Comedian Dick Capri passed away in his sleep at the age of 93 in the early hours of Thursday, December 26.
The late star was able to celebrate Christmas with his family in Florida, his son Jeff told TMZ after confirming his father’s death.
Before his passing, Capri had been diagnosed with a bleeding enlarged aorta, but due to his age, doctors were unable to operate.
However, Dick kept living his life to the fullest – despite his time being limited – and enjoyed the holiday season with Jeff, his daughter-in-law and life partner. He was also able to Facetime loved ones that weren’t able to travel to Florida.
The actor – who worked alongside stars such as Frank Sinatra and Tom Jones during the course of his successful career – indulged in a meal from his favorite restaurant on Christmas Day before going to bed and dying in his sleep.
As his family mourns the loss of Capri, his son Jeff told TMZ, ‘The world is not as funny today as it was yesterday.’
Comedian Dick Capri passed away in his sleep at the age of 93 in the early hours of Thursday, December 26; seen in 2014 in NYC
Dick – whose full name is Richard Capri – was born in the city of Reading in Pennsylvania.
His first step in the world of comedy began while working at his father’s grocery store, where he would perform comedy mimes for customers, per the late star’s official website.
The actor quit his job at the market to focus on comedy full-time before establishing a decades-long career in the entertainment industry.
He rose to fame when he began touring with singer Engelbert Humperdinck in 1973 as the comedy attraction.
Capri also worked alongside other celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones and Liza Minnelli.
He later had the chance to perform for two U.S. presidents: Gerald Ford as well as George Bush.
Dick also showcased his comedic skills on stage at iconic venues such as Radio City Music Hall and the Minskoff Theater in New York City, as well as MGM’s Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
He additionally made audiences laugh in other countries, and made a stop at the London Palladium in the U.K.
The late star was able to celebrate Christmas with his family in Florida, his son Jeff told TMZ after confirming his father’s death; seen in 1998 in NYC
As his family mourns the loss of Capri, his son Jeff told TMZ, ‘The world is not as funny today as it was yesterday; Jeff and Dick seen together
In 1991, Capri made his debut on Broadway in the show Catskills On Broadway which was shown for a total of 14 months before touring throughout the U.S.
Dick – who wrote most of his own material – also took part in a special for Comedy Central titled New York Friars Club Roast In Honor Of Drew Cary.
He also made appearances on The Tonight Show, The Merv Griffin Show and also Toast Of The Town.
Capri’s comedic skills have been described as a ‘style firmly based in the Borsht Belt.’
He also ‘used his Italian heritage and his unique delivery to mix comedy and mime – setting him distinctly apart from the traditional stand-up comic,’ per the star’s official website.
‘His unique style features a measured and deliberate delivery and his material is crisp and topical.’
‘This mix of comedy sets him distinctly apart from traditional stand-up comedians,’ the description continued.
Capri rose to fame when he began touring with singer Engelbert Humperdinck in 1973 as the comedy attraction; Humperdinck and Tom Jones seen above in 1969
Capri’s comedic skills were described as a ‘style firmly based in the Borsht Belt’ and he ‘used his Italian heritage and his unique delivery to mix comedy and mime – setting him distinctly apart from the traditional stand-up comic’; seen in 2007 in NYC
Capri also starred in films such as They Still Call Me Bruce (1987), Bittersweet Place (2005) and One Angry Man (2010).
His son, Jeff, has followed in his father’s footsteps by also pursuing a career in comedy.
He has performed at various comedy clubs and events, and notably traveled to Iraq to entertain U.S. troops back in 2003.
Jeff made appearances in Comics Unleashed, Last Comic Standing, as well as Ed McMahon’s Next Big Star. In 2020, he released the Dry Bar Comedy Special: Capricious.
