Spotlight on... Danny DeVito

Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Danny DeVito is perhaps one of the most recognisable figures in Hollywood. His trademark voice and somewhat diminutive stature have helped him become a household name with a film and television career dating back to the 1970s. He, of course, rose to fame with his breakthrough role as Louie De Palma in Taxi, picking up a Golden Globe in 1980 and an Emmy Award in 1981. Indeed, that iconic role earned DeVito a further three Golden Globe nominations and three Emmy nominations over the years. I'm not sure how many people outside the theatre community know this, but DeVito actually started his career in New York's off-Broadway scene. His stage credits begin in 1969 and run consistently through to 1975. Highlights of this period include the Public Theater's "Shakespeare in the Park" productions of The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Comedy of Errors and the Public's production of Where Do We Go From Here? He also appeared as Anthony Martini in the off-Broadway production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1971, which he would go on to reprise in the acclaimed 1975 movie adaptation. His last off-Broadway appearance was in the 1981 production of Three by Pirandello.

In the spring of 2012 I was fortunate enough to see Mr. DeVito make his West End debut alongside stage and screen veteran Richard Griffiths, who sadly died a year later. DeVito took on the role of Willie Clark in a revival of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys at London's Savoy Theatre and proved both his acting chops as a stage actor as well as the ability to form a genuinely moving onstage chemistry with Griffiths. I will never forget his expertise in perfecting Willie's petulant crankiness. The character would be impossible to live with and the actor was impossible to take my eyes off.

Thank heavens that now Danny DeVito is (finally) making his Broadway debut at a mere age of 72. He is currently starring alongside Mark Ruffalo, Tony Shalhoub and Jessica Hecht in the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Arthur Miller's 1968 drama The Price at the American Airlines Theatre. Our own critic, Tulis McCall, labelled the production as "The Danny DeVito Show" and, with no disrespect to the rest of the cast, it is DeVito by his own nature and the nature of his character, who injects pace and an irresistible energy into the play. His portrayal of a wily furniture dealer in his 90s is a joy to watch, as he weaves his web of manipulation within the tumultuous relationship between Victor Franz (Ruffalo) and estranged brother Walter (Shalhoub) and both his pleasant compliments and misogynistic insults towards Victor's wife Esther (Hecht) land with equal impact. When the dust settles and DeVito is left centre stage chuckling along to one of those old laughing records, we are in no doubt that whoever laughs last, laughs loudest. That "Fade to Black" moment will stay with me for many years to come.

Mr. DeVito has been spending much of his career on our television screens recently as Frank Reynolds in the popular It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia TV series. However, his film career has garnered him global appeal. My personal highlight is seeing him bring Tim Burton's vision of infamous DC Comics villain The Penguin to life in 1992's Batman Returns. Interestingly, no actor has touched that character in any of the Batman films since. Only the talented Robin Lord Taylor has portrayed a much younger Oswald Cobblepot in the Gotham TV series as he inevitably evolves into The Penguin. Other silver screen favourites include two other Tim Burton movies in Big Fish and Mars Attacks!, as well as L.A. Confidential, Matilda, Junior, Other People's Money, and Twins. His instantly recognisable voice has also led him to starring roles in the world of animation, with my personal highlights being his vocal performances as Philoctetes in Disney's 1997 animated classic Hercules and as the title role of the 2012 movie adaptation of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax.

As an experienced actor with a wealth of cherished performance over all mediums of acting, DeVito is clearly in demand and who knows when we may be blessed to see him stretch his legs on the stage again in the future. May I encourage you to catch this living legend on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre and discover his infectious stage acting for yourself?

Click here for tickets to Arthur Miller's The Price for performances through to May 14, 2017 at Broadway's American Airlines Theatre.