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Danny DeVito recently opened up about his experience working with Michelle Pfeiffer on the iconic 1992 film Batman Returns, directed by Tim Burton. In a candid conversation for Variety’s Actors on Actors series with fellow actor Colin Farrell, DeVito revealed the strong impression Pfeiffer made on him during filming. He affectionately referred to her as a “goddess” and admitted, with a laugh, that he was genuinely flustered whenever she was around. Portraying the grotesque Penguin opposite Pfeiffer’s seductive Catwoman, he described how her presence would make him feel self-conscious and compelled to pile on extra makeup. While he made it clear that it was his character, Oswald Cobblepot, who was outwardly lustful, DeVito admitted to being personally dazzled by Pfeiffer’s charm.
DeVito’s humor was on full display when Colin Farrell jokingly asked if Pfeiffer had ever called security on him, to which he replied that she seemed to enjoy Oswald’s eccentric energy. Despite playing such a vile character on screen, DeVito clarified that he never let the role seep into his personal life. He emphasized how, after a day of filming, he would always go home to his then-wife, Rhea Perlman, and their three children. Though the couple separated in 2017, they have remained legally married and continue to co-parent Lucy, Gracie, and Jack.
Meanwhile, Michelle Pfeiffer remains just as admired as ever. She’s continued to impress fans with her grace and natural beauty, recently posting makeup-free selfies and being honored with a hand and footprints ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Now married to television producer David E. Kelley since 1993, Pfeiffer shares two adult children with him, Claudia and John.
In the same interview, DeVito and Farrell reflected on their views regarding alcohol. Farrell, who’s been sober since 2005, has been a positive influence on DeVito, encouraging him to moderate his own drinking habits. Though DeVito still enjoys the occasional sip of wine or a gin martini paired with a cigar, he noted that he tries to avoid alcohol entirely when focusing on his health. Both actors agreed they feel mentally and physically better with less drinking, underscoring a shared appreciation for balance in their lives.