Dom DeLuise Dies at 75

Supersized funny man with a supersized sense of humor, Dom DeLuise died in his sleep last night at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 75 years old.

Known for memorable roles in Blazing Saddles, Cannonball Run and Spaceballs, the comedian was a household name in the '70s and '80s.

DeLuise got his big break in 1964 as a as a regular performer on TV's The Entertainers. He soon became a regular guest star on The Dean Martin Summer Show. The exposure led to Deluise's landing his own eponymous comedy program on CBS that lasted for a season.

In the '70s, DeLuise moved to the big screen, becoming a regular fixture in various Mel Brooks films. After meeting Burt Reynolds on the set of Brooks's Silent Movie, the two actors became friends and worked together in several films, including two Cannonball Run movies, Smokey and the Bandit II and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

DeLuise, who often made jokes about his rotund figure, was an avid chef who wrote four cookbooks.

He also wrote seven children's books.

He married actress Carol Arthur in 1965. His three sons – Peter, Michael and David – are all actors.