Hollywood insiders “totally surprised” by Devito and Perlman split
By BILL ZWECKER Columnist/bzwecker@suntimes.com October 8, 2012 3:02PM
A spokesman for Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman confirmed the couple is separating after 30 years of marriage. | AP
Updated: October 8, 2012 3:11PM
“Stunned,” “shocked,” “totally surprised” and “so sorry to hear it,” are just a few of the comments veteran Hollywood insiders were using Monday as news broke Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman had separated after 30 years of marriage.
“For Hollywood — Hell! For anywhere in America — breaking up after 30 years is practically unheard of,” said one of the biggest producers in the entertainment business who has worked with both DeVito and Perlman. “I am devastated to hear about this.
They are both good friends and will remain so. I’m just sorry to hear they apparently were unable to overcome whatever issues they had.”
† A second source who has recently worked with DeVito speculated the couple’s work has kept them apart, “as often is the case out here.” Beyond confirming the split, DeVito’s spokesman Stan Rosenfeld did not offer any additional details.
†A friend of the couple’s did say that she had not seen DeVito and Perlman together in recent months and added, “like many people, they may have drifted apart over a number of years — finding less and less things in common. … They’re children are grown and their youngest is finally out of the nest. ... It’s just sad to seem them breaking up. They are among the most popular couples in Hollywood.”
