Iconic Hollywood star Michael DeLano has died aged 84 after suffering a major heart attack. According to a statement released by his wife, Jean, the late actor, who is best known for his roles in Ocean’s Eleven, Rhoda, and Firehouse, died in a Las Vegas hospital. DeLano’s wife of 28 years confirmed that the star died on October 20. The couple has lived in Las Vegas since 1992, and the charismatic actor is widely known for his role as casino manager Walsh in the 2001 hit heist film Ocean’s Eleven.
DeLano also famously starred as firefighter Sonny Caputo in ABC’s Firehouse, before the show was axed after just 13 episodes in 1974. In the iconic 70s drama Rhoda, the actor played Venture, who made a desperate attempt at going out with the titular character (played by Valerie Harper). He appeared in 11 episodes during seasons three and four, from 1976 to 1978. The star also played Lou Atkins regularly in Supertrain, which aired for nine episodes in 1979.
DeLano was born Michael Ace Del Fatti in Virginia on November 26, 1940 and raised in Philadelphia. But according to his wife, the actor adopted the stage surname DeLano after seeing a blinking neon sign on a hotel with the name.
The star burst onto the Hollywood scene after landing an on-stage role in Hair, and before that, DeLano was a regular dancer on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, before serving as a paratrooper in the US Army.
Throughout his career, the star went on to feature in films such as Catlow and The New Centurions as well as in episodes of Adam-12, Kojak, Banacek and Barnaby Jones, before landing on Firehouse.
Tributes poured in from DeLano’s long-time fans, who took to social media, as one penned: “Rest in peace DeLano. You’ll be missed.”
Another reflected: “Aye, what a character he was! He brought a bit of sparkle to the screen—better to remember him for the laughs than the tears on a day like this.”
A third shared a clip from Commando and added: “One of my favourite movie scenes of all time in Commando. RIP Michael Delano.”
“RIP Michael DeLano, the iconic Hollywood star Michael DeLano has died aged 84 after suffering a major heart attack,” echoed another.
DeLano is survived by his wife, Jean; his daughter, Bree; his grandsons, Michael and Lincoln; and his granddaughter, Jaxon.