Dom DeLuise; OBITUARY.

IN THE curious way of the world where little acts can have the most unpredictable of consequences, it was the sad-eyed look of a doomed frog that created one of America's favourite comic actors.

Dom DeLuise had originally intended to become a biologist, and had started a degree course at Tufts University, in Massachusetts.

Right at the beginning, the students had the task of dissecting a frog.

DeLuise was to recall later: "We stared at each other, and then the thought of what I was about to do made me sick, and I just let him go." Not only did he let the frog go, but he let his degree go and quit to sign up for a theatre company in Cleveland, Ohio. Biology's loss was to be entertainment's gain.

He had made his debut in school productions, always in demand because of his ample figure. But the idea of becoming a professional actor only came up after he had turned his back on Tufts and the sad-eyed frog.

He learned his craft in Cleveland and later New York, and first came to national attention as a reliable comedian and comic actor in The Entertainers and other programmes on US television.

International recognition came when he linked up with the inspired but anarchic Mel Brooks, becoming one of Brooks's regular team.

He played Father Fyodor in the somewhat forgotten Twelve Chairs, missed out in the inspired The Producers, and finally arrived as Buddy Bizarre, in the smash hit, Blazing Saddles.

Other Brooks roles included Pizza the Hut in Spaceballs and Don Giovanni, in Robin Hood Men in Tights.

He established a memorable screen partnership opposite Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit II, at the same time branching out into writing, directing and also cookery.

He also made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in new York in the non-singing comic role of Frosch the jailer, in Die Fledermaus - oddly enough in English, with the singing in German.

Dominick DeLuise, actor; born, August 14, 1933, died, May 4, 2009