Dom DeLuise

Birthday: 1933-08-01
Deathday: 2009-05-04
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Gender: Male
Owned By: Unowned

Dominick "Dom" DeLuise (August 1, 1933 – May 4, 2009) was an American actor and comedian. Known primarily for comedy roles, he rose to fame in the 1970s as a frequent guest on television variety shows. He is widely recognized for his performances in the films of Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder, as well as a series of collaborations and a double act with Burt Reynolds. Beginning in the 1980s, his popularity expanded to younger audiences from voicing characters in several major animated productions, particularly those of Don Bluth.

DeLuise was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian American parents. He attended the High School of Performing Arts in New York City and later studied biology at Tufts University. After graduating from college, he began his career as a stand-up comedian. He made his television debut in 1964 on the variety show The Dean Martin Show.

In 1970, DeLuise made his film debut in the Mel Brooks comedy The Twelve Chairs. He went on to appear in several other Brooks films, including Blazing Saddles, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and History of the World, Part I. He also starred in a number of films with Gene Wilder, including The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother, The World's Greatest Lover, and See No Evil, Hear No Evil.

DeLuise was a frequent collaborator with Burt Reynolds, and the two starred in a number of films together, including The End, Smokey and the Bandit II, and Cannonball Run II. He also had a recurring role on the television series Evening Shade.

In addition to his film and television work, DeLuise was also a successful voice actor. He voiced characters in a number of animated films, including All Dogs Go to Heaven, The Secret of NIMH, and An American Tail. He also hosted the children's cooking show Cooking with Dom DeLuise.

DeLuise was a popular and beloved figure in Hollywood. He was known for his infectious laugh and his larger-than-life personality. He was also a talented actor and comedian, and he enjoyed a long and successful career.

Dom DeLuise died on May 4, 2009, at the age of 75. He had been battling pancreatic cancer for several months. He died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Beverly Hills, California.

DeLuise's family released a statement saying that he had died "peacefully at home after a long battle with cancer." They said that he was "surrounded by his loving family and friends."

DeLuise's death was met with sadness and tributes from fans and colleagues alike. Mel Brooks, who directed DeLuise in several films, said that he was "a great talent and a great friend." Gene Wilder said that DeLuise was "one of the funniest people I've ever known."

DeLuise's funeral was held on May 8, 2009, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. He was buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Credits

Year Title Character
2006-11-07 The Best of Carson, Volume 1
2004-07-11 Girl Play Gabriel
2000-12-22 The Brainiacs.com Ivan Lucre
2000-09-26 Lion of Oz Oscar Diggs (voice)
1999-10-06 An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster Tiger (voice)
1999-03-12 Baby Geniuses Lenny
1999-02-24 Boys Will Be Boys Chef
1999-01-09 My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception Father O'Rdeal
1998-12-22 The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue Jeremy (voice)
1998-11-17 An All Dogs Christmas Carol Itchy Itchiford (voice)
1998-10-06 The Godson The Oddfather
1998-02-15 An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island Tiger (voice)
1997-01-26 The Good Bad Guy Il giudice
1996-04-14 Shari's Passover Surprise Dom
1996-03-29 All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 Itchy Itchiford (voice)
1995-12-07 Red Line Jerry
1995-05-27 The Tin Soldier Mr. Fallon
1994-12-18 Don't Drink the Water Father Drobney
1994-10-07 A Troll in Central Park Stanley (voice)
1994-03-11 The Silence of the Hams Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza
1993-07-28 Robin Hood: Men in Tights Don Giovanni
1993-06-23 The Skateboard Kid Rip (voice)
1992-10-01 Mickey's Audition Sound Man
1992-06-22 Almost Pregnant Dr. Beckhard
1992-05-15 Munchie Munchie (voice)
1992-04-09 The Magic Voyage Christopher Columbus (voice)
1991-12-22 Timmy's Gift: A Precious Moments Christmas Nicodemus (voice)
1991-11-21 An American Tail: Fievel Goes West Tiger (voice)
1991-05-16 Driving Me Crazy Mr. B
1990-02-09 Loose Cannons Harry 'The Hippo' Gutterman
1989-11-17 All Dogs Go to Heaven Itchy Itchiford (voice)
1989-06-30 Happily Ever After The Looking Glass (voice)
1988-11-18 Oliver & Company Fagin (voice)
1987-11-06 A Taxi Driver in New York Capitano T. Favretto
1987-08-05 Going Bananas Big Bad Joe Hopkins
1987-06-24 Spaceballs Pizza the Hutt (voice)
1986-11-21 An American Tail Tiger (voice)
1986-07-25 Haunted Honeymoon Aunt Kate Abbot
1984-12-21 Johnny Dangerously The Pope
1984-06-29 Cannonball Run II Victor Prinzim / Captain Chaos / Don Canneloni
1983-10-26 Happy Roger Hanover
1982-07-23 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Melvin P. Thorpe
1982-06-17 The Secret of NIMH Jeremy (voice)
1982-04-21 Baryshnikov in Hollywood The Producer
1982-01-17 Magic with the Stars
1981-06-19 The Cannonball Run Victor
1981-06-12 History of the World: Part I Emperor Nero
1980-08-15 Smokey and the Bandit II Doc
1980-06-13 Wholly Moses Shadrach
1980-04-03 The Last Married Couple in America Walter Holmes
1980-02-01 Fatso Dominick DiNapoli
1979-08-10 Hot Stuff Ernie Fortunato
1979-06-22 The Muppet Movie Bernie the Agent
1978-06-23 The Cheap Detective Pepe Damascus
1978-05-10 The End Marlon Borunki
1978-03-03 Sextette Dan Turner
1977-12-18 The World's Greatest Lover Adolph Zitz
1976-06-17 Silent Movie Dom Bell
1975-12-14 The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother Eduardo Gambetti
1974-12-04 Only with Married Men Murray West
1974-02-07 Blazing Saddles Buddy Bizarre
1972-06-14 Every Little Crook and Nanny Mario Azzecca
1972-02-18 Evil Roy Slade Logan Delp
1971-06-15 Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? Irwin Marcy
1970-11-24 Norwood Bill Bird
1970-10-28 The Twelve Chairs Father Fyodor
1968-05-24 What's So Bad About Feeling Good? J. Gardner Monroe
1967-03-12 The Busy Body Kurt Brock
1966-06-09 The Glass Bottom Boat Julius Pritter
1964-10-07 Fail Safe TSgt. Collins
1964-09-04 Diary of a Bachelor Marvin Rollins
1957-03-01 The Ordeal of Thomas Moon Thomas Moon (uncredited)