Rhea Perlman is soon turning 75 and has been married to her husband, Danny DeVito, for 40 years, even though they have separated twice, with the second time being a permanent separation.
The actress had a successful career and was a star in the popular sitcom “Cheers,” but she now lives a quiet life, enjoying visits from her granddaughter and tending to her house.
Rhea mostly resides in Los Angeles with the company of her rescue dog, Zorro, but has a residence in Chelsea to ensure she is near her actress daughter Lucy DeVito.
Rhea Perlman is an American actress, author, and producer. She was born on March 31, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York City. Her birthday is coming up soon as she will be turning 75. Rhea has played roles in famous movies such as “Matilda,” “Pom,” “The Sessions,” “Canadian Bacon,” and “Sunset Park.”
The comedian became well-known due to her role as Carla Tortelli on “Cheers,” which ran from 1982 to 1993. Rhea starred in the NBC sitcom for 11 seasons and won four Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
The “Cheers” cast (Clockwise) Ted Danson as Sam Malone, Shelley Long as Diane Chambers, Nicholas Colasanto as Ernie “Coach” Pantusso, Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli in 1990 | Source: Getty Images
Rhea, who has an estimated net worth of $60 million, had a successful career in acting. The mother of three played a recurring role in “The Mindy Project,” which aired on FOX from 2014 to 2017.
However, the comedian attributed her success as an actress to “Cheers,” which she said jumpstarted her career. The author remarked that playing Carla Tortelli was a massive thing for her and the best job ever:
“It was huge and I wouldn’t have had any of the career that I, well, who knows what I would’ve had? Nobody knows what doesn’t happen, but it was the best job in the world.”
The producer recalls not wanting the hit sitcom to come to an end. She remembers asking her co-actor George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson if they should end the series. However, the two agreed to keep it running for as long as they could:
“If someone gives you a present every year, you’re not going to take it the next year? Why not? So we took it for as long as they gave it.”
The comedian is the complete opposite of the characters she plays. Her role in “Cheers” showcased her as a tough woman, but in real life, the author is sweet and elegant. Rhea noted that the difference in her alters egos left people surprised:
“Everyone’s surprised when they meet me. I guess it’s because I’ve played tough cookies for so long. It’s what I do best. I’m not sure I could pull off a genteel Southern belle.”
In the CBS sitcom “Pearl,” the actress takes on a tough-talking role where she talks badly about women and is a master of scrappy conversations.
Rhea Perlman during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the city of Santa Monica’s Library in Santa Monica, California on January 7, 2006 | Source: Getty Images
Despite her tough character on TV, Rhea does not talk ill about anyone in real life. In fact, she is keen about letting any negative comments come from her about her former colleagues.
The producer asked reporters not to print any names when she gave comments. She nervously defended herself on one occasion, saying that she would not have said anything if the reporter had not asked.
Her aggressive TV character Pearl would have snitched on her colleagues given a chance, but the comedian takes care not to say anything negative about her co-actors.
Rhea has been married to Danny DeVito for 40 years now. The duo met in 1971 at an off-Broadway play called “The Shrinking Bride,” where Danny played “a demented stableboy.”
The mother of three, who had come to watch her girlfriend in the play, fell in love at first sight with Danny as she could not take her eyes off the actor throughout the session. The 74-year-old noted that she asked about Danny immediately:
“I had to meet him immediately, I asked my friend if he had a girlfriend, and she said no. I came on to him big time!”
After their first meeting, the two went out for dinner for their initial date. In a few weeks, Rhea left Brooklyn and moved in with Danny in his Manhattan apartment in Los Angeles.
The comedian described the move as significant because it was always her goal to live in Manhattan, but never in her wildest dreams would she have thought she would end up in Los Angeles. The actress later got married to Danny on January 28, 1982.
Her home is well-designed as the two enlisted a Los Angeles designer company called Carter’s Design to do the work, led by principal designer Genevieve Carter.
Rhea Perlman and director Danny DeVito attending a film screening in New York City on April 15, 2016 | Source: Getty Images
Rhea and Danny have three children together Lucy DeVito, 40, Grace DeVito, 38, and Jack DeVito, 35. The couple remained married until 2012 when they announced their first separation after 30 years of marriage. However, they reconciled in March 2013.
Sadly, the pair’s second separation in March 2017 was permanent, as the two have remained separated to date. The author admitted that the separation from her husband was hard as she wished they were still together:
“Sometimes I wish we were still together because those were the glory days, but these are other kinds of glory days.”
However, Rhea said that she and Danny continue to see each other because they are still family. She explained that the separation hurt her, but it has probably worked out for the best as the two spend plenty of time with their children.
Despite their two separations, the couple has never divorced, and the actress remarked that they do not see the need to take this step as they have been together for so long:
“We’ve been together a very long time, so 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?”
In 2019, Rhea opened up on Andy Cohen’s “Watch What Happens Live” about her cordial relationship with Danny despite their separation. A viewer called in to ask the author why she thought her relationship with Danny was good:
“Why do you think it is so easy for you to remain friends with your ex-Danny DeVito but difficult for so many other couples in Hollywood?”
