Danny DeVito's cameo in Friends is remembered as being one of the best celebrity appearances in sitcom history. His guest role came during the show's tenth and final season and although there had been a large number of big-name cameos, DeVito's stood apart from the rest. Here's the story behind the actor's cameo and how it became so notable.
DeVito played Roy in the Friends season 10 episode "The One Where The Stripper Cries." The character was a stripper hired at the last minute by Monica and Rachel for Phoebe's bachelorette party. Roy shows up as "Officer Goodbody" but due to his age and physicality, the women aren't too interested in his performance. Phoebe cringed at his striptease, insulting Roy and making him want to give up on his entire career. After he cried, the trio tried to comfort him and encouraged Roy to teach younger men how to strip instead of continuing to perform himself. Phoebe then allowed Roy to do his routine one more time which the women thoroughly enjoy.
The actor's Friends appearance came in 2004. By then, DeVito had over three decades of acting credits under his belt. As for TV, his biggest role came in the ABC sitcom, Taxi, which ran from 1978 to 1983. On the film side, DeVito was best known for films such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Throw Momma from the Train, Twins, Batman Returns, and Matilda before his Friends cameo. DeVito didn't necessarily have anything to promote at the time of his cameo but the year before, he appeared in Anything Else, Duplex, and Big Fish. It was no question that DeVito was a major star so the series was more than thrilled to feature him in a guest role. His cameo then turned out to become more memorable than ever predicted.
For his work on Friends as a male stripper that couldn't control his emotions, DeVito wasn't only well received by fans and critics, but his performance garnered a few award nominations. He was up for the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series award at the 2004 Emmys. Unfortunately, the actor wound up losing to John Turturro for his appearance in Monk. Awards aside, nothing has stopped viewers' enjoyment when it comes to DeVito's portrayal as a stripper. In years since, he's become a popular actor to be fan-cast against type, such as a massive petition that urged Marvel to cast DeVito as the new Wolverine.
When thinking of an exotic dancer, most people wouldn't visualize someone like DeVito but that doesn't make him any less likable. He had a wild character arc in his brief role on Friends so it's not surprising that his portrayal as role was seen as award-worthy. The actor is still asked about his cameo which took place over a decade a half ago. He still wishes that he had the chance to take off a few more pieces of clothing in the scene since he wore the full police officer uniform throughout the entire sequence. Just think how much more noteworthy that Friends episode would be if DeVito got his wish.