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Danny DeVito-Rhea Perlman split catches Hollywood off guard

By Bill Zwecker October 8, 2012 5:48PM

FILE PHOTO: Danny DeViAnd RhePerlman Separate

FILE PHOTO: Danny DeVito And Rhea Perlman Separate

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Updated: November 10, 2012 6:15AM



‘Stunned,” “shocked,” “totally surprised” and “so sorry to hear it” — 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 they apparently were unable to overcome whatever issues they had.”A second Tinseltown source who 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 did say 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. … Their children are grown and their youngest is finally out of the nest. ... It’s just sad. ... They are among the most popular couples in Hollywood.”

STAR SCOOP: Fans of singer and actor Jon Bon Jovi will be happy to know the Golden Globe-winning songwriter will be walking the red carpet Thursday night at the Harris Theater for the opening of the Chicago International Film Festival. Word has it a couple of songs Bon Jovi wrote for the score of director Fisher Stevens’ “Stand Up Guys” (the festival’s opening night film, starring Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Alan Arkin and Juliana Margulies) — just might be up for Oscars next February.

DEEPLY WORRIED: While the white powder sent in a package to Bristol Palin on the “Dancing With the Stars” set in L.A. turned out to be harmless, the reality TV star and her mom, former GOP vice presidential candidate and ex-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, are understandably upset by the ongoing threats against the younger Palin.

The FBI and Los Angeles Police are both investigating, but Palin is worried “one of those nut jobs out there will eventually get close enough to harm her,” said a show source Monday. “It’s just so ugly and wrong.”

POLITICAL THEATER: Here’s a fun way to think about the upcoming presidential race: Pine Box Theater is presenting “ElectionFest 2012” — 12 plays, 10 minutes each, that delve into some of the key issues dividing the candidates. The four-night festival runs Oct 22-23 and 29-30 at Theatre Wit, 1229 W. Belmont. Among some of the more intriguing play titles are “Guess Who’s Not Coming To Dinner?,” “The One Percent,” “This Is Where You Lose Them” and “A Moderate Threat.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Naha owner and chef Carrie Nahabedian has been one busy lady lately. She’s just back from Istanbul — doing a Naha week at the Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahamet with that hotel’s general manager Felix Murillo, who used to be based in Chicago. Nahabedian was thrilled to cook for a bunch of Chicagoans and ex-Chicagoans who were staying at the hotel, including Erin Fitzgerald, Geordie Frey, Patty and Craig Henderson and Robert Buford.

Nahabedian is also excited about her new restaurant that’s under construction at 534 N. Clark — just up the street from Naha. Slated to open in the new year, the new eatery is described by the chef as “very intimate (only 50 seats), sexy and Parisian inspired.”

† Considering chef Yoshi Katsumura won the “best gourmet burger” at the recent Chicago Gourmet Food & Wine Festival, it’s not surprising he’s added the American wagyu burger (topped with Asian pear jam, fried green tomato and pickle, brie cheese, wasabi and barbecue sauce) to the menu at his Yoshi’s Café — celebrating its 30th anniversary next month.

† Speaking of 30th anniversaries — one heck of a run for any restaurant — congrats go out to that great sushi mecca Itto Sushi on North Halsted, and to owners Keiko and Juco Hattori on their popular restaurant hitting that milestone.

† Pastry guru and chef Alain Roby is going for a “three-peat” as a Guinness World Record holder. He plans to create the world’s longest sugar cane beginning at 7 p.m. Dec. 8, stretching 40 feet from the Geneva Courthouse to the intersection of his All Chocolate Kitchen at 33 Third Street in the far western suburb.

Previously Roby snared Guinness records for “world’s tallest cooked sugar building” and “world’s tallest chocolate sculpture.”

WALK INTO HISTORY: Both Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel are slated to be on hand for the unveiling of the “Legacy Walk” — the world’s first outdoor museum walk honoring achievers from the GLBT community. The 3 p.m. Thursday event at Halsted and Roscoe — spearheaded by Legacy Project founder and veteran gay political activist Victor Salvo — will include permanent bronze plaques along the Halsted Street corridor honoring such important GLBT figures as choreographer Alvin Ailey, political leaders Harvey Milk and Barbara Jordan, social worker Jane Addams and civil rights leader Bayard Rustin.

LOOKING BACK: Roz Varon, the popular traffic reporter on WLS-Channel 7’s morning news, will be featured on “Oprah: Where Are They Now” at 9 p.m. Tuesday on OWN. The focus is Varon’s first “Oprah” appearance in a makeover segment. The funny part is that — even today — Varon thinks her “before” looked better than the “after.”

SEEN ON THE SCENE: NBC News legend Tom Brokaw and Cam Gigandet dined at RL Sunday night. While I’m sure Brokaw is a huge “Twilight” fan, the two were at separate tables. … Tony winner Harvey Fierstein and scenic designer David Rockwell — who are world premiering their “Kinky Boots” here — were spied dining at RPM Italian.




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