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Who is Rhea Perlman?
American actress Rhea Jo Perlman was born in Brooklyn, New York City USA, on 31 March 1948, making Aries her zodiac sign. She has 118 acting credits, but is probably still known best for starring as Carla Tortelli in all 273 episodes of the comedy series “Cheers”, which also starred Ted Danson and John Ratzenberger, and was created by Glen Charles and James Burrows. It follows the people working and visiting the bar Cheers in Boston, Massachusetts, the series aired from 1982 through 1993, and won 78 of its 259 award nominations.
Rhea’s still today highly active in the film industry, and is currently shooting for the upcoming short movie “Bloom”.
Education and early life
Rhea and her sister Heide Paula Perlman were raised in Bensonhurst, New York City by their American mother Adele who was a bookkeeper, and Polish father who was a manager at a doll parts factory; Heide’s today a successful screenwriter. Rhea and her sister were raised Jewish.
She became interested in acting while attending a local high school in New York City, and Rhea appeared in a number of plays performed at both the school and a local theatre; her father was also an actor, and was an extra in a number of movies and TV series.
Upon matriculating in 1965, Rhea enrolled at Hunter College, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968.
Roles in movies
Rhea’s debut film role was playing Woman on Ferry in the 1972 short drama “Hot Dogs for Gauguin”, and the remainder of the decade saw her appear in the 1976 drama “Stalk the Wild Child”, the 1977 drama “Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night”, and the 1979 drama “Like Normal People”.
The year 1986 heard her voice Reeka in the popular animated family adventure “My Little Pony: The Movie”, which starred her husband Danny DeVito and Madeline Kahn, and was directed by Mike Joens and Gerry Chiniquy; it follows a group of animals as they’re defending Ponyland from an evil witch and her massive purple ooze Smooze. Rhea was then cast to play and voice characters in the 1987 thriller “Stamp of a Killer”, the 1988 animated family comedy “Mickey’s 60th Birthday” (voice role), and the 1990 crime comedy “Enid is Sleeping”.
In 1992, she portrayed Miss Simpson in the comedy “Class Act”, which starred Christopher Martin and Christopher Reid, and was directed by Randall Miller. It follows a juvenile delinquent and a valedictorian who’ve had their school records switched. Rhea appeared in a couple of popular movies in the remainder of the ‘90s, including in 1996 the sports drama “Sunset Park” and the family fantasy comedy “Matilda”, and the 2000 comedy “How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale”.
She had only a couple of film roles in the 2000s, and the most popular amongst these was perhaps the 2006 comedy “10 Items or Less”, which starred Paz Vega and Morgan Freeman, and was written and directed by Brad Silberling. It follows an actor who’s just met a grocery store clerk, who’ve now embarked on a road trip together; the film won one of its three award nominations.
Rhea started off the 2010s by appearing in the short comedy “Poison Tongue”, the comedy “The Trouble with Bliss” and the family drama “Oliver’s Ghost”, all released in 2011. In 2015, she portrayed Sally in the romantic comedy “I’ll See You in My Dreams”, which starred Martin Starr and Blythe Danner, and was written and directed by Brett Haley. It follows an elderly widowed singer, and the film was nominated for eight awards.
Some of Rhea’s most recent film roles have been in the 2022 family comedy “13: The Musical”, and in 2023 the romantic comedy “You People” and the adventure fantasy comedy “Barbie”.
Roles in TV series
Rhea’s debut TV series role was playing Betsy in the 1980 episode “Angie and Brad’s Close Encounter” of the comedy “Angie”, and the ‘80s then saw her appear in an episode of various series, such as the comedy “Taxi”, another comedy “St. Elsewhere”, and the crime mystery “Matlock”.
In 1996 and 1997, she starred as Pearl Caraldo in all 22 episodes of the comedy “Pearl”, which also starred Carol Kane and Kevin Corrigan, and was created by Don Reo. It follows the elderly widow Pearl Caraldo who’s enrolled at college, and the series won one of its two award nominations. The remainder of the decade saw Rhea make a guest appearance in an episode of the comedy “Union Square”, another comedy “Almost Perfect”, and the romantic comedy “Mad About You”.
