Danny DeVito has opened up about his legendary Hollywood career and in the process, shared a surprising story involving none other than Michael Jackson.
In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, DeVito reflected on his time starring as Louie De Palma on the hit sitcom Taxi (1978–1983). The show, which ran five seasons across ABC and NBC, quickly became a classic and as DeVito recalled, the set was always buzzing with energy, both on-screen and off.
“We were party animals anyway,” DeVito admitted. “Every Friday night we had a big party. It was really wild… everybody came to that party, from people on other shows like Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, Henry Winkler used to come. John Belushi even played at our wrap party.”
But the most unexpected guest of all? Michael Jackson.
“Michael loved our show,” DeVito revealed. “He used to come and watch in the booth up in the top where the technicians were. Robin [Williams] was there all the time too.”
That means that during the peak of his Thriller era when he was the biggest superstar on the planet, Michael was still taking time to enjoy one of TV’s most beloved comedies, even hanging out with the cast behind the scenes.
It’s another reminder of Michael’s unique connection to pop culture of the time, not just as the King of Pop, but as a genuine fan who loved to be part of the moment.
