Many fans have wondered if the actress Torrey DeVitto, who starred in shows like Pretty Little Liars, The Vampire Diaries, and Chicago Med, is related to the actor Danny DeVito, who is known for his roles in Taxi, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Matilda. The two share a similar last name and both have Italian ancestry, but are they actually family? The answer is no, they are not related by blood or marriage. Here is why.
The Origin of the DeVitto Name
According to Ancestry, the name DeVitto is a variant of DeVito, which is a southern Italian name derived from the Latin word “vitus”, meaning “vine”. The name is common in the regions of Basilicata, Calabria, and Campania, where many people have vineyards and make wine. The name can also be spelled as De Vito, DeVita, De Vita, or DeVitis, depending on the dialect and preference of the family.
The Family History of Torrey DeVitto
Torrey DeVitto was born on June 8, 1984, in Huntington, New York, to Mary and Liberty DeVitto. Her father was a long-time drummer for Billy Joel and her mother was a homemaker. She has two sisters, Devon and Maryelle. She is of Italian descent, her paternal grandmother is from Naples while her paternal grandfather is from Sicily. She also has some Albanian heritage from the Arbëresh community of Calabria. She was raised as a Catholic and attended private schools. [9] She started playing violin at age six and later performed with her father on stage. [10] She also pursued a career in acting and modeling, and married actor Paul Wesley in 2011, but they divorced in 2013. [11]
The Family History of Danny DeVito
Danny DeVito was born on November 17, 1944, in Neptune Township, New Jersey, to Julia and Daniel DeVito Sr. [12] His father was a small business owner who ran a dry cleaning shop, a dairy outlet, a diner, and a pool hall. [13] His mother was a homemaker. [14] He has two older sisters, Angela and Theresa. [15] He is of Italian descent, his family is originally from San Fele, Basilicata, where they belong to the Italo-Albanian minority. [16] He was raised as a Catholic and attended Catholic schools. [17] He studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and met his future wife, actress Rhea Perlman, in 1971. [18] They married in 1982 and have three children, Lucy, Grace, and Jacob. [19] They separated in 2017 but remain friends. [20]
The Conclusion
As you can see, Torrey DeVitto and Danny DeVito have different family backgrounds and origins, despite their similar names. They are not related by blood or marriage, and they have never worked together on any project. They are both successful actors in their own right, but they are not part of the same family tree. The rumor that they are related is false and has no basis in reality.