What marked the 2000s for her was perhaps playing Vera-Joan Skagle in four episodes of the 2009 comedy “Hung”, which starred Jane Adams and Thomas Jane, and was created by Dmitry Lipkin and Colette Burson. It follows the life of a former high school sports legend, and the series won one of its 13 award nominations.
Did you know? Rhea Perlman (Cheers, Matilda) voiced Cid in Star Wars: The Bad Batch pic.twitter.com/IDCHE6rpUX
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) May 29, 2021
From 2014 through 2017, Rhea played Annette Castellano in the popular comedy “The Mindy Project”, which starred Mindy Kaling, who also created it; it follows the life of a doctor, and the series won eight of its 34 award nominations.
Some of Rhea’s most recent TV series roles have been in 11 episodes of the animated action adventure “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” from 2021 through 2023 (voice role), the 2023 episode “Not a Fairytale Yet” of the comedy “Not Dead Yet” and the 2023 episode “The Gang Gets Cursed” of the comedy “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”.
Other credits
Rhea wrote and produced the 1973 short comedy movie “The Sound Sleeper” and the 1975 short comedy film “Minestrone”, and she also produced all 22 episodes of the 1997 comedy series “Pearl”, and the 2006 short comedy movie “Bye Bye Benjamin”.
She’s received five special thanks, most recently for the 1998 adventure comedy movie “Barney’s Great Adventure”, the 2004 short documentary film “Strictly Top-Shelf: The Guys Behind the Bar”, and the 2006 musical documentary movie “No Day But Today: The Story of ‘Rent’”.
Some of Rhea’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “Entertainment Tonight”, “Daily Blast Live” and “Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus”.
Awards and nominations
Rhea’s won seven of her 26 award nominations. Some of her wins include four Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1984, ‘85, ‘86 and 1989, a 1989 American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Female Performer, and a 2006 TV Land Legend Award, all six for her performance in “Cheers”.
Love life and husband
Even though Rhea prefers to keep the details of her love life to herself, she still occasionally allows her fans a glimpse into it.
She and famous American actor, comedian and moviemaker Daniel Michael ‘Danny’ DeVito Jr. met on 17 January 1971, when Rhea went to the theatre to watch her friend perform in a production of “The Shinking Bride”, in which Danny starred. They dated for only two weeks prior to moving in together, but didn’t marry until 10 years later, on 28 January 1982.
Rhea gave birth to their daughter Lucy Chet DeVito on 11 March 1983, who’s today a successful actress; she gave birth to their second daughter Grace Fan DeVito on 25 March 1985, and their son Jacob Daniel DeVito followed on 30 October 1987.
It was revealed in October 2012 that Rhea and Danny had separated, but they reconciled in March 2013; they separated again in March 2017, reconciled again in March 2018, then separated for the third time on 10 May 2019, but they’ve revealed that they’re not going to be filing for divorce.
There are no other men whom Rhea’s perhaps been with, that we know about; she’s married to Danny DeVito as of August 2023 (separated) and they have three children together.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Rhea’s one of only three actors to star in all 273 episodes of the hit series “Cheers”; her father also appeared in the series, portraying bar patron Phil. Rhea played the “Cheers” character Carla Tortelli in four other shows, including “St. Elsewhere”, “Frasier” and “The Simpsons”.
Rhea and Danny starred alongside in the 1996 movie “Matilda”, actually portraying a husband and wife.
She was the original choice for the character Frau Farbissina in the film franchise “Austin Powers”, but Rhea had to turn the offer down because of conflicting schedules.
One of Rhea’s closest friends is American actress, producer and director Lucy Liu.
Her cousin is American actor, screenwriter and director Randall Miller.
Richard Gere’s one of Rhea’s favorite actors, and some of her favorite movies include “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale”, “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “American Gigolo”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Rhea’s age is 75. She has brown hair and eyes, is 5ft (1.52m) tall and weighs around 120lbs (55kgs).
Rhea’s net worth’s been estimated at over $60 million, as of August 2023, and her husband Danny’s at over $80 million.
