By Lee Pfeiffer
Dom DeLuise, the beloved comic actor of TV and feature films, has died at age 75. No details about cause of death have yet been released. DeLuise was a familiar face to moviegoers, generally playing second banana in many classic comedies. He was a favorite of Mel Brooks, who gave him prominent roles in
Blazing Saddles, The Twelve Chairs, The History of the World: Part 1and
Robin Hood: Men in Tights. DeLuise was also a close friend and co-star of Burt Reynolds. The two made both
Cannonball Run films together and memorably starred in the dark comedy about death,
The End in which DeLuise gave a hilarious performance as an escaped mental patient. In a rare starring role, DeLuise got to display both his comedic and dramatic skills in
Fatso, a touching film directed by Anne Bancroft that centered on a man's lifelong battle with obesity. He also had a dramatic supporting role in Sidney Lumet's 1964 doomsday classic
Fail Safe. DeLuise appeared in countless TV series over the decades, generally as a guest star. He was planning to reunite with Burt Reynolds for voice-over work on a new film. His three sons all followed him into the acting profession. For a video compilation of DeLuise's best film roles
click here