Report: Actor Dom DeLuise Dies At 75
Comedy Actor Was 75
POSTED: Tuesday, May 5, 2009
UPDATED: 11:38 am CDT May 5, 2009
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Dom DeLuise, the comic actor who starred in several Mel Brooks films, has died. He was 75.
Dom DeLuise, the comic actor who starred in several Mel Brooks films, has died, according to TMZ.com.
He was 75.
According to the celebrity gossip site, DeLuise died "peacefully in his sleep" at around 6 p.m. Monday night at a hospital in Los Angeles.
DeLuise starred in such Brooks films as "Blazing Saddles," "Silent Movie" and "History of the World: Part I." In Brooks' "Spaceballs," a spoof of "Star Wars," DeLuise played Pizza the Hutt, a take-off of Jabba the Hut.
He also starred in the comedy drama "Fatso," which was written and directed by Brooks' late wife, Anne Bancroft.
He was also a frequent co-star of Burt Reynolds, appearing with the actor in such films as "The Cannonball Run" and its sequel, as well as "Smokey and the Bandit II."
In recent years DeLuise did a lot of voice work for animated shows, including "Duck Dodgers," "The Wild Thornberries," "Hercules" and "All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series." His role of Itchy Itchiford in the show was a continuation of his turn in the movie version of "All Dogs Go to Heaven," which also starred the voice of Reynolds.
DeLuise also voiced roles in such animated films as "An American Tail" and its sequel, "The Secret of NIHM" and "Oliver & Company."
The actor also had his own comedy series, "The Dom DeLuise Show," from 1987-1988.
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