Comedy actor Dom DeLuise dies at the age of 75

Famous comedy actor Dom DeLuise died at the age of 75 after a long illness. According to Robert Malcolm, Dom’s agent, the actor died on May 4, 2009, at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica in his sleep. His wife and three sons-- Peter, Michael and David, were present at his death bed. Though the cause of his death has not been revealed, Dom DeLuise has been suffering from illness for a long time. Because of his lover for food, he had to struggle with obesity throughout his life. At one point, his weight reached 147kgs. His family members tried to put him on a diet but he did not agree. Then in 1993, he was required to have a hip surgery but he had to lose 100 pounds (45kg) on doctor’s order.

Dom DeLuise was very successful as a comedy actor. He appeared in movie, TV series, broadway productions and rendered his voice for many cartoon characters. In his lifetime, he worked with many famous actors including Mel Brooks, Burt Reynolds, Dean Martin and Carol Burnett. All of them admired the actor.

Dom DeLuise was born to immigrant Italian parents in New York on August 1, 1933. His father was a garbage collector. Dom DeLuise first acted in a school play at the age of eight and he fell in love with acting. He later graduated from New York’s famous School of Performing Arts in Manhattan.

Some of his major movies are: Silent Movie, The World's Greatest Lover, Sextette,

The End, The Cheap Detective, The Muppet Movie, Hot Stuff, The Last Married Couple in America, Fatso, Wholly Moses, Smokey and the Bandit II, History of the World, Part I, The Cannonball Run, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Cannonball Run II, Johnny Dangerously.

Related articles:

The Sydney Morning Herald

SF Gate