News May 05, 2009
Dom DeLuise Dead at 75
Another comic great has died. Dom DeLuise passed away at a Los Angeles hospital around 6:00 PM Monday, reports TMZ.
A film and TV staple since the mid-1960's, DeLuise was an expert foil for other performers, including Dean Martin, Mel Brooks (in six of his films) and Burt Reynolds, with whom he starred in the "Cannonball Run" flicks. In 1980, he played the lead in "Fatso," a film written and directed by Anne Bancroft, the late wife of Mel Brooks.
A noted gourmand, DeLuise authored two books of his Italian recipes, and wrote several children's books. He voiced numerous characters in animated films and television.
DeLuise is survived by his wife of 43 years, Carol Arthur, three sons, Peter, Michael and David, and three grandchildren.
Memorial services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to one of the following charities:
The Elixir Fund, www.elixirfund.org
The Lily Sanctuary, www.lilysanctuary.org
Hydrocephalus Foundation, Inc., www.hydrocephalus.org
The Pearl S. Buck Foundation, www.pearl-s-buck.org
