Rick Dalton, the fictional star of Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon A Time in Hollywood has died at the age of 90. Played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Dalton starred as the lead in Bounty Law before pivoting to several smaller Western films and series including Nebraska Jim and Tanner.
Tarantino announced the characters death via tweet through The Video Archives, 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 offered additional information about the history of Dalton, stating that Rick passed away peacefully in his home in Hawaii and is survived by his wife Francesca. RIP Rick Dalton 1933-2023.
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.
Rick passed away peacefully in his home in Hawaii and is survived by his wife Francesca.
RIP Rick Dalton 1933-2023 pic.twitter.com/j51sNEh7AP
The Video Archives Podcast (@VideoArchives) May 19, 2023 In the podcast, the duo revisit 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 focused on some of Daltons favorite roles.
Because of his passing, the episode for Rollerball has been postponed. Instead, we will come back on Tuesday with a memorial episode designed by Quentin that features some of Ricks best roles.
Fingers crossed the hosts actually go through with it.
The New Beverly Cinema, which is owned and operated by Tarantino, expressed its condolences over the loss of Dalton with a special marquee dubbing him a wonderful actor.
IN LOVING MEMORY
RICK DALTON
1933 2023
A WONDERFUL ACTOR pic.twitter.com/YnBaJXK9Hy
New Beverly Cinema (@newbeverly) May 20, 2023 In the film, Dalton lived next door 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 Mansons followers and wind up thwarting the real-life, gruesome murder in 1969.