RIP Archives

Legendary actor-director Dom DeLuise died in his sleep at age 75, reports TMZ.

DeLuise is best known for his roles in several Mel Brooks‘ classics, such as Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

JustJared.com had the pleasure of interviewing one of his three sons, David, in Puerto Rico earlier this year while he was shooting The Wizards of Waverly Place movie for Disney Channel.

David shared about how he was born into acting: “Well my dad is Dom DeLuise, I basically was born and my dad said, “Be happy, be sad, cry! Now make me laugh!” We would play games as a kid…we would have Sunday get-togethers where Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks, my godparents, were there. There was Carl Reiner, Gene Wilder, Gilda Radner, so I was surrounded by very talented and funny people. And somehow, at a young age, I was able to make them laugh, which was good!”

David continued, “When I was little, I said to my dad that I wanted to act, and he said, ‘Well, you can always do that but you can’t always have a childhood, so why don’t you focus on that.’ Now saying that, I auditioned for a part to be his son in a TV movie that he produced, so I was with my dad! And that was my first real taste of acting. The movie was called Happy, where he played a clown who witnesses a murder, and it was a mafia hit. It was based on a true story - they made it look like it wasn’t a hit, and they shot down all these people, and the Italian guy put black makeup on and a wig, and he dressed up as a black guy. But because my dad knew makeup and costuming, he was like, that wasn’t a black guy, it was an Italian guy!”

Lastly, David shared, “So I did a couple of things with my dad and my brother on 21 Jump Street, he directed an episode and he put me in it. Then in 12th grade I decided that I really wanted to act, so I got an agent and was in a couple of commercials, and pretty much out of school I just focused on acting.”

RIP.

Bea Arthur, the Tony- and Emmy-winning actress best known for her role as Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls, passed away early Saturday morning (April 25).

She was 86 and was suffering from cancer. Bea died peacefully at her Los Angeles home with her family by her side.

“She was a brilliant and witty woman,” said Dan Watt, who is the family spokesperson and was Bea’s personal assistant for six years. “Bea will always have a special place in my heart.”

RIP.

Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of John Travolta has died after suffering a seizure at his family’s vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island.

Travolta’s attorney, Michael Ossi, tells Reuters that attempts were made to revive him, but he died at the scene.

Access reports Jett fell and hit his head on a bathtub at the hotel. TMZ reports Jett was taken to the Rand Memorial Hospital.

Travolta, 54, wife Kelly Preston, 46, and their family had been vacationing in the Bahamas. Travolta and Preston also have a daughter, Ella, 8.

Travolta has said Jett suffered from Kawasaki Syndrome (a condition that leads to heart disease in rare cases). Preston has also said Jett suffered from asthma and blamed household cleaners, fertilizers and pesticides for sparking the condition. According to People, she credited a detoxification program based on the writings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard with helping to improve Jett’s health.

Our deepest condolences go out to the Travolta family and friends.

Lark Previn, the Vietnamese-born daughter of Mia Farrow and musician Andre Previn, died on Christmas Day, according to NYDN.

The medical examiner said that the 35-year-old mother-of-two had been ailing for a decade. A cause of death was not released.

Her two daughters, Sara, 13, and Christine, 12, sat in the front row at her wake last night at a Brooklyn funeral home.

Lark was one of the adopted children of Mia and Andre that included Soon-Yi Previn, who would eventually marry Woody Allen. Lark’s live-in boyfriend, Robert Garcia, declined comment.

Our deepest condolences to Lark’s family and friends. RIP.

Dakota Culkin, the older sister of former Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin, died yesterday after being involved in a fatal car crash.

TMZ reports Dakota, 29, was walking in the west side of Los Angeles Tuesday when she stepped off a curb and was struck by a car. She died of her injuries yesterday afternoon after being taken to UCLA Medical Center.

Note: Macaulay Culkin is pictured.

Our prayers and condolences go out to the Culkin family and friends.

Scott Ruffalo, the hairdresser brother of actor Mark Ruffalo, died last night after being shot in the head on Dec. 1 at the condo where he lives on North Palm Drive in Beverly Hills. [via TMZ]

Shaha Mishaal Adham, 26, a suspect in the attempted murder of Scott, turned herself into the Beverly Hills police department yesterday. Brian Scofield, 29, who was named a “person of interest” in the shooting, also turned himself in.

Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to the entire Ruffalo family and friends.

Sen. Barack Obama’s grandmother died of cancer at age 86 in Honolulu, his campaign said this afternoon.

The 47-year-old Democratic presidential nominee and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, 38, released this joint statement about Madelyn Dunham (their maternal grandmother): “It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure.

“Our family wants to thank all of those who sent flowers, cards, well-wishes, and prayers during this difficult time. It brought our grandmother and us great comfort. Our grandmother was a private woman, and we will respect her wish for a small private ceremony to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer.”

RIP.

The mother and brother of Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson were reportedly found dead in Chicago around 3PM Friday.

The two adults were found fatally shot — Darnell, 57, and older brother Jason. The bodies were reportedly discovered by a cousin who lived nearby. Jennifer is currently en route to Chicago.

Hudson, 27, became famous after appearing on American Idol in 2004. She later went on to pick up an Oscar for her performance in Dreamgirls.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Hudson’s family and friends.

UPDATE: Jennifer’s rep Lisa Kasteler tells People, “We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation concerning the deaths of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson. No further comment will be made and the family has asked that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.”