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Dominick DeLuise(August 1, 1933 – May 4, 2009) was an American actor, comedian, director, chef, and author. Known primarily for comedy roles, he rose to fame in the 1970s as a frequent guest on televisionvariety shows.He is widely recognized for his performances in the films ofMel BrooksandGene Wilder,as well as a series of collaborations and adouble actwithBurt Reynolds.Beginning in the 1980s, his popularity expanded to younger audiences fromvoicingcharacters in several major animated productions, particularly those ofDon Bluth.
Dom DeLuise | |
|---|---|
 DeLuise in 1975 | |
| Born | Dominick DeLuise August 1, 1933 |
| Died | May 4, 2009(aged 75) |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery |
| Alma mater | Tufts University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1951–2009 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Peter DeLuise Michael DeLuise David DeLuise |
Early life
editDeLuise was born inBrooklyn, New York,toItalian Americanparents Vincenza "Jennie" (néeDeStefano), a homemaker, and John DeLuise, a public employee (garbage collector).[1]He was the youngest of three children, having an older brother, Nicholas "Nick" DeLuise, and an older sister, Antoinette DeLuise-Daurio.[2]DeLuise graduated from Manhattan'sHigh School of Performing Artsand later attendedTufts UniversityinMedford, Massachusetts,where he majored in biology.[3]DeLuise wasRoman Catholicand had a particular devotion to theVirgin Mary.[4]
Career
editDeLuise's paid stage debut, at age 18, ofBernie the dogwas in the dramaBernie's Christmas Wish.[1]His first steadygigwas as an intern at theCleveland Play House,1952–54, as stage manager and actor.[5]
In 1961, DeLuise played in theoff-Broadwaymusical revueAnother Evening with Harry Stoons,[6]which lasted nine previews and one performance.[7]Another member of the cast was 19-year-oldBarbra Streisand.He was also in the off-Broadway playAll in Love,which opened on November 10, 1961, at the Martinique Theatre and ran for 141 performances.[8]Other New York theater performances includedHalf-Past Wednesday(off-Broadway) (1962);Around the World in 80 Days(off-Broadway) (1963);The Student Gypsy(Broadway) (1963);Here's Love(Broadway) (1963); andLast of the Red Hot Lovers(Broadway) (1969).[9]
DeLuise generally appeared in comedic parts, although an early appearance in the movieFail-Safeas a nervousUSAFtechnical sergeantshowed a broader range. His first acting credit was as a regular performer in the television showThe Entertainersin 1964. He gained early notice for his supporting turn in theDoris DayfilmThe Glass Bottom Boat(1966). In his review inThe New York Times,Vincent Canbypanned the film but singled out the actor, stating, "[T]he best of the lot, however, is a newcomer, Dom DeLuise, as a portly, bird-brained spy."[10]
In the 1970s and 1980s, he often co-starred with his real-life friendBurt Reynolds.Together they appeared in the filmsThe Cannonball RunandCannonball Run II,Smokey and the Bandit II,The End,andThe Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.DeLuise was thehostof the television showCandid Camerafrom 1991 to 1992. He was a mainstay ofBurke's Law,an American television series that aired on CBS during the 1993–1994 and 1994–1995 television seasons.[citation needed]
DeLuise also lent his distinctive voice to variousanimated filmsand was a particular staple ofDon Bluth's features, playing major roles inThe Secret of NIMH,An American Tail,A Troll in Central ParkandAll Dogs Go to Heaven(also with Reynolds).All Dogs Go to Heavenalso featured Reynolds' voice as Charlie B. Barkin while DeLuise voiced Itchy Itchiford, Charlie's best friend, wing-man and later partner in business. Unlike DeLuise, however, Reynolds would not contribute a voiceover to any of the eventual film or television series or sequels.[citation needed]
DeLuise also voiced the incarnation ofCharles Dickens'Faginin theWalt DisneyfilmOliver & Companyand made voice guest appearances on several animated TV series.[citation needed]
