He could quite possibly be my favorite, America’s favorite, and maybe even the world’s favorite short king- Danny DeVito, a FUCKING legend of the game. Where do I kick this off? Born November 17, 1944 in Neptune Township, New Jersey, DeVito has starred in more than 70 movies and directed more than 25. Diagnosed with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (Fairbank’s disease), a rare genetic disorder that affects bone growth, DeVito stands at a mighty 4 foot 10. Given his physical stature, along with his tremendous body of work, one could make the argument that DeVito is THE pioneer and leader of the short kings throughout the 20th/21st century.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, I grew up watching a lot of different films that DeVito starred in- movies such as Matilda, Deck the Halls, etc. Some may even remember him playing the Penguin in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns- goodness, did he play a creepy one. I also really enjoyed when he did the voice acting for the Lorax in the 2012 Dr. Seuss animation of The Lorax. You might have already guessed this, but my favorite character that DeVito has taken on, to this day, is Frank Reynolds in the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia series.
I have a strong feeling that Danny is just being himself when he plays Frank. I believe that he lets his wild imagination rip when he is consulting on the writing with the other cast members. I really enjoy Frank’s different personalities on the show- Dr. Mantis Toboggan, Ongo Gablogian, the Trash Man- how does he come up with this shit?!?! Very funny stuff. If you don’t know any of these character personalities, I highly recommend that you binge watch Seasons 1 through 10 of It’s Always Sunny. Two of the most memorable moments that I have from the show, which are also probably my favorite moments, are Frank’s “shit sandwich” bit and his “I just wanna be pure” bit.
If I recall correctly, throughout this episode in season 10, Frank keeps making suggestions to force other characters to eat a shit sandwich.
And in this episode, Frank has become so germophobic that he ends up covering himself in hand sanitizer to keep himself “pure”
Even though I don’t really watch the show as much, I hope to see Danny in season 17 of It’s Always Sunny, now that it has been renewed and is expected to come sometime in 2024.
Did I also mention that DeVito was able to secure a short queen? Rhea Perlman, Danny’s wife of 35 years, stands at an adjacent 5 foot. The couple first met when Perlman went to see a friend in a single performance of the play The Shrinking Bride, which also featured DeVito. They have 3 children together.
Look at this handsome young man. LEGEND
Anyway, these are some of the things that make Danny Devito a top dog in the short king movement. This legend will forever be appreciated in the short king community.
God bless DeVito,
Producer Reese
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Frank Reynolds FTW