Danny DeVito made honest admission about how his height has impacted life

If there is someone who proves that good things really do come in small packages, Danny DeVito has got to be the man.

The 80-year-old, from New Jersey, is an actor who people hold very close to their hearts, thanks to his incredible talents on screen and his ability to make us belly laugh.

His roles in the likes of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Matilda, Jumanji: The Next Level and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia have made him one of the most loveable stars on the planet.

So it's no wonder that he was crowned 'the king of short kings' by social media users last year, as he's everything a monarch should embody.

The fact he reacted to this news by saying it 'gives him joy' just proved his appointment as the overlord of all petite men was justified even further.

However, DeVito's unique height hasn't always been applauded, as being on the shorter side made him an 'easy target' for bullies throughout his life.

He previously said that he 'took a lot of lumps' during his school days, before adding: "I was plagued; I couldn't slow-dance with the girls I wanted to, but because my face would be in a spot where I might be thought of as moving too fast."

DeVito was born with a rare genetic disorder called multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED), which is commonly referred to as Fairbank's disease.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, this form of skeletal dysplasia affects bone growth and the development of cartilage, particularly in the arms and legs.

Those with MED usually experience symptoms such as problems with their hips, knees or ankles and premature arthritis, with the majority of people having 'minimal short stature' as a result, averaging between 57 to 67 inches in height, or around 4.5ft to 5.5ft.

DeVito stands at 4ft 10ins tall.

Danny Devito opened up about his height during a 2017 interview (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

In March 2017, he sat down with CBS News correspondent Martha Teichner, who wanted to find out if he thought that his height had impacted his career.

As we all know, the actor's size has often added to the character he is portraying - such as in the 1988 film Twins to comedically contrast against Arnold Schwarzenegger.

But when asked if he had felt a need to lean on his personality to get where he wanted to in life and in his career, DeVito admitted he had 'never thought of it' in that sense.

Reflecting on his younger years, the Ruthless People star said that for starts, he didn't really grow up with an idea of 'what the life is that he wanted'.

"You know, you want to be comfortable and you want to have friends," DeVito said. "The early days of being like short, being five feet tall, well... after a while, you start getting used to it.

"And in social circles, you start thinking you may be able to compensate with your personality."

The actor, 80, says his size has helped him 'stand out' when auditioning for film roles (Universal Pictures)

And for DeVito, there was only ever reason that he questioned his height - as he wondered whether it would affect his abilities with the ladies.

"It's always about women," he laughed. "Don't you think? I mean, is it about anything else?

"Your whole life is like basically [about women]. As a kid, when you're a teenager, all it is is about going to the dance."

DeVito explained he often found himself connecting with the 'really tall' girls who also felt 'self-conscious' about their height during his childhood.

He added: "Why not? The idea is that we would have a good time."

In previous interviews, the screen star has revealed that being short actually helped him 'stand out from the countless hopefuls auditioning for the same parts'.

"No casting director is gonna forget the 5ft guy," DeVito said.

So, I guess that settles it folks - size really doesn't matter.