TV producerGreg Garrisonhired DeLuise to appear as a specialty act onThe Dean Martin Show.DeLuise ran through his "Dominick the Great" routine, a riotous example of a magic act gone wrong, with host Martin as a bemused volunteer from the audience. Dom's catchphrase, with an Italian accent, was "No Applause Please, Save-a to the End". The show went so well that DeLuise was soon a regular on Martin's program, participating in both songs and sketches.[citation needed]
Garrison also featured DeLuise in his own hour-long comedy specials forABC.(Martin was often off-camera when these were taped, and his distinctive laugh can be heard.)[citation needed]
In 1968, DeLuise hosted his own hour-long comedy variety series for CBS,The Dom DeLuise Show.Taped in Miami at TheJackie GleasonTheater, it featured many regular Gleason show cast members including TheJune TaylorDancers and The Sammy Spear Orchestra. DeLuise's wife Carol Arthur also regularly appeared. The 16-week run was the summer replacement forTheJonathan WintersShow.He later starred in his ownsitcom,Lotsa Luck(1973–1974).[citation needed]
DeLuise was probably best known as a regular inMel Brooks's films. He appeared inThe Twelve Chairs,Blazing Saddles,Silent Movie,History of the World, Part I,Spaceballs,andRobin Hood: Men in Tights.Brooks' wife, actressAnne Bancroft,directed Dom inFatso(1980).[11]
DeLuise exhibited his comedic talents while playing the speaking part of the jailer Frosch in the comedicoperettaDie Fledermausat theMetropolitan Opera,playing the role in four separate revivals of the work at the Met between December 1989 and January 1996. In the production, while the singing was in German, the spoken parts were in English. A lifelong opera fan, he also portrayed the role of L'Opinion Publique in drag for theLos Angeles Opera's production ofOffenbach'sOrpheus in the Underworld.[12]
An avid cook and author of several books on cooking, he appeared as a regular contributor to a syndicatedhome improvementradio show,On The House with The Carey Brothers,giving listeners tips on culinary topics.[13]He was also a friend and self-proclaimed "look-alike" of famous Cajun chefPaul Prudhommeand author of seven children's books.
Personal life
editIn 1964, while working in asummer theaterinProvincetown, Massachusetts,DeLuise met actressCarol Arthur.[14][15]They married in 1965 and had three sons, all of whom became actors, writers, and directors themselves:Peter,Michael,andDavid DeLuise.[15]
Death
editDeLuise died in his sleep ofkidney failureon May 4, 2009, atSaint John's Health CenterinSanta Monica, California,at age 75.[15]He hadcancerfor more than a year prior to his death and also hadhigh blood pressureanddiabetes.[16]
Burt Reynoldspaid tribute to DeLuise in theLos Angeles Times,saying: "As you get older and start to lose people you love, you think about it more, and I was dreading this moment. Dom always made you feel better when he was around, and there will never be another like him."[17]Mel Brooksalso made a statement to the same paper, telling them that DeLuise "created so much joy and laughter on the set that you couldn't get your work done. So every time I made a movie with Dom, I would plan another two days on the schedule just for laughter. It's a sad day. It's hard to think of this life and this world without him."[14]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Diary of a Bachelor | Marvin Rollins | |
| 1964 | Fail Safe | Sgt. Collins | |
| 1966 | The Glass Bottom Boat | Julius Pritter | |
| 1967 | The Busy Body | Kurt Brock | |
| 1968 | What's So Bad About Feeling Good? | J. Gardner Monroe | |
| 1970 | Norwood | Bill Bird | |
| 1970 | The Twelve Chairs | Father Fyodor | |
| 1971 | Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? | Irwin Marcy | |
| 1972 | Every Little Crook and Nanny | Mario Azzecca | |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles | Buddy Bizarre | |
| 1975 | The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother | Eduardo Gambetti | |
| 1976 | Silent Movie | Dom Bell | |
| 1977 | The World's Greatest Lover | Adolph Zitz | |
| 1978 | Sextette | Dan Turner | |
| The End | Marlon Borunki | ||
| The Cheap Detective | Pepe Damascus | ||
| 1979 | Hot Stuff | Ernie Fortunato | Alsodirector |
| The Muppet Movie | Bernie the Agent | Cameo | |
| 1980 | Fatso | Dominic DeNapoli | |
| The Last Married Couple in America | Walter Holmes | ||
| Wholly Moses! | Shadrach | ||
