last five days on St. Sebastian. Having a blast. William Fichtner,Lance Reddick, Constance Zimmer, David Margulies. Fun peeps to work with.|date=December 14, 2011}}</ref> which completed post-production in 2012 but to this day has not been released.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Deadline Team|url=https://deadline.com/2012/05/locomotive-selling-danny-devito-directed-thriller-at-cannes-270645/|title=Locomotive Selling Danny DeVito-Directed Thriller At Cannes|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=May 11, 2012|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref> DeVito also worked on the independently financed ''Honeymoon with Dad'', a comedy which never went into production.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/danny-devito-to-direct-honeymoon-exclusive-1118060587/|title=Danny DeVito to direct 'Honeymoon' (EXCLUSIVE)|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=October 10, 2012|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref>

DeVito has written a film adaptation of and been, since 2008, attached to direct ''[[The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle]]'' with [[Morgan Freeman]], [[Pierce Brosnan]] and [[Saoirse Ronan]] starring.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/devito-to-direct-charlotte-doyle-1117988967/|title=DeVito to direct 'Charlotte Doyle'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 15, 2008|access-date=June 25, 2024}}</ref> The production was halted when Freeman was seriously injured in a car accident two weeks before filming was scheduled to commence.<ref name="contactmusic">{{cite web|title=Danny DeVito wants to cast rising star actress|date=February 24, 2013|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/danny-devito-wants-to-cast-rising-star-actress_3521847|publisher=Contactmusic.com|access-date= February 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avi-writer.com/blog/2014/09/movie-option/|title=Movie option|work=Wordcraft|author=Avi|date=September 9, 2014|access-date=November 6, 2015}}</ref> DeVito returned to the subject in February 2013, saying he was looking for another young actress to star in the title role and scouting movie locations in Ireland. Production was expected to restart in July 2014.<ref name="contactmusic"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Danny DeVito on scouting movie locations in Ireland {{!}} Late Late Show|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoMTYrJYKCU|access-date= August 27, 2013|date= February 24, 2013}}</ref> The release date is still classified as "TBD" without any new information as to whether it will be shot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/movie/the-true-confessions-of-charlotte-doyle|title=The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - ComingSoon.net|website=ComingSoon.net|language=en-US|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-date=August 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818120040/http://www.comingsoon.net/movie/the-true-confessions-of-charlotte-doyle|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Producing ===
DeVito founded Jersey Films in 1991,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Guttarado |first1=Andrew |title=Danny DeVito, Never Retire (Bitch) |url=https://www.theringer.com/tv/2019/9/25/20881295/danny-devito-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-profile |website=The Ringer|date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=September 26, 2019}}</ref> producing films like ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'' (1994), ''[[Get Shorty (film)|Get Shorty]]'' (1995), ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]'' (2000) (for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture), ''[[Gattaca]]'' (1997) and ''[[Garden State (film)|Garden State]]'' (2004).

DeVito also produced the [[Comedy Central]] series ''[[Reno 911!]]'', the film spin-off ''[[Reno 911!: Miami]]'' and the revival on [[Quibi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/reno-911-revival-season-7-quibi-1202802492/|title='Reno 911!' Revival Gets Green Light At Quibi|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=December 6, 2019|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=December 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://njmonthly.com/articles/jersey-living/sunny-disposition/|title=Danny DeVito Reminisces About Growing Up In New Jersey-www.njmonthly.com|last=Newman|first=Melinda|date=September 13, 2010|website=New Jersey Monthly|access-date=December 7, 2019}}</ref>

In 2019, his company Jersey Films optioned the screen rights to make a film of ''Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation'', by Dan Fagin.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/danny-devito-movie-pulitzer-toms-river-a-story-of-science-and-salvation-dan-fagin-1202627577/|title=Danny DeVito's Jersey 2nd Avenue Options Dan Fagin's Pulitzer-Winning Book 'Toms River: A Story Of Science And Salvation'|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=June 5, 2019|access-date=June 14, 2024}}</ref>