Lee Delano

Lee Delano (January 19, 1931 – October 8, 2017) was an American character actor.

Career

Delano was born in New York City. He graduated from the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where he studied with Sandy Meisner for acting and Martha Graham for dance. His classmates included Joanne Woodward, Susan Oliver and Steve McQueen. McQueen convinced Delano to make the move west to Hollywood where he began to obtain guest roles in episodes of numerous television series, including the original Star Trek in "A Piece of the Action". Delano's tough guy looks and legitimate stage training made him a natural for 'cops and crooks' roles.

In 1968, Sid Caesar hired Delano to replace his longtime improvisational co-star Carl Reiner. Delano co-starred with Caesar on-stage and television around the world, including appearances at the Kraft Music Hall in London, Hollywood Palace, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and theaters and concert halls throughout the United States. These engagements included a four-month stint with Caesar and Imogene Coca at Michael's Pub Cabaret, and a run on Broadway.

An association with Mel Brooks led to roles in the films High Anxiety (as an orderly with one half a mustache) and Silent Movie. He also appeared in dramatic roles in Report to the Commissioner and Executive Action, in which he played one of three assassins of President John F. Kennedy.

Delano co-founded the Oxford Theater with Jack Donner in Los Angeles. Their students included Barry Levinson, Craig T. Nelson, Barbara Parkins, and Don Johnson.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1968	Project X	Dr. Tony Verity
1968	Rogue's Gallery	Swen
1968	Star Trek (1968, Episode: "A Piece of the Action")	Kalo
1971	The Late Liz	Joe Vito
1973	Executive Action	Gunman - Team A
1973	The Don Is Dead	Sam Zutti	Uncredited
1975	Report to the Commissioner	Detective
1976	Silent Movie	Executive
1977	High Anxiety	Norton
1981	History of the World, Part I	Wagon Driver	(The Roman Empire)
1985	They Call Me Bruce?	Polish Boss
1984	Splash	Sergeant Leleandowski
1996	The Birdcage	Mr. Boyington
1997	Me and the Gods		(final film role)

External links

• Lee Delano website
• Lee Delano at IMDb