Actor and comedian Dom DeLuise, who starred in films including Blazing Saddles and Cannonball Run, has died at the age of 75. He died in his sleep at a hospital in Los Angeles on Monday night following a long illness. He had appeared in scores of films, TV shows and Broadway plays and provided voices for numerous cartoon characters. His friend, fellow actor and regular co-star Burt Reynolds, said there would “never be another like him”. The two appeared together in several films including The End and Smokey and the Bandit II. “I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. I will miss him very much,” said Reynolds.

DeLuise is best known for his performances in Mel Brooks’ successful comic films, playing film director Buddy Bizarre in Blazing Saddles and Roman emperor Nero in History of the World: Part I.