| Smokey and the Bandit II | Dr. Frederico "Doc" Carlucci | ||
| 1981 | History of the World, Part I | Emperor Nero | |
| The Cannonball Run | Victor Prinzim /Captain Chaos | ||
| Peter-No-Tail | Bull | English version | |
| 1982 | The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas | Melvin P. Thorpe | |
| The Secret of NIMH | Jeremy (voice) | [18] | |
| 1984 | Cannonball Run II | Victor Prinzi /Captain Chaos/ Don Canneloni | |
| Johnny Dangerously | The Pope | ||
| 1986 | Haunted Honeymoon | Aunt Mary Kate | |
| An American Tail | Tiger (voice) | [18] | |
| 1987 | Going Bananas | Big Bad Joe Hopkins | |
| A Taxi Driver in New York | Captain T. Favretto | ||
| Spaceballs | Pizza the Hutt (voice) | ||
| 1988 | Oliver & Company | Fagin(voice) | [18] |
| 1989 | Happily Ever After | The Looking Glass (voice) | Original title:Snow White: The Adventure Continues |
| All Dogs Go to Heaven | Itchy Itchiford (voice) | [18] | |
| 1990 | Loose Cannons | Harry Gutterman | |
| 1991 | Driving Me Crazy | Mr. B | Alternate title:Trabbi Goes to Hollywood |
| Dragon and Slippers | Goliath the Dragon (voice) | English version[18] | |
| An American Tail: Fievel Goes West | Tiger (voice) | [18] | |
| 1992 | Almost Pregnant | Doctor Beckhard | |
| The Magic Voyage | Christopher Columbus(voice) | English version[18] | |
| Munchie | Munchie (voice) | [18] | |
| 1993 | Robin Hood: Men in Tights | Don Giovanni | |
| The Skateboard Kid | Rip (voice) | [18] | |
| 1994 | The Silence of the Hams | Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza | |
| A Troll in Central Park | Stanley (voice) | [18] | |
| Don't Drink the Water | Father Drobney | TV movie | |
| 1995 | The Tin Soldier | Mr. Fallon | TV movie |
| The 4th of July Parade | Pizza Guy | ||
| 1996 | Red Line | Jerry | |
| All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 | Itchy Itchiford (voice) | [18] | |
| 1997 | The Good Bad Guy | The Judge | |
| 1998 | Between the Sheets | Cameo | |
| Gormiti: The Animated Movie | Joey the Kangaroo, Blue Monster (voice) |
[18] | |
| The Godson | The Oddfather | ||
| An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island | Tiger (voice) | Direct-to-video[18] | |
| An All Dogs Christmas Carol | Itchy / Ghost of Christmas Past (voice) | Television film[18] | |
| The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue | Jeremy (voice) | Direct-to-video[18] | |
| 1999 | My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception | Father O'Rdeal | |
| Boys Will Be Boys | Chef | TV movie; also director | |
| Baby Geniuses | Lenny | ||
| 2000 | The Brainiacs | Ivan Lucre | |
| An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster | Tiger (voice) | Direct-to-video[18] | |
| Lion of Oz | Oscar Diggs(voice) | Credited as Dom DeLuises[18] | |
| 2001 | Always Greener | ||
| 2002 | It's All About You | ||
| 2003 | Remembering Mario | Mario (voice) | |
| 2004 | Girl Play | Gabriel | |
| Breaking the Fifth | Flealand Cunchulis | Last on-screen film role | |
| 2006 | Video Classroom Lesson 1: Space and Sea | Animated School Teacher | Video short |
| 2019 | Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm | Myrin (voice) | Recorded in 2006; posthumous release; final film role; dedicated in memory |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | The Shari Lewis Show | Kenny Ketchem | 1 episode |
| 1963 | The Joey Bishop Show | Patient | Episode: "My Son, the Doctor" |
| 1964–1965 | The Entertainers | Himself | 5 episodes |
| 1966 | The Munsters | Dr. Dudley | Episode: "Just Another Pretty Face" |
| 1966 | The Dean Martin Summer Show | Himself | 6 episodes |
| 1968, 1987–1988 | The Dom DeLuise Show | Himself/host | 11 episodes |
| 1969 | The Ghost and Mrs. Muir | Seaman Elroy Applegate | Season 2 Episode 5 Seaman |
| 1971 | The Des O'Connor Show | Regular performer | |
| 1971–1972 | The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour | Regular performer | |
| 1972 | The Roman Holidays | Mr. Francis Evictus (voice) | Episode: "Hectic Holiday" |
| 1972–1973 | The Dean Martin Show | Regular performer | |
| 1972 | Evil Roy Slade | Logan Delp | Television film |
| 1973–1974 | Lotsa Luck | Stanley Belmont | 22 episodes |
| 1974 | Only with Married Men | Murray West | Television film |
| 1977 | The Muppet Show | Himself | [19] |
