Dominick DeLuise launched his professional acting career at age 18, performing the role of Bernie the dog in the drama Bernie's Christmas Wish. This early theater experience served as the foundation for a decades-long career spanning television variety shows, major motion pictures, and extensive voice work, establishing him as a prominent figure in American comedic performance.
Early Career and Stage Work
Born in 1933 in Brooklyn, DeLuise attended the High School of Performing Arts before enrolling at Tufts University. By 1961, he performed in the off-Broadway revue Another Evening with Harry Stoons and the production All in Love. Throughout the 1960s, he appeared in numerous Broadway and off-Broadway plays, including The Student Gypsy and Last of the Red Hot Lovers.
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DeLuise achieved visibility through television, beginning with his regular role on The Entertainers in 1964. He became a fixture on The Dean Martin Show, where he performed his Dominick the Great magic act. His own television projects included the variety series The Dom DeLuise Show, which aired on CBS in 1968, and the sitcom Lotsa Luck during the 1973–1974 season. He also served as the host of Candid Camera from 1991 to 1992.
Collaborations and Film Roles
DeLuise was a frequent collaborator with Mel Brooks, appearing in multiple films such as The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Silent Movie, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. He also formed a notable professional partnership with Burt Reynolds, co-starring in films including The Cannonball Run, Cannonball Run II, and Smokey and the Bandit II. His performance in the 1966 film The Glass Bottom Boat garnered positive critical attention for his portrayal of a comedic spy.
Voice Acting and Musical Performance
Beginning in the 1980s, DeLuise expanded his career through voice acting in animated features, notably working with Don Bluth on The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, A Troll in Central Park, and All Dogs Go to Heaven. He also voiced Fagin in the Disney production Oliver & Company. Beyond film, he showcased his talents at the Metropolitan Opera, where he played the jailer Frosch in Die Fledermaus across four revivals between 1989 and 1996.
Fast facts
- Born: 1933, Brooklyn
- Died: 2009, Santa Monica
- Education: Tufts University
- Hollywood Walk of Fame: 1985
- Golden Raspberry Award: 1987
- Spouse: Carol Arthur
- Burial Site: Calvary Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Who were his frequent film collaborators?
He frequently worked with director Mel Brooks and actor Burt Reynolds.
What animated films did he contribute to?
He provided voices for films including The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, All Dogs Go to Heaven, and Oliver & Company.
Achievements
- Educated at Tufts University, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and High School of Performing Arts
- Worked as film director, voice actor and non-fiction writer
