Richard Dimitri, a comedian and actor who starred in such movies as “When Things Were Rotten” and “Johnny Dangerously,” has died at 83 after decades of battling with heart and lung illnesses.
His family announced the unfortunate news Wednesday in an online obituary, which stated that the star died in Los Angeles on Dec. 18 with his wife Christianne by his side.
“Throughout his life, Richard touched many people with his talent, brilliant sense of humor, unique perspective, honesty and intellect,” the obituary reads. “But it was his role as a valued father and husband, who surrounded his family with warmth and security, that was the most important and rewarding of his life. It was that which brought him his greatest joy.”
Born in Yonkers, New York, Dimitri began working Off-Broadway in the early 1960s. He taught acting at Queen’s College City University in the city before relocating to Los Angeles in 1975, per the obituary.
Once there, he began working in movies and television, where he appeared in several TV shows, including “Hawaii Five-O,” “Starsky and Hutch,” “The Tracey Ullman Show,” and “Welcome Back, Kotter.”
He also found success writing for the screen and partaking in stand-up comedy.
In 1998, he retired from the entertainment industry because of serious chronic health conditions, the obituary said.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.pennlive.com ’