| 1977 | The Jacksons | Himself | 1 episode |
| 1983 | Happy | Roger Handover | Alsoexecutive producer |
| 1985 | Amazing Stories | Guilt | Episode: "Guilt Trip" |
| 1989 | 21 Jump Street | Uncle Nick | Episode: "Wooly Bullies" |
| 1989 | B.L. Stryker | Toby Beaumont | Episode: "Die Laughing" |
| 1990 | Timeless Tales from Hallmark | The Emperor (voice) | Episode: "The Emperor's New Clothes" |
| 1991 | Precious Moments Christmas: Timmy's Gift | Nicodemus (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 1991–1992 | Candid Camera | Host | |
| 1991–1992 | Fievel's American Tails | Tiger(voice) | 13 Episodes |
| 1993 | Married... with Children | Floyd the Dog (voice) | Episode: "Change for a Buck" |
| 1993 | Diagnosis Murder | Buddy Blake | Episode: "Murder at the Telethon" |
| 1994 | The Magic School Bus | Baker (voice) | Episode: "Get Ready, Set, Dough" |
| 1994–1995 | Burke's Law | Vinnie Piatte | 25 episodes |
| 1994 | seaQuest DSV | Nick Piccolo | Episode: "Vapors" |
| 1995 | The Ren & Stimpy Show | Big Kahuna (voice) | Episode: "Pixie King/Aloha Hoek" |
| 1995 | Alef Bet Blast-Off Lights of Freedom | Pharaoh | |
| 1995 | Tin Soldier | Mr. Ted Fallon | Television film |
| 1996 | Shari's Passover Surprise | Himself | Television film |
| 1997 | Duckman | The Governor (voice) | Episode: "A Star Is Abhorred" |
| 1997 | Cow and Chicken | Jean-Paul Beaver / Governor #2 / Owl #2 / Mayor / Frenchman #3 / Neighbor #2 (voices) |
2 Episodes[18] |
| 1997 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Magic Morton | Episode: "I Only Have Eyes for You" |
| 1997 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Mr. Timmy Polone | Episode: "Auto Erodicka" |
| 1998 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Mortimer | Episode: "The Pom Pom Incident" |
| 1998 | The Charlie Horse Music Pizza | Cookie | Season 1 - Season 2 |
| 1998 | Police Academy: The Series | Zeus(voice) | Episode: "Bring Me the Turtle of Commandant Hefilfinger" |
| 1998 | Hercules: The Animated Series | Bacchus(voice) | Episode: "Hercules and the Bacchanal" |
| 1996–1998 | All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series | Itchy Itchiford (voice) | 20 Episodes[18] |
| 1998 | The Wild Thornberrys | Baby Condor (voice) | Episode: "Flight of the Donnie"[18] |
| 1997–1999 | I Am Weasel | Mayor / Frenchman #3 / Neighbor #2 (voices) | 2 episodes |
| 1997–2003 | Dexter's Laboratory | Koosy / Koosalagoopagoop (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 1998–1999 | The Charlie Horse Music Pizza | Cookie (voice) | 23 episodes |
| 1999 | Stargate SG-1 | Urgo / Togar | Episode 316 (S3E16 Urgo) |
| 2001 | Emeril | Himself | Episode: "One Man's Cornbread" |
| 2002 | Rugrats | Director (voice) | Episode: "Starstruck/Who's Taffy?" |
| 2004 | Father of the Pride | Duke (voice) | Episode: "One Man's Meat Is Another Man's Girlfriend" |
| 2005 | Robot Chicken | Victor Prinzim / Himself (voices) | Episode: "Gold Dust Gasoline" |
| 2005 | Duck Dodgers | Roy Serpenti (voice) | Episode: "All in the Crime Family"[18] |
| 2009 | Spaceballs: The Animated Series | Pizza the Hutt (voice) | Episode: "Pilot Part 1: The Avenge of Dark Helmet" (Final acting role) |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Toonstruck | 'Fingers' the Cashier |
Works
editWritings for children
edit- Charlie the Caterpillar,illustrated by Christopher Santoro, Simon & Schuster, 1990
- Goldilocks(also known asGoldie Locks & The Three Bears: The Real Story!), illustrated by Santoro, Simon & Schuster, 1992
- Hansel & Gretel,by Santoro, Simon & Schuster,1997
- The Nightingale(also known asDom DeLuise's The Nightingale), illustrated by Santoro, Simon & Schuster, 1998
- King Bob's New Clothes,illustrated by Santoro, Simon & Schuster, 1999
- The Pouch Potato,illustrated by Derek Carter, Bacchus Books, 2001
- There's No Place Like Home,illustrated by Tim Brown
Cookbooks
edit- Eat This... It Will Make You Feel Better: Mamma's Italian Home Cooking and Other Favorites of Family and Friends(also known asEat This), Simon & Schuster, 1988
- Eat This Too! It'll Also Make You Feel Better(also known asEat This Too!), Atria, 1997
- The Pizza Challenge
References
edit- ^ab"Larger Than Life".Los Angeles Times.January 10, 1999.RetrievedOctober 14,2022.
