Danny DeVito and his partner Rhea Perlman bought the film rights to Matilda in 1994.
They cast themselves as the parents and Mara Wilson as their daughter Matilda.
During the opening week of shooting Maras mother found out she had cancer.
Danny and Rhea stopped up and kept Mara while her mom was in the hospital.
Her mother’s cancer was very aggressive and she passed before the film ever came out.
Years later it was learned that Danny spent a small fortune to have a VHS tape made of the not quite finished film for Maras mom to watch in the hospital.
After her mom’s passing the coupe helped raise the young actress and shielded her from the fame and pitfalls of Hollywood.