As Danny DeVito celebrates his birthday on November 17, fans are surprised to discover his true age, as many had assumed he was younger than he is. DeVito initially worked as a cosmetologist in a morgue before transitioning to a successful acting career. Starting in off-Broadway shows in 1969, he later starred in his first film, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” in 1975, following an off-Broadway production of the same name four years earlier.
His breakthrough came with the hit TV show “Taxi” in 1978, where he portrayed Louie De Palma, earning him an Emmy and a Golden Globe. This marked the beginning of his on-screen success, leading him to expand his film career with roles in popular productions like “Matilda,” “Batman Returns,” and the sitcom “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
Recently, a Reddit thread discussing the sitcom featured a photo of DeVito entering his 80s, sparking astonishment among fans who had underestimated his age. Despite turning 81 in 2025, DeVito shows no signs of slowing down in his acting career. He continues to be a prominent figure in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” as Frank Reynolds and has made appearances in films like “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (2024) and guest spots on TV series such as “Rick and Morty” and “Abbott Elementary.”
Although some fans may be concerned about his retirement, DeVito has made it clear that he has no intentions of stepping away from acting. In a 2018 interview with the Press Association, he quipped, “I am not going to retire. Actors don’t… do actors retire? Maybe they do. I have never heard of an actor retiring.”