Dom DeLuise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dom DeLuise
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Dom DeLuise in 1975
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| Born |
Dominick DeLuise
August 1, 1933 |
| Died | May 4, 2009 (aged 75) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Tufts University |
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| Years active | 1961–2009 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Peter DeLuise Michael DeLuise David DeLuise |
Dominick DeLuise (born August 1, 1933 – died May 4, 2009) was a famous American actor, comedian, director, producer, chef, and author. He was best known for his funny performances. He became very popular in the 1970s by appearing often on TV variety shows, which were programs with different acts like music, comedy, and skits.
Dom DeLuise is remembered for his work in movies by Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder. He also worked a lot with his friend, actor Burt Reynolds. Later, in the 1980s, he became popular with younger audiences. This was because he used his voice for characters in many big animated movies, especially those made by Don Bluth.
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Early Life
Dom DeLuise was born in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, Vincenza "Jennie" and John DeLuise, were Italian American. His mother was a homemaker, and his father worked as a garbage collector. Dom was the youngest of three children. He had an older brother named Nicholas and an older sister named Antoinette.
He went to the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan. After that, he studied biology at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Dom DeLuise was Roman Catholic and had a special connection to the Virgin Mary.
Career Highlights
Dom DeLuise started acting on stage when he was 18 years old. His first paid role was in a play called Bernie's Christmas Wish. He then worked as an intern at the Cleveland Play House from 1952 to 1954. There, he was both a stage manager and an actor.
In 1961, Dom appeared in an off-Broadway musical show called Another Evening with Harry Stoons. A young Barbra Streisand was also in the cast. He usually played funny characters. However, in an early movie called Fail-Safe, he played a serious and nervous USAF technical sergeant. This showed he could do more than just comedy.
His first regular TV role was on The Entertainers in 1964. He also got noticed for his role in the Doris Day movie The Glass Bottom Boat (1966). A film critic from The New York Times praised him, calling him "the best of the lot."
Working with Friends
In the 1970s and 1980s, Dom often worked with his good friend, actor Burt Reynolds. They were in several movies together, including The Cannonball Run, Cannonball Run II, and Smokey and the Bandit II.
Dom DeLuise was also well-known for his many roles in movies directed by Mel Brooks. He appeared in funny films like The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Silent Movie, History of the World, Part I, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Mel Brooks' wife, actress Anne Bancroft, even directed Dom in her movie Fatso.
Voice Acting for Kids
Dom DeLuise had a very special voice that he used for many animated movies. He was a favorite in films by Don Bluth. He voiced important characters in:
In All Dogs Go to Heaven, his friend Burt Reynolds voiced the main character, Charlie B. Barkin. Dom voiced Itchy Itchiford, who was Charlie's best friend. Dom also voiced the famous character Fagin in the Walt Disney movie Oliver & Company. He also made guest voice appearances on several animated TV shows.
TV Shows and Other Talents
TV producer Greg Garrison invited Dom DeLuise to perform on The Dean Martin Show. Dom did a hilarious magic act called "Dominick the Great," where everything went wrong. His funny catchphrase, with an Italian accent, was "No Applause Please, Save-a to the End." The audience loved it so much that Dom became a regular on the show.
In 1968, Dom DeLuise hosted his own comedy show for CBS called The Dom DeLuise Show. His wife, Carol Arthur, also appeared regularly on the show. He later starred in his own sitcom called Lotsa Luck from 1973 to 1974. From 1991 to 1992, he was the host of the TV show Candid Camera.
Dom was also a big fan of opera. He played a funny jailer named Frosch in the opera Die Fledermaus at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Even though the songs were in German, his spoken parts were in English.
Besides acting, Dom DeLuise loved to cook! He wrote several cookbooks and often shared cooking tips on a radio show. He was also a friend of the famous chef Paul Prudhomme. Dom also wrote seven children's books, showing his creative side.
Personal Life
In 1964, Dom DeLuise met actress Carol Arthur while working in a summer theater in Provincetown, Massachusetts. They got married in 1965. They had three sons, and all of them became actors: Peter, Michael, and David DeLuise.
Death
Dom DeLuise passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 4, 2009, in Santa Monica, California. He was 75 years old. He had been unwell for some time before his death.
His friend Burt Reynolds shared a tribute, saying that Dom always made people feel better when he was around. Mel Brooks also said that Dom created so much joy and laughter on set that it was hard to get work done. He added that he would always plan extra time for laughter when making a movie with Dom.
Works
Writings for Children
- Charlie the Caterpillar (1990)
- Goldilocks (also known as Goldie Locks & The Three Bears: The Real Story!) (1992)
- Hansel & Gretel (1997)
- The Nightingale (also known as Dom DeLuise's The Nightingale) (1998)
- King Bob's New Clothes (1999)
- The Pouch Potato (2001)
- There's No Place Like Home
Cookbooks
- Eat This ... It Will Make You Feel Better: Mamma's Italian Home Cooking and Other Favorites of Family and Friends (1988)
- Eat This Too! It'll Also Make You Feel Better (1997)
- The Pizza Challenge
Images for kids
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The handprints of Dom DeLuise in Atlantic City, New Jersey
See also
In Spanish: Dom DeLuise para niños
