Carol Arthur
A sharp-witted character actress who stole scenes in classic comedies, often alongside her husband Dom DeLuise.
1935–2020 (age 85)·American actress·Birthday: August 4·The Silent Generation
Biography
Carol Arthur carved out a distinctive niche in 1970s film comedy with her dry delivery and expressive presence. Though often cast in small roles, she possessed a knack for making every moment count. Her career became intertwined with director Mel Brooks, who cast her in supporting parts in 'Blazing Saddles' as a harried townswoman and in 'History of the World, Part I' as a dismissive courtier. Her most memorable film work, however, was frequently alongside her husband, the boisterous comic actor Dom DeLuise, with whom she shared the screen in films like 'The World's Greatest Lover.' On stage, she demonstrated greater range, earning a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the musical 'The Happy Time.' Arthur balanced her career with raising their three sons, all of whom entered the entertainment industry. She remained a beloved figure, remembered for the grounded, genuine humor she brought to an era of broad, cinematic farce.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Carol was born in 1935, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Carol Was Born
The biggest hits of 1935
#1 Movie
Mutiny on the Bounty
Best Picture
Mutiny on the Bounty
Carol's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1935Born
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1940Started school
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1948Became a teenager
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Could drive
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1953Could vote
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Turned 21
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Turned 30
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 40
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 50
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 60
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 70
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 80
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2020Died at 85
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
Key Achievements
- Received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for 'The Happy Time' in 1968.
- Appeared in multiple Mel Brooks classics, including 'Blazing Saddles' and 'History of the World, Part I.'
- Had a recurring role as Aunt Martha on the television series 'The Dom DeLuise Show.'
- Maintained a steady acting career across film, television, and theater for over four decades.
Did You Know?
She was married to actor and comedian Dom DeLuise for over 43 years, until his death in 2009.
All three of her sons—Peter, Michael, and David DeLuise—became actors and directors.
Her birth name was Carol Arata.
She made her Broadway debut in the 1961 musical 'Carnival!'
“In comedy, the secret is to play it straight and let the joke land.”