Rhea replied that she and Danny had always loved each other and that they had three exceptional children together. She added that the pair agreed on almost everything important, and being together for 40 years helped boost their good relationship.
The mother of three also said that she and Danny speak every day. Rhea remarked that her relationship with Danny had improved over the years in their separation as compared to the last five years of their marriage:
“Our relationship is much better now because all the tense stuff is gone; it’s not in your face. There was a hard transition through the kids, but everything is now smoothed out.”
Rhea Perlman at the premiere of STX’s “Poms” in Los Angeles, California on May 01, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
The producer added that as much as she and Danny were not going to get a divorce, they lived separately but saw each other a lot. Rhea said the setup was great as she felt that she had gotten her best friend back:
“We can do things together; we can do things separately. I’m really, really glad that Danny and I were able to navigate some rough days to be able to have this different kind of relationship. I think it’s pretty rare, but we agree on so many things that it makes sense.”
Rhea also said her focus has always been on her children. Grace’s mother said that she appreciated the role “Cheers” played in propelling her career, but even so, what she values most is her children:
“‘Cheers’ might have been everything at the beginning of my career, but family is everything, everything. If my relationships with my children were strained, I would be beside myself.”
At the moment, the producer said she looks forward to working and traveling more. She revealed that traveling excited her as she has so many places she has never been to and wants to go to:
“I really want to go so many places. I’ve never been to Japan. I’ve never been to so many parts of South America. I’ve never been to Australia, believe it or not. So that’s one thing that I’m really looking forward to. I like being in nice places.”
The “Cheers” star’s latest role in a major film was in 2020 when she starred in the movie “Marvelous And The Black Hole.” The movie is produced by Carolyn Mao, and the screenplay is by Kate Tsang.
A screengrab of (L-R) producer Carolyn Mao, director Kate Tsang, Rhea Perlman, moderator Kim Yutani, Leonardo Nam, and Miya Cech at the “Marvelous And The Black Hole” Virtual Premiere on January 31, 2021 | Source: Getty Images
Rhea lives in a beach home in Malibu, Los Angeles. Her home is well-designed as she enlisted a Los Angeles designer company called Carter’s Design to do the work, led by principal designer Genevieve Carter.
Genevieve designed the house in 2016 when Rhea and Danny were still married. The designer referred to the two as her friends:
“I consider Rhea and Danny friends. I admire their generous spirits and am thankful that we share an appreciation for working with local artisans and materials with integrity.”
Genevieve and her team worked on the house to create a design that reflected the relaxed California dreaming environment and the natural recreations surrounding the region. The lead designer said that she wanted to create a house that mirrored the family’s multitude of creative pursuits:
“Both sentiments were equally important to Danny, Rhea, and their children, who are all very active in a multitude of creative pursuits. I wanted to create a meditative and warm environment that would nurture and support those talents.”
Genevieve revealed that they had to resurface the entire house by adding new floors and tiles and using fresh paint and whitewashed brick. They also changed the bathroom vanities, added new furnishings, and placed new light fixtures.
Genevieve’s vision showed in the house as the feel in the living room and dining room area was carefree while the furnishings lent an artistic feel to the rooms. The walls were covered with artwork by the couple’s daughter, Gracie.
The quiet palette of the house was achieved by the overhead sandblasted Douglas Fir beams. The designer proclaimed love for the beams, which she said she bases most of her design decisions around. Genevieve also admitted that being near the Pacific Ocean helped as it acted as their muse.
The posh furnishings, including luxurious Cisco Home sofas and an attractive Nicky Kehoe farm table, reflected the heart of the home. The table was surrounded by model French bistro chairs, and the alluring beach could be seen from the living room windows.
The beach home was also furnished with texture and patina, and the storied textiles brought in an ecstatic vibe. Genevieve noted that the house portrays the free spirits of the people living in it:
“Danny and Rhea are incredibly welcoming and generous to an eclectic mix of friends and family, and the ultimate goal was to create a home that supported those ideals; a place that is both welcoming and restorative.”
The comedian spends her time in this beach house, which is surrounded by nature, cooking, and gardening. She gives her fans sneak peeks into her life through her social media accounts. In one photo posted on Instagram, Rhea, grinning, holds two cake pans filled with freshly baked cakes.
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The actress is also into gardening, as one of the photos posted on her Instagram shows her tending to her green vegetables with a shovel in hand. In the picture, Rhea has won a cap over her curly hair and has dressed down to a vest.
Rhea also shares pictures of the nature surrounding her beach house. Her outdoor garden shines bright with yellow flowers lighting up her compound, and a bird can be seen resting on one of her wild metal bird feeders.
The mother of three has also embraced the “grandma life” as she loves to spend time with her granddaughter. In 2013, Rhea was photographed in New York with her daughter Grace and granddaughter. The trio, who were at a special screening for CBGB at the ArcLight Hollywood, shared a striking resemblance.
Rhea and Grace had curly hair that fell to their shoulders, while the comedian’s granddaughter had her tresses in a ponytail. The two grown-ups held on to the young girl, who beamed in their protective embrace.
Currently, the actress’s life after “Cheers” involves spending most of her time with her rescue dog, Zorro, at her beach house. However, she has a place in Chelsea, too, so that she can stay near her actress daughter Lucy.
