A familiar face that’s graced both the small and silver screens steadily since 1970, this week’s Man of the Week is known for playing rascally, if not always lovable, characters. Danny DeVito doesn’t look like the kind of guy who could make a successful living in an industry where looks are paramount, but as it turns out, you can squeeze quite a bit of talent into his five foot frame.
He’s got an unconventional look for an actor and he’s made a specialty of taking unconventional roles. What’s more, with a Hollywood marriage (he’s married to Rhea Perlman) that’s lasted 30 years, it’s safe to say there aren’t many “conventional” things about our latest man of the week.
Getting a start in films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and with television roles like Louie DePalma in Taxi, DeVito has been working steadily for nearly fifty years. You know him now as Frank on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. But fresh off the heels of Dr. Suess’ 108th birthday, you’ll find DeVito lending his voice to the The Lorax. This weekend’s biggest box office success has DeVito in the title role.
With a decidedly conservationist message, The Lorax sets out to tell a tale of redemption and speak to the need to respect resources and recognize their limits without hitting the audience too harshly across the head with it. Of his role and the message in the film, DeVito said:
I found that to be really well done, well mounted and well exhibited…. And that’s a message that we can take away. It’s not that we can’t be inventive, or think of things to sell, or make or manufacture, but the idea is that if we are going to take the goods from the earth, the supplies and the materials, then we should think about the sustainability of it, the replenishing of it.
DeVito also came out in support of voice actors last week after comedian Chris Rock was blasted for making jokes and diminishing the role and skill of voice actors at the Oscars last Sunday. DeVito pointed out that anyone can “phone anything in” but if you really work at it, and most voice actors do, you can provide “one hell of a performance.” The Lorax is in theaters now. You can also find DeVito reprising his role as Frank in season 8 of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia this fall.
And there you have it, the latest Man of the Week. As always if you have suggestions for future men of the week leave them in the comments below or on our Facebook Page.
Photos Via: Movie Fanatic and Screenrant
