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Danny DeVito has spent more than five decades proving that making a lasting impression can matter just as much as fitting Hollywood’s expectations. The actor, director, and producer has built a career spanning classic sitcoms, blockbuster films, Broadway, and ambitious projects behind the camera. Now, at 81, DeVito is sharing the simple advice he believes can help others find their own place in the entertainment industry. His philosophy comes down to commanding attention when an opportunity appears, but never losing compassion along the way.

Danny DeVito Encourages Actors To ‘Take Over The Room’

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DeVito offered direct advice to anyone attempting to break into Hollywood during a new interview with AARP The Magazine. “Make an impression. Walk in there and take over the room, and the rest is history,” he said. Although he did not initially plan to become an actor, he learned to embrace unexpected opportunities and make himself unforgettable once they appeared.

His advice for navigating life beyond Hollywood was noticeably gentler. “Do it with gentleness and extraordinary kindness,” DeVito shared.

Together, the two principles reflect how he has approached his career: Be fearless enough to claim space, but thoughtful enough to treat the people around you well. And that combination has helped DeVito evolve from an aspiring makeup artist into one of the entertainment industry’s most recognizable and versatile figures.

Acting Was Never Part Of Danny DeVito’s Original Plan

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DeVito’s route toward Hollywood began unexpectedly in his hometown of Asbury Park, New Jersey. After finishing high school, he held several jobs, including working as a gardener and operating an amusement ride. He eventually began cutting hair at the beauty salon owned by his older sister, Angie. “I did that for three years. I wasn’t Vidal Sassoon, but I was pretty good, and I got along with women,” DeVito recalled.

When he was around 19, Angie encouraged him to travel to New York City and learn professional makeup application. DeVito found an instructor who taught evening classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, but there was one complication: He could not enter the building for private lessons unless he enrolled at the school.

DeVito signed up part-time and began observing acting classes while continuing his work as a hairdresser. “I was just auditing classes,” he explained. “But I started to get hooked.”

The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts Opened A New World

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As DeVito spent more time at the academy, acting gradually became more than a side interest. “I was reading ‘Of Mice and Men’ and Ibsen and learning about Shakespeare and Arthur Miller,” he recalled. “And I made a bunch of good friends.”

His education extended beyond the classroom. DeVito and his classmates would visit Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village, where they watched rising performers such as Bob Dylan and Richard Pryor.

Immersed in the cultural energy of 1960s New York, DeVito eventually left hairdressing, moved to Manhattan, and enrolled at the academy full-time. That decision placed him on the path toward a career that would eventually include an Emmy-winning performance as dispatcher Louie De Palma on “Taxi” and his long-running role as Frank Reynolds on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

His film credits would grow to include “Ruthless People,” “Twins,” “Batman Returns,” “Matilda,” “Get Shorty,” and “Jumanji: The Next Level.”

Danny DeVito Became A Hollywood Force Behind The Camera

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Although audiences know DeVito primarily for his comedic performances, his influence extends far beyond acting. He directed films including “Throw Momma from the Train,” “The War of the Roses,” “Hoffa,” “Matilda,” and “Death to Smoochy.” He also established himself as a producer willing to back unconventional material and filmmakers he believed deserved an opportunity. That instinct helped him support “Pulp Fiction,” Quentin Tarantino’s landmark independent film.

DeVito’s behind-the-scenes work demonstrates the same willingness to seize opportunities that he now encourages in younger entertainers. He did not limit himself to the category in which Hollywood first found him successful, instead using his position to expand into directing and producing.

“Danny is so ubiquitous with all things entertainment,” Charlie Day said. “It takes real courage to trust people and take the big swings. I hope that I can be that courageous throughout the entirety of my career.”

Danny DeVito Credits His Loved Ones With Making Him Fearless

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DeVito’s path was not carefully mapped out. A request from his sister led to makeup lessons, those lessons led to acting classes, and those classes ultimately opened the door to a career he had never anticipated.

What remained constant was his confidence that the people closest to him would continue supporting him, regardless of where the journey led. “Because of them, I always had a feeling that no matter what I was doing, I could do it, no holds barred,” he said.

That sense of security gave DeVito the freedom to take risks as a performer, move behind the camera, support unconventional films, and continue testing himself well into his 80s.

The Danny DeVito Shares The Career Advice That Changed His Life first appeared on The Blast