Obituary | 05/05/2009 12:30 pm

Dom DeLuise Dies at Age 75 (Video)

Dom DeLuise died Monday night in his sleep, the entertainment website TMZ has learned.

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Dom DeLuise died Monday night inside his Los Angeles home at the age of 75, the entertainment website TMZ has learned.

The actor and comedian starred in several classics, including "Blazing Saddles" and "Cannonball Run," and was the famous voice of Pizza the Hutt in "Spaceballs." DeLuise worked among some of the most regarded talents in the industry, including Mel Brooks, Burt Reynolds and Dean Martin.

TMZ reports that DeLuise died in his sleep, peacefully.

In honor of the beloved funnyman, below is a YouTube clip of outtakes from the 1980s slapstick comedy "Cannonball Run I & II":

15 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

So sad - Dom has always been a favorite of mine. Rest in peace.

By Green Tears on 05/05/2009 12:34 pm

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I thought Dom was one of the funniest comedians I’ve ever heard or seen. He always made me laugh and he made Burt Reynolds laugh all the time. I’m so saddened by his passing. The world has lost a great man who made the world a better place.

By M J on 05/05/2009 12:45 pm

I think most if not all can agree there, M J. I loved him too. He made me laugh when I was in a sad point in my life growing up. When my mom died. She loved him too.

By Beth Cornell on 05/05/2009 12:53 pm

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He was also great in Best Little Whorehouse.

By Helen O'Reilly on 05/05/2009 1:08 pm

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Awww, this is sad news. God rest your merry soul, Mr. Deluise. I loved you most in "Blazing Saddles" such a funny movie and I’ll bet they are in stiches up yonder!

By HA BIBI on 05/05/2009 1:11 pm

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Oh geez—I really liked him.

By f p on 05/05/2009 1:18 pm

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I loved Dom DeLuise when I was a child.

By DeBúrca obj on 05/05/2009 1:28 pm

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The clip was fun to watch, Dom seems so sweet in it, I loved seeing Dean Martin… but Burt Reynold’s slapping was pretty awful… what was that about?

By DeBúrca obj on 05/05/2009 1:33 pm

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Cook up a storm in heaven, Dom, and be your sweet self. We will miss you down here.

By Judy K. on 05/05/2009 1:43 pm

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I never really got his sense of humor but he was an icon of my era! So sad to see another one gone. Blessings to his family.

By canuck canuck on 05/05/2009 2:08 pm

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Dom DeLuise brought a certain joy and laughter to the world that few are gifted to share. He was always so much fun to watch on the Dean Martin shows he was on over the years. So many of them are gone now. I would suppose the laughter is twice as hearty in Heaven now. God bless Mr. D and may He bring peace to your family and close friends as they learn to live without you.

By Mary Utrup on 05/05/2009 3:47 pm

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Dom’s laugh was infectious and I loved him in the Burt Reynolds movies. There was another movie where during a funeral he was making his famous spagetti sauce, does anyone remember the name of that movie?

By Barbara B on 05/05/2009 4:17 pm

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I loved, loved loved Dom and he will be missed. But the truth is he always seemed like an angel fallen to Earth, so now he is back where he should be….

By Belinda Joy on 05/05/2009 6:42 pm

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So many people we never actually knew can cause such sorrow for us when they leave this world. He was so well liked by so many people I knew. I am sure that to-night they, as well as many of you, feel the same sorrow I am experiencing because Dom has been called away.

He had the great ability of recognizing what people appreciated most of himself and he shared it so generously and joyfully with his loyal fans. In his hilarious sketches he would often say to the audience, “No applause now…save it to the end”. Well if he is aware of our feelings towards him , I would ask you all to join me in offering this, our final applause, to a very fine performer who provided us with much laughter and many joyous moments.

By Lauriate Roly on 05/05/2009 8:45 pm