Film work

DeVito at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2010

DeVito played Martini in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, reprising his role from the
1971 off-Broadway play of the same title.
After his time on the Taxi series ended, DeVito devoted more effort to a growing successful film
career, appearing as Vernon Dalhart in the 1983 hit Terms of Endearment; 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 in 1987 he made his feature-directing
debut with the dark comedy Throw Momma from the Train, in which he starred with Billy
Crystal and Anne Ramsey. He reunited with Douglas and Turner two years later in The War of the
Roses (1989), which he directed and in which he co-starred.
Other work included Other People's Money with Gregory Peck; director Barry Levinson's Tin Men, as
a rival salesman to Richard Dreyfuss' character; the comedies Junior (1994) and Twins (1988)
with Arnold Schwarzenegger; playing the villain The Penguin in director Tim Burton's Batman
Returns (1992); and the film adaptation Matilda (1996), which he directed and co-produced, along
with playing the role of Matilda's father, the villainous car dealer Harry Wormwood.
Although generally a comic actor, DeVito expanded into dramatic roles with The
Rainmaker (1997); Hoffa (1992), which he directed and in which he co-starred with Jack
Nicholson; Jack the Bear (1993); neo-noir film L.A. Confidential (1997); The Big Kahuna (1999);
and Heist (2001), as a gangster nemesis of Joe Moore (Gene Hackman).
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 vehicles.

Theatre
In April 2012, DeVito made his West End acting debut in a revival of the Neil Simon play The
Sunshine Boys as Willie Clark, alongside Richard Griffiths.[10] 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. [11]
DeVito made his Broadway debut in a Roundabout Theatre Company revival of the Arthur
Miller play The Price as Gregory Solomon, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. 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.

Producing
DeVito has become a major film and television producer. DeVito founded Jersey Films in 1991,
[12]
 producing films like Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Erin Brockovich (for which he received an Academy
Award nomination for Best Picture), Gattaca, and Garden State. In 1999, he produced and co-
starred in 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. DeVito also produced the Comedy Central series Reno 911!, the
film spin-off Reno 911!: Miami, and the upcoming revival on Quibi.[13][14]
Directing
DeVito made his directorial debut in 1984 with The Ratings Game. He then directed and starred
in Throw Momma from the Train (1987),[15] The War of the
Roses (1989), Hoffa (1992), Matilda (1996), Death to Smoochy (2002) and Duplex (2003). The War
of the Roses was a commercial and critical success, as was the film adaptation of Roald
Dahl's Matilda; Death to Smoochy and Duplex had mixed reviews.[16] He also directed the TV
movie Queen B in 2005.[17]
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).