How Tall Is Danny Devito: Unpacking the Numbers
Danny DeVito’s official height is 4 feet 10 inches (1.47 meters), according to multiple authoritative sources. However, this measurement has been subject to widespread confusion and conflicting reports:
- Wikipedia lists him at 5’0″ (1.52 m)
- IMDb does not specify but references his “distinctive short stature”
- CelebHeights cites a peak height of 4’10” (147 cm), noting a current height of about 4’9″ (144 cm) due to age-related shrinkage
- DeVito himself humorously claimed: “On a really good day, I’m five feet short” and later specified “4’11 and three quarters” in 2011
This discrepancy stems from measurement methods (self-reported vs. observed), age-related changes, and footwear variations during appearances.
Medical Context: The Role of Fairbank’s Disease
DeVito’s stature is influenced by multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED), also known as Fairbank’s disease:
- A rare genetic disorder affecting bone growth and cartilage development
- Causes short stature (typically 4’5″ to 5’5″) and premature arthritis
- Explains his proportional dwarfism and gradual height reduction with age
DeVito reflected:
“I was plagued; I couldn’t slow-dance with the girls I wanted to… my face would be in a spot where I might be thought of as moving too fast.”
Height in Career and Typecasting
DeVito transformed potential limitations into comedic assets:
- Early Typecasting: Initially told he was “too short to be an actor”
- Breakthrough Role: As Louie De Palma in Taxi (1978-1983), his height amplified the character’s tyrannical presence
- Strategic Contrast: Cast opposite tall actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Twins (1988), where Schwarzenegger quipped: “I always stood in a hole, walked in a ditch, sat on a low chair—anything to make him taller.”
- Villain Archetype: Heightened The Penguin’s grotesque persona in Batman Returns (1992)
DeVito noted:
“No casting director is gonna forget the 5ft guy.”
Personal and Cultural Significance
DeVito’s openness about his height reshaped Hollywood perceptions:
- Childhood Bullying: Recalled being an “easy target” and taking “a lot of lumps” in school
- Social Adaptation: Connected with tall girls who felt similarly self-conscious
- Cultural Icon: Crowned “the king of short kings” on social media—a title he said “gives me joy”
- Advocacy by Example: Proved height doesn’t limit versatility, playing lovers, tyrants, and CEOs
Height Comparisons in Hollywood
| Actor | Height | Key Role |
|---|---|---|
| Danny DeVito | 4’10” | The Penguin (Batman Returns) |
| Joe Pesci | 5’3″ | Tommy DeVito (Goodfellas) |
| Kevin Hart | 5’5″ | Various comedic roles |
| Al Pacino | 5’6″ | Michael Corleone (The Godfather) |
Conclusion: A Legacy Beyond Stature
Danny DeVito’s height—whether measured at 4’10”, 4’11”, or 5’0″—remains secondary to his cultural impact. His career exemplifies how perceived limitations can become artistic strengths, redefining Hollywood’s standards. As noted by many cultural critics: “He stumbled onto the stage by chance… and proved that height doesn’t determine talent.”