How Tall Is Danny DeVito?
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Danny DeVito's Height │ │ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ │ │ 📏 4'10" (147 cm) barefoot │ │ 📋 Claims: 5'0" │ │ ⚖️ Weight: ~165 lbs (75 kg) │ │ 🎂 Born: November 17, 1944, Neptune Township, New Jersey, USA │ │ 🌍 Nationality: American │ │ │ │ 📏 Compare Your Height to Danny DeVito → │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Danny DeVito's Real Height Explained
Danny DeVito stands at approximately 4'10" (147 cm) barefoot, making him one of the shortest leading men in Hollywood history — and one of the most beloved. His stature is the result of a rare genetic condition called multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, commonly known as Fairbank's disease, which affects bone and cartilage development during growth.
According to CelebHeights.com, DeVito's measured height is approximately 4'9.5" (146.1 cm), placing him slightly under the commonly cited 4'10". Various entertainment profiles have listed him anywhere from 4'10" to a generous 5'0", but the most reliable evidence suggests he falls in the 4'9.5"–4'10" range. At his age — DeVito turned 80 in 2024 — some natural height loss is also expected, meaning he may have been a fraction taller in his prime.
What makes DeVito remarkable isn't his height; it's the fact that his height has never once held him back. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has been an actor, director, producer, and comedian of the highest order. His compact stature has been central to some of the most iconic comedic moments in film history — not as a limitation, but as a tool wielded with genius-level comic timing.
The Height Story: Danny DeVito and Fairbank's Disease
Danny DeVito's short stature is caused by multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED), also known as Fairbank's disease. Unlike achondroplasia — the most common form of dwarfism, which Peter Dinklage has — Fairbank's disease affects the epiphyses (the ends of long bones) and can result in shorter stature along with joint pain and stiffness, particularly in the hips and knees.
DeVito has rarely discussed the medical specifics publicly, choosing instead to let his work speak for itself. This approach has defined his career: rather than being known as "the short actor," he became known as one of the funniest, most versatile performers in Hollywood. His condition has never been presented as a sob story or an obstacle to overcome — it's simply part of who he is, and he has wielded it with extraordinary comedic instinct.
The entertainment industry listed DeVito at 5'0" for years, a generous rounding-up that he seems to have accepted with the same good humor he brings to everything. The discrepancy between his listed height and his actual height is among the more harmless cases of Hollywood height inflation — and given his career achievements, nobody has ever particularly cared about the difference.
Danny DeVito's Height Compared to Other Celebrities
Table: Danny DeVito vs Other Stars
| Celebrity | Height | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Danny DeVito | 4'10" (147 cm) | — |
| Peter Dinklage | 4'4" (132 cm) | −6 inches |
| Kevin Hart | 5'2.5" (159 cm) | +4.5 inches |
| Arnold Schwarzenegger | 6'0.5" (184 cm) | +14.5 inches |
| Dwayne Johnson | 6'2.5" (189 cm) | +16.5 inches |
| Ariana Grande | 5'0" (153 cm) | +2 inches |
→ See Danny DeVito vs Arnold Schwarzenegger side by side → See Danny DeVito vs Peter Dinklage side by side → See Danny DeVito vs Kevin Hart side by side
Notable Height Differences
The single most iconic height comparison in Danny DeVito's career — and perhaps in all of cinema — is with Arnold Schwarzenegger (6'0.5"). The two starred together in Twins (1988), a comedy whose entire premise was built on their physical contrast. Arnold, the muscular Austrian bodybuilder standing over six feet tall, and Danny, the stocky New Jersey native barely reaching five feet, were presented as fraternal twins separated at birth. The visual gag of their height difference — approximately 14.5 inches — was the movie's marketing hook, its poster centerpiece, and one of the most memorable comedic images of the 1980s.
The joke worked so well that they reunited for a spiritual sequel, Triplets (announced with Eddie Murphy joining the cast), further proving that their height difference had become a piece of pop culture history. That a 14.5-inch gap between two actors could generate a hit movie, a sequel, and decades of cultural references says everything about how DeVito turned his height into an asset.
Compared to Kevin Hart (5'2.5"), today's most famous height-conscious comedian, DeVito is actually about 4.5 inches shorter. And compared to Peter Dinklage (4'4"), DeVito stands about 6 inches taller. Despite different medical conditions affecting their heights, both actors have become icons who redefined what a leading man can look like.
How Tall Is Danny DeVito Compared to You?
Wondering how you'd look standing next to Danny DeVito? Our free height comparison tool lets you enter your own height and see a visual side-by-side comparison. You can even share your result — imagine posting "I'm taller than Danny DeVito!" on social media.
