Danny DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman, are household names in Hollywood thanks to their decades-long careers in cinema and television. DeVito is well-known for his work as an actor, comedian, director, and producer; his credits include Taxi, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, among many others. Perlman, an excellent actress in her own right, became well-known to a broad audience thanks to her role on the sitcom Cheers.
Rhea Perlman had a record-breaking six Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series during the show’s 11 seasons. She also received ten Emmy Awards nominations and won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress four times. The actress has also written the six-volume children’s book series Otto Undercover, which has proven successful, adding to Perlman’s resume alongside her acting profession.
While Rhea Perlman’s name is frequently associated with Danny DeVito, she has repeatedly demonstrated that she is an excellent talent, so here’s a look back at her early days in Hollywood, her relationship with DeVito, and her most notable films.
How Rhea Perlman broke into the Hollywood scene
Born on 31 March 1948 in Brooklyn, New York, Rhea Perlman’s early life reveals a driven, committed artist with big dreams. Perlman’s acting career was shaped by many circumstances, including her family’s encouragement, early exposure to theater, and intensive study of drama in college. Perlman began her acting career after graduating from college, when she appeared in several off-Broadway musicals she had been associated with during her student years.
She was cast on the hit sitcom Taxi in 1978 after impressing producers with her apparent talent and comedic timing. In the series, which aired from 1978 to 1983, Rhea Perlman played Louie De Palma’s girlfriend, the lovely and sassy Zena Sherman. Danny DeVito plays Louie, the dispatcher of the Sunshine Cab Company, where the series takes place. Zena is an accounting secretary, and despite Louie’s gruff exterior and frequently crass behavior, Zena sees the good in him, and the two engage in a relationship marked by humor and mutual understanding.
From Taxi to Cheers
Carla Tortelli is perhaps Rhea Perlman’s most famous role. Cheers, which ran from 1982 to 1993, took place in a fictional Boston bar frequented by a diverse cast of regulars. The bar’s resident sassy waitress, Carla, was known for her razor-sharp wit and biting sarcasm.
Perman portrayed Carla Tortelli as a strong, self-sufficient, working-class single mother who handled the challenges of her personal life with grace and humor despite the difficulties she faced. Carla would say anything was on her mind, no matter how embarrassing it might be for the other people in the pub. Despite her tough exterior, Carla also had a softer side, especially when it came to her children.
Perlman’s outstanding performance gave Carla’s character greater depth and dimension. She expertly drew a vision of a lady who was more than just a server by balancing the abrasiveness and fragility of the character. Perman’s portrayal of Carla Tortelli on Cheers won her multiple awards and cemented her place in television history; to this day, Carla is still one of the most well-liked characters in comedy annals.
One of Hollywood’s longest-lasting romances
On 17 January 1971, Perlman met Danny DeVito when she went to watch a friend in the one-and-only performance of the play The Shrinking Bride, in which DeVito also starred, spawning what would become one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting partnerships. After more than a decade of dating, DeVito and Perlman finally tied the knot in January 1982. They have three children: Lucy Chet DeVito, Jacob Daniel DeVito, and Grace Fan DeVito. Together, they created Jersey Films, the production company responsible for blockbusters like Pulp Fiction, Garden State, and Erin Brockovich.
However, they have had their fair share of difficulties in their relationship. After 30 years of marriage, the pair announced their separation in 2012. The announcement startled many because DeVito and Perlman’s marriage was one of Hollywood’s most enduring. They reconciled in 2013 after a brief period of separation. Unfortunately, they separated again in March 2017. Despite this, they have not officially divorced and are frequently seen together in public.
DeVito and Perlman have both maintained successful careers even after their separation. Reviving her acting career with a guest spot on The Mindy Project and as one of the main cast in Kirstie, Perlman proved her commitment to the craft.