Courtesy of Andrew Cooper/Sony P
Rick Dalton, the fictional star of Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood” has died at age 90. Played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Dalton starred as the lead in “Bounty Law” before moving on to some more small Western films and series including “Nebraska Jim” and “Tanner.”
Tarantino announced the character’s death via tweet via The Video Archive, a podcast co-hosted by the director and his “Pulp Fiction” co-writer Roger Avary.
“We are saddened by the news of the passing of actor Rick Dalton, best known for his roles in the hit TV series ‘Bounty Law’ and ‘The Fireman’ trilogy.”
The tweet also offers more information about Dalton’s history saying, “Rick died peacefully at his home in Hawaii and is survived by his wife Francesca. RIP Rick Dalton 1933-2023.”
In the podcast, the duo revisits old “VHS classics” such as “Moonraker,” “Star 80,” “Rodan” and more. In a followup tweet after the death announcement, the series promised to spend the next episode dedicated to some of Dalton’s favorite roles.
“Due to his passing, the episode for Rollerball was postponed. Instead, we’ll be back on Tuesday with a Quentin-designed memorial episode featuring some of Rick’s best roles.”
Fingers crossed they really go through this.
The New Beverly Cinema, also owned and operated by Tarantino, expressed its condolences on Dalton’s loss with a special marquee calling him “a wonderful actor.”
In the film, Dalton lives next to Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles. Together, he and his stunt double/chauffeur Cliff Booth (played by Oscar-winner Brad Pitt) are attacked by Charles Manson’s followers and end up thwarting a real-life, gruesome murder in 1969.
