David DeLuise
A second-generation comedy actor who carved his own niche as the lovably hapless dad in a Disney Channel wizard family.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actor·Birthday: November 11·Generation X
Biography
Born into Hollywood royalty as the son of comic actor Dom DeLuise, David DeLuise forged a path that honored his family's legacy while finding his own spotlight. He worked steadily in television throughout the 1990s, appearing on shows like '3rd Rock from the Sun' and 'Boy Meets World,' often bringing a genial, offbeat charm to his