Whether he was a hyper lumbering sidekick or an evil ego-driven buffoon, Dom DeLuise, who passed away yesterday, always played the kind of character that could light up rooms in his movies. Even when he played the pompous villain in his hammed-up role as Don Giovanni for "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" and the desperate reluctant weasel Julius Pritter in the 1966 Doris Day film "The Glass Bottom Boat," the level of energy he projected could engulf any scene. From buddy roles opposite Burt Reynolds to his blisteringly hilarious voice acting in everything from "Ren & Stimpy" and "Duckman" to "An American Tail" and "The Secret of NIMH," here are the five roles we will always remember Dom DeLuise for here at MTV Movies Blog.
Dominick DiNapoli ("Fatso")
For every fat guy whose love handles have stood between him and his dream girl, "Fatso" was Dom DeLuise's gift of hope. Easily the most hilariously humanized role of his movie career, this is the way most audiences will remember him, as the character with enough determination to make you believe he can do anything, if he can just conquer his comfort food.
Emperor Nero ("History of the World: Part I")
While DeLuise could easily play a guy you'd have as your best pal, he could also chew the scenery to shreds under the direction of Mel Brooks in "History of the World: Part I" and "Blazing Saddles." His bellowing voice and comic prowess crowned "History of the World" with the perfect malevolent Roman glutton as Nero.
Tiger ("An American Tail")
Any kid during the 1980s who saw Don Bluth's "An American Tail" knows DeLuise's voice as Fievel Mousekewitz's Cowardly Lion styled companion Tiger. Listening to him belt out their song "Duo" is enough to get you misty-eyed that his career has come to a close. No one else could have filled Fieval's buffoonishly lovable protector with the kind of heart DeLuise pumped into Tiger.
Eduardo Gambetti ("The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother")
DeLuise was a victim of type-casting on more than one occassion, but if there's one role that showcases the wide spectrum of comedic poses he could strike, it was his role as Professor Moriarty's co-conspirator in Gene Wilder's 1975 film "The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother." His over-the-top theatrical gymnastics bounced flawlessly off his co-stars and showcased his operatic pipes, as well as his Italian roots.
Victor Prinzim ("The Cannonball Run")
Whether you remember him best as Victor, Burt Reynolds' bumbling buddy, or Victor's alter-ego Captain Chaos, this is the role that Dom DeLuise was born to play. In a star-studded cast including Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Chan, and host of others, DeLuise still managed to pull off the defining role in "The Cannonball Run." Christian Bale and Christopher Reeve may get first mention when greatest movie superhero lists get cranked out, but DeLuise played the caped crusader that absolutely anyone could become with enough heart and the ability to completely ignore common sense.
What would you count among Dom DeLuise's best performances? Leave your own tribute in the comments.
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R.I.P. Dom DeLuise: Our Picks For His Top 5 Movies Roles
Posted 5/5/09 6:40 pm EST by Brian Warmoth in Commentary
Dominick DiNapoli ("Fatso")
For every fat guy whose love handles have stood between him and his dream girl, "Fatso" was Dom DeLuise's gift of hope. Easily the most hilariously humanized role of his movie career, this is the way most audiences will remember him, as the character with enough determination to make you believe he can do anything, if he can just conquer his comfort food.
Emperor Nero ("History of the World: Part I")
While DeLuise could easily play a guy you'd have as your best pal, he could also chew the scenery to shreds under the direction of Mel Brooks in "History of the World: Part I" and "Blazing Saddles." His bellowing voice and comic prowess crowned "History of the World" with the perfect malevolent Roman glutton as Nero.
Tiger ("An American Tail")
Any kid during the 1980s who saw Don Bluth's "An American Tail" knows DeLuise's voice as Fievel Mousekewitz's Cowardly Lion styled companion Tiger. Listening to him belt out their song "Duo" is enough to get you misty-eyed that his career has come to a close. No one else could have filled Fieval's buffoonishly lovable protector with the kind of heart DeLuise pumped into Tiger.
Eduardo Gambetti ("The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother")
DeLuise was a victim of type-casting on more than one occassion, but if there's one role that showcases the wide spectrum of comedic poses he could strike, it was his role as Professor Moriarty's co-conspirator in Gene Wilder's 1975 film "The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother." His over-the-top theatrical gymnastics bounced flawlessly off his co-stars and showcased his operatic pipes, as well as his Italian roots.
Victor Prinzim ("The Cannonball Run")
Whether you remember him best as Victor, Burt Reynolds' bumbling buddy, or Victor's alter-ego Captain Chaos, this is the role that Dom DeLuise was born to play. In a star-studded cast including Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Chan, and host of others, DeLuise still managed to pull off the defining role in "The Cannonball Run." Christian Bale and Christopher Reeve may get first mention when greatest movie superhero lists get cranked out, but DeLuise played the caped crusader that absolutely anyone could become with enough heart and the ability to completely ignore common sense.
What would you count among Dom DeLuise's best performances? Leave your own tribute in the comments.
Tags dom deluise
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