At 4'10", DeVito is significantly shorter than both the average American male (5'9" / 175 cm) and the average American female (5'4" / 163 cm). If you're an average-height man, you'd have about 11 inches on him. If you're an average-height woman, the difference would be about 6 inches. But as anyone who's watched his work knows, Danny DeVito has a screen presence that makes height measurements feel completely irrelevant.
🔥 See how you measure up! Enter your height and stand next to Danny DeVito in our free comparison tool. Share your result: "I'm ___ than Danny DeVito!"
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Danny DeVito: Height in Context
Danny DeVito's career is a testament to what happens when talent, personality, and fearlessness converge. Born in Neptune Township, New Jersey, he grew up in Asbury Park — a working-class shore town that would later become famous for Bruce Springsteen. DeVito discovered acting at a boarding school where he was sent as a teenager, and he never looked back.
His breakthrough role came as the tyrannical dispatcher Louie De Palma on the sitcom Taxi (1978–1983), a performance that earned him an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe. The character was short-tempered, conniving, and physically small — and DeVito played him with an intensity that made Louie one of the great sitcom villains. Crucially, the show never made Louie's height the butt of the joke. His awfulness was the joke. His height was just part of the package.
From there, DeVito's career trajectory defied every expectation. He became a leading man in Romancing the Stone (1984) and Jewel of the Nile (1985). He directed Throw Momma from the Train (1987), The War of the Roses (1989), and the beloved family classic Matilda (1996) — in which he also starred as the villainous Mr. Wormwood. He played the Penguin in Tim Burton's Batman Returns (1992), creating one of the most grotesque and memorable comic book villains ever put on screen. And since 2006, he has been a cornerstone of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as the outrageous Frank Reynolds, a role he's played for nearly two decades.
Behind the camera, DeVito's producing credits are equally staggering. He produced Pulp Fiction (1994) and Erin Brockovich (2000) through his production company Jersey Films — two of the most acclaimed films of their respective decades. His career as a director, producer, and actor makes him a genuine triple threat, and none of it was achieved in spite of his height. It was achieved because of who he is.
His marriage to actress Rhea Perlman lasted over 40 years, making them one of Hollywood's most enduring couples. Perlman, at 5'0", is slightly taller than DeVito — a detail that has never been treated as anything other than a charming fact about two people who love each other.
At 4'10", Danny DeVito has built a career that most actors at any height would envy. He's proof that in the entertainment industry — and in life — your stature is determined by what you do, not by how tall you stand.
Quick Facts About Danny DeVito
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. |
| Height (barefoot) | 4'10" (147 cm) |
| Height (claimed) | 5'0" |
| Weight | ~165 lbs (75 kg) |
| Date of Birth | November 17, 1944 |
| Place of Birth | Neptune Township, New Jersey, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, Director, Producer |
| Known For | Twins, Batman Returns, Matilda, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Taxi |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Danny DeVito in feet and inches?
Danny DeVito stands at approximately 4'10" tall, which is 147 centimeters or 1.47 meters. CelebHeights estimates him at 4'9.5" (146.1 cm), while entertainment profiles often list him at 5'0". The most reliable estimates place him in the 4'9.5"–4'10" range.How tall is Danny DeVito in cm?
Danny DeVito is approximately 147 cm tall (CelebHeights says 146.1 cm), equivalent to about 4'10" in imperial measurements.Why is Danny DeVito so short?
Danny DeVito has multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, also known as Fairbank's disease. This is a rare genetic condition that affects bone and cartilage development at the growth plates (epiphyses) of long bones. It results in shorter stature and can also cause joint problems. It is distinct from achondroplasia, the more common form of dwarfism that affects Peter Dinklage.Who is taller, Danny DeVito or Peter Dinklage?
Danny DeVito is taller at approximately 4'10" (147 cm) compared to Peter Dinklage's 4'4" (132 cm). DeVito has about 6 inches on Dinklage. Both actors have different conditions affecting their height — DeVito has Fairbank's disease, while Dinklage has achondroplasia. → See them side by sideHow much does Danny DeVito weigh?
Danny DeVito weighs approximately 165 lbs (75 kg). His stocky, compact build has been a signature part of his physical presence throughout his career. Despite being only 4'10", his weight gives him a solid, grounded physicality that contributes to his commanding screen presence.Related Celebrity Heights
- Peter Dinklage Height: 4'4"
- Kevin Hart Height: 5'2.5"
- Arnold Schwarzenegger Height: 6'0.5"
- Ariana Grande Height: 5'0"
- Scarlett Johansson Height: 5'2.75"
- Bruno Mars Height: 5'4.5"