- ^"Dom Deluise Biography (1933- )".filmreference.RetrievedMay 18,2011.
- ^Nathan Southern (2009)."Dom DeLuise Biography".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon May 9, 2009.RetrievedMay 18,2011.
- ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon July 6, 2011.RetrievedNovember 20,2011.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^Brown, Tony (May 6, 2009)."Dom DeLuise's acting roots traced to Cleveland in the early '50s".The Plain Dealer.RetrievedOctober 14,2022.
- ^"Barbra Archives".Archived fromthe originalon April 4, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 17,2013.
- ^Streisand, Barbra."Value".Live at the Bon Soir (1962).Archived fromthe originalon May 11, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 17,2013.
- ^"All in Love Original Off-Broadway Cast - 1961 Off-Broadway".broadwayworld.RetrievedNovember 25,2016.
- ^"Dom DeLuise Theatre Credits".broadwayworld.RetrievedNovember 25,2016.
- ^Vincent Canby (June 10, 1966)."Movie Review: The Glass Bottom Boat (1966)".The New York Times.RetrievedMay 18,2011.
- ^Heather Buckley (March 9, 2010)."Horror at the Oscars Part 2: This Time it's Personal".Dreadcentral.RetrievedMay 18,2011.
- ^"Obituaries: Actors Dom DeLuise and Beatrice Arthur; mezzo Margreta Elkins; soprano Anne Brown, Gershwin's original Bess; composer Lukas Foss dies at eighty-six".Opera News.Vol. 74, no. 1. July 2009.RetrievedJune 20,2009.
- ^"In The Kitchen with Dom DeLuise".OnTheHouse. Archived fromthe originalon June 9, 2010.RetrievedMay 18,2011.
- ^abMcLellan, Dennis (May 6, 2009)."Dom DeLuise dies at 75; actor was a 'naturally funny man'".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMay 18,2011.
- ^abcGrimes, William (May 5, 2009)."Dom DeLuise, Comic Actor, Dies at 75".The New York Times.New York City.RetrievedJune 27,2017.
- ^"Dom DeLuise dies at 75".CNN. June 6, 2011.RetrievedMay 5,2009.
- ^"Actor, Dom DeLuise dies at 75".Today.Associated Press.May 5, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon March 14, 2014.RetrievedMay 5,2009.
- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstu"Dom DeLuise - 36 Character Images".Behind The Voice Actors.
- ^Garlen, Jennifer C.; Graham, Anissa M. (2009).Kermit Culture: Critical Perspectives on Jim Henson's Muppets.McFarland & Company. p.218.ISBN978-0786442591.
External links
edit
- Dom DeLuiseatIMDb
- Dom DeLuiseat theTCM Movie Database
- Dom DeLuiseat theInternet Broadway Database
- Dom DeLuiseat theInternet Off-Broadway Database
- Dom DeLuisediscography atDiscogs
- Dom DeLuiseatFind a Grave
- McLellan, Dennis."Dom DeLuise dies at 75; actor was a 'naturally funny man'",Los Angeles Times,May 6, 2009.
- Dom DeLuiseDaily Telegraph obituary
- Obituary(by theAssociated Press) inThe Los Angeles Times
