The Rough Cut

Danny DeVito’s career as a director has some fascinating notes in it, but I think this story should give you an idea of what kind of man he is.

DeVito directed and starred in Matilda, and found out some pretty terrible news during filming about the titular character’s actress, Mara Wilson. Wilson’s mother, Suzie Shapiro Wilson, had breast cancer, and her prognosis was poor. Suzie Shapiro Wilson would pass away towards the end of filming, and the film is dedicated to her memory.

That’s not quite where the story ends though. Mara Wilson grew up assuming her mother never saw Matilda, and while she never saw the final cut, Danny DeVito arranged that a rough cut could be screened for Suzie so she could see her daughter in the film. Wilson only learned this a few years ago, and I think it speaks to DeVito’s character as a person.