Danny Devito Could Not See Him & Wife Rhea ‘Getting Married’ & Wanted Her to ‘Work All the Time'

While Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman make millions of fans wonder if they are still together, they enjoy their marriage. The couple will not be divorcing after more than 40 years of marriage. Even though he did not want to marry, she did not want a divorce.

How actor Danny Devito met his wife, Rhea Perlman, is nothing short of a Hollywood tale. Perlman was a struggling actress in 1971 when she went backstage to congratulate her future husband, who was in an off-Broadway play.

They “instantly hit off” as it was love at first sight for the lovebirds who ended up sharing an apartment in Manhattan within two weeks after they met. Devito, 77, and Perlman, 73, married in 1982 and had three kids, Daniel, Grace, and Lucy.

MEETING IN HOLLYWOOD STYLE

The Hollywood couple has written screenplays and formed a production company called “New Street Productions,” after the street on which Devito was born.

“On the 28th of every month, we celebrate our anniversary together. We have a very romantic involvement, and it makes our lives interesting and fun," Devito once explained.

Even though he and Perlman had a whirlwind romance from the onset, the film director did not want to get married at the time but wanted a love child instead:

“I can’t see us getting married in the future. But it would be nice someday to have a kid running around.”

Aside from their flourishing friendship, Devito and Perlman have starred in sixteen movies together, and in most, they always co-starred as a couple.

Devito believed cohabiting without any legal ties forced a man and a woman to work at keeping the spark alive in their relationship while noting:

“Our relationship has been successful, but marriage has nothing to do with it. I’m immersed in my work, and so is Rhea. That’s what makes us interesting to each other.”

The screenwriter hinted that it was work that kept them together, saying they discussed their careers and constantly reinforced one another.

“I’m obsessed with acting, and Rhea naturally understands the hazards and demands of the business," Devito explained, adding he could not live 24 hours a day with someone who was not in the same industry as him.

He was also stern in making it known that he wanted his significant other at the time to maintain her career because he did not want her to be a housewife:

“I think Rhea should work all the time. She’s a good actress, a spirited person, and very intelligent.”

Dubbed “the world’s funniest married couple,” the dynamic duo plays husband and wife in the 1996 film “Matilda,” with Devito also directing.

When asked if playing the on-screen couple and having her spouse also behind the camera caused any issues between them, Perlman said “not really,” and explained:

“He’s my boss for eight weeks. The minute this is a wrap, I plan for us to go back to the old relationship.”

ON-AGAIN OFF-AGAIN RELATIONSHIP

In 2012, the pair split amid allegations that Devito had a “wandering eye” during their marriage. At the time, a source told RadarOnline:

“Like a lot of red-blooded males, if he sees an attractive girl in a coffee shop or walking down the street, he will give her the eye.”

According to the insider, after turning a blind eye to Devito’s tendencies, Perlman finally decided that enough was enough and wanted to end their marriage.

The source added their union had been on the rocks for a long time, notably over ten years, because they had not been happy for a while. Be that as it may, the pair never confirmed the rumors and instead reconciled a year later.

Once again, in March 2017, The Sun reported Perlman and Devito had parted ways and for good this time, three years after calling off their divorce. They had been married for 35 years.

The producer revealed that they are now separated even though they are not officially divorced. “We’re not getting a divorce, but we separated, yeah,” Devito told CBS News Sunday Morning.

The movie star also affirmed that he and his estranged wife still loved each other and were good friends who would continue to support each other’s careers.

Meanwhile, Perlman candidly told the New York Post in March 2018 why she would not divorce her estranged husband, saying they had a lot of history together because they had been together for a long time.

THE KIDS’ REACTION

According to the mom of three, it was first hard for their adult children to come to terms with their separation, but they have eventually accepted it.

“There was a hard transition through the kids and everything, but everybody’s got a good relationship with Danny and with me and with each other, and that’s all we care about," said Perlman.

In March 2019, the "Cheers" star told People that she and the father of her kids were friends and happy ones, adding everyone else was joyous despite their breakup.

In November 2016, the Associated Press asked two of their children, Lucy, 38, and Jake, 34, about their experience growing up having famous parents. Perlman and Devito’s only son shared:

“Growing up, our parents had a lot of amazing, interesting characters around all the time. We traveled to strange places, being on set, which was a fun experience as a kid. But they were good about keeping our home solid and safe.”

As for their oldest daughter, Lucy, she said the weirdest thing about growing up a Devito was when people came up to her, telling her that her dad was their idol and some got star-struck because they are related, which she finds “awkward.”

In December 2017, the actress told Entertainment Tonight that she does not reveal her last name on first dates. While Lucy mentioned that the people she meets are kind and friendly, she never hints at who she is.

“I don’t tell people that,” the “Deadbeat” star revealed. Lucy considers a first date more like an interview and feels like when she and the other person have chemistry, she would talk more about herself.

She explained that she is guarded in that sense, “it’s a curse and a blessing to have that last name,” said Lucy adding that even so, it was more good than bad.

When mentioning her parents, the brunette beauty revealed they had been nothing but supportive in her career, deeming them her “gurus.”

Lucy said her mom and dad taught her to be open, have fun, and ask questions when exploring and that they taught her to have a sense of humor.

PERLMAN & DEVITO’S RELATIONSHIP NOW

Concerning her parents’ relationship to date, they keep it cordial. Perlman revealed on "Watch What Happens Live!” in May 2019 that the reason why she and Devito were able to remain friends was because they had always loved each other and have three exceptional children together.

She also mentioned that having been together for forty years was also a factor in their friendship. Perlman also revealed that she and the “Twins” star talk frequently.

Additionally, when asked if their relationship was better now compared to their marriage, she agreed, saying “absolutely!” and further explained:

"There’s a lot of love and history. We agree on enough things, so why ruin that with the yucky things that come with a divorce?”

Aside from their flourishing friendship, Devito and Perlman have starred in sixteen movies together, and in most, they always co-starred as a couple. One of the films includes 1982's “The Selling of Vince D’Angelo."

Devito, a New Jersey native, also directs in the critically acclaimed short film and plays corrupt Congressman Vince D’Angelo. Perlman plays his wife.

Perlman made her acting debut in the 1972 short movie “Hot Dogs for Gauguin,” alongside Devito, wherein she plays the woman on Ferry, and he plays Adrian.

The pair starred in another film called “The Ratings Game” (1984), where they played boyfriend and girlfriend as Vic De Salvo and Francine Kester.

Their memorable act was on the 1996 comedy adaptation of “Matilda.” They again play husband and wife, Devito as Harry Wormwood and Perlman as Zinnia Wormwood.