Comic Actor Dom DeLuise Dead at Age 75

By stephen on May 5th, 2009

Here’s a bummer start to the day: Mel Brooks favorite and Burt Reynolds co-star Dom DeLuise passed away yesterday evening at a hospital in Los Angeles. According to reports, the lovable comic actor died peacefully — asleep in his hospital bed — at around 6:00 PM Monday night. He had been suffering from kidney failure and respiratory problems.

The Golden Globe-nominated comedian first got his start in the 1960s working on television shows such as “The Dean Martin Show” and later “The Dom DeLuise Show“. But he was most well known for his work with Mel Brooks — including prominent parts in “Blazing Saddles“, “History of the World: Part 1“, “Space Balls” and “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” — as well as his appearances with Manolith favorite Burt Reynolds in “The Cannon Ball Run” and “Smokey and the Bandit II“.

That’s not to say the rest of his career wasn’t impressive or storied either. In the nineties he continued his work with the animated features “American Tail” and “All Dogs Go To Heaven” and as the host of the popular TV-hit “Candid Camera“.

He also was an accomplished chef and children’s author, writing several books on both topics.

Burt Reynold’s had this to say of Dom’s passing:

“I was thinking the other day about this. As you get older you think about this more and more, I was dreading this moment. Dom always made everyone feel better when he was around. I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. I will miss him very much.”

Dom is survived by his wife Carol Arthur and his three sons, Peter, Michael and David.

(Photo courtesy of De Spinazieacademie)