Actor, Comedian Dom DeLuise Dies at Age 75

Dom DeLuise -- comedian, actor, chef -- passed away Monday night at the age of 75. His son, Michael DeLuise, told Los Angeles TV station "KTLA":http://www.ktla.com/ and radio station "KNX":http://www.knx1070.com/ that his father died in his sleep at a Santa Monica hospital after a long illness. Known for his outsized personality and broad comedic range, "Dom DeLuise":http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001123/ made a name for himself on "television variety shows":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znsZYcEdlGc of the 1960s and '70s as well as with a plethora of memorable, goofy movie roles. He was often cast in Mel Brooks films, including "'Blazing Saddles'":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMK6lzmSk2o and "'History of the World Part I,'":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTH8_elwCpA and was also known for his frequent collaboration with friend Burt Reynolds in car chase films such as "'Cannonball Run.'":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkKMjDhCJ70 Among many other highlights, his good natured work with "Jim Henson's Muppets":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88JqfsvDNmA on TV and the big screen are also fondly remembered.