According to CNN comic legend Dom DeLuise died Monday. While cause of death was not released DeLuise had been battling cancer for more than a year.
Dominic DeLuise was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 1, 1933. In the 1960s he had bit parts in a handful of movies, including Fail Safe, but became well known as a regular on The Entertainers. In the ’70s DeLuise became a staple in Mel Brooks’ films, appearing in Blazing Saddles and Silent Movie among several others. He was also famous for playing off straight man Burt Reynolds but he proved he could play more serious roles in the 1980 when he took the lead in Fatso, in which he played an overweight man trying to wean himself from comfort food. The film was directed by Brooks’ then wife, Anne Bancroft. A role which would have really struck home with the actor as he struggled with his own weight. DeLuise told Larry King that after meeting Luciano Pavarotti he realized that he had become powerless over food.
DeLuise was also a talented voice actor appearing in six animated features including An American Tail and The Secret of NIMH.
The multi-talented DeLuise also penned seven children’s books and several cook books.
DeLuise had three sons, Peter, Michael and David, all of whom became actors and directors. He told Larry King that it was the the joy of his life to work with his oldest son, Peter, when he directed the film Second Nature.
Source:
CNN