Early life, family, educational background
American television director and actor, David Dominick DeLuise was born on November 11, 1971 in Burbank, California, USA. He grew up around his father’s friends Burt Reynolds, Carl Reiner, Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks. He is of mixed American, German and Italian heritage. His mother is of German and Italian descent, and his paternal grandparents were Italian.
The personal life of the family
His father is American comedian, producer, voice actor, actor, author and chef, Dominick “Dom” DeLuise. He starred in several Mel Brooks-directed films, as a voice actor in numerous Don Bluth films, and a series of films starring his best friend, actor Burt Reynolds.
Hollywood Show alumni David DeLuise turns 45 today!
Posted by The Hollywood Show On Friday November 11, 2016
Dom died on May 4, 2009, at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, of kidney failure at age 75, after battling a losing battle with cancer for more than a year. He has appeared in over 125 television shows and movies, as well as various talk and comedy shows. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his comedy series ‘Lota Luck!’ In 1974, he appeared in the Academy Award-nominated Western film ‘Blazing Saddles’ and in 1981 in the action comedy ‘The Cannonball Run’. His old friends, Mel Brooks and Burt Reynolds paid tribute to him in the Los Angeles Times after his passing.
David’s mother is retired American actress Carol Arthur (née Arata), best known for her supporting roles in Mel Brooks-produced films.
Her most memorable role was in Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles” as Harriett Johnson, the outspoken town school teacher – from that role, the line “You’re the leading motherfucker in the state!” is most often cited. From the mid-1970s to the mid-2000s, she guest-starred on several television shows.
David has two brothers – Peter John DeLuise is a pianist, director, screenwriter, actor and producer, best known for his role on the Fox television series “21 Jump Street” as Officer Doug Penhall. He is also recognized for writing and directing episodes of science fiction series, most notably for the ‘Stargate’ franchise. Michael DeLuise is a film producer, film director and actor. David’s godparents are Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks.
Career
Before joining the acting world, David worked as a clerk in a frozen yogurt shop, in carpentry, and painted houses.
Television series
In 1990, he guest-starred as Stevenson in ’21 Jump Street’. His character was the only non-relative of the family, as his father and brothers also appeared in the series, but portrayed relatives. He then co-starred with John Lithgow as Bug Pollone in “3ed Rock from the Sun” from 1996 to 2001. From 1998 to 1999, he was series regular Darren Warner, brother of Jesse Warner, in “Jesse”, playing opposite Christina Applegate in the first season of the NBC series. In 1999 to 2000, he voiced Sergeant Francis Brutto in ‘Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles’.
In 2004, he guest starred in two episodes of “Gilmore Girls” as TJ’s brother, played by his brother Michael, and was a recurring character on the show from its fourth through seventh and final seasons. From 2004-2005, David played Pete Shanahan in “Stargate SG-1”, which all featured his father and both brothers. In several episodes, his brother, Peter, was a permanent creative consultant and director.
From 2007 to 2012, David played Jerry Russo in the Disney Channel series “Wizards of Waverly Place”, starring Selena Gomez, the father of Justin (David Henrie), Alex (Selena Gomez), and Max (Jake T. Austin) , and Theresa’s (Maria Canals-Barrera) husband, who appears in all 91 episodes as the family’s former wizard and patriarch.
As a child, Jerry was forced to give up his magical powers when his brother became the designated family wizard after surpassing him in the Wizarding Contest.
Jerry opened a Waverly Place Sub Shop and ran it with his wife; when he’s not managing the Sub Shop, he’s teaching his kids how to control their powers and use magic efficiently. He also directed a handful of episodes, starting with 2009’s “My Tutor, Tutor.” episodes of Disney’s “Lab Rats” and Nickelodeon’s “See Dad Run”, “How to Rock” and “The Thundermans”.
Movies
David starred as Rogie, the younger version of his father’s character, Roger in the television movie “Happy” when he was only eight years old in 1983 along with both of his parents and his brothers.
In 1993, he played a villager in ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’, an intern in 1995’s ‘Dracula: Dead and Loving It’ and a bouncer in ‘Kicking and Screaming’. He co-starred with his daughter, Riley, as Peter Angelo in 1998’s “Too Smooth,” then Sly in “Dirt Merchant,” and Allen Doyle in “Terror Tract” in 1999 and 2000, respectively. His first starring role was as Ted Davis in 2003’s ” BachelorMan” opposite Missi Pyle and Mark Parra.
In 2009, he was Jerry Russo in ‘Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie’, a role he reprized in 2013 in ‘The Wizards Return: Alex vs Alex’. He played Fisherman Sculley in ‘Vampires Suck’ in 2010, and in 2016 he appeared as Tom Blackhorn in ‘Believe’ and Steven in ‘Pup Star’.
Private life
In September 1994, he married Brigitte, but they divorced in August 2003 after having two daughters together, Riley DeStefano DeLuise born August 4, 1993 and Dylan DeLuise born 1998. He was reportedly in a relationship with American producer and actress Sharon Stone – in 2014, they were spotted taking a walk together, and were photographed kissing in West Hollywood, outside Hugo’s Restaurant. Unfortunately, their relationship ended a few months later.
In 2015, he started dating German director, actress and voiceover actress Julia Stoepel and they got married on October 17, 2019. They currently live in Los Angeles, California.
Appearance
He has brown hair and brown eyes, is 1.78 m tall and weighs about 85 kg.
Wealth and salary
As of early 2020, his net worth is estimated at $10 million.
