A Decades-Long Bond
Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman haven’t been romantically involved in years, but a divorce isn’t on the table. The acting veterans, who separated in 2017, remain legally married and deeply entwined in each other’s lives.
DeVito, 81, recently opened up about their enduring bond in the August-September issue of AARP The Magazine, published on July 29. The actor reflected on the early 1970s when he first crossed paths with Perlman, 78. The Emmy Award-winning Cheers star caught one of DeVito’s off-Broadway performances, and the two went out with a mutual friend afterward.
“We hit it off. We liked off-Broadway stuff,” DeVito told the publication. “We went to movies all the time. We made little movies together — short films.”
He summarized their early romance simply: “A lot in common, and we fell in love. A nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn and an Italian from New Jersey: I cooked and she ate.”
Danny DeVito smiling on the cover of AARP magazine
Navigating Separation
The couple tied the knot in 1982 and raised three children: Lucy, 43, Grace, 41, and Jacob, 38. Their relationship hit a public roadblock in 2012 when they first separated. After a brief reconciliation in 2013, they parted ways for good in 2017.
Despite the split, DeVito confirmed they plan to stay legally married. He noted they spend time together almost daily. “We’re always over at her house. We see the grandchildren together, that kind of stuff,” he said. “So that’s a good relationship.”
Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman at a public event
Perlman echoed these sentiments during a 2023 appearance on Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Wiser Than Me podcast. She explained that while they remain very good friends, it took time for the former couple to reach this “pretty decent understanding.”
Hollywood Mainstays
Both actors continue to maintain busy schedules. DeVito is currently gearing up for the 18th season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He will also reprise his 2019 role in Jumanji: Open World, hitting theaters on December 25.
Perlman’s 2025 slate is equally packed with appearances in television series like The Studio, Too Much, and Poker Face.
Looking back on his extensive career, DeVito credited his inner circle for his sustained success. “Because of them, I always had a feeling that no matter what I was doing, I could do it, no holds barred,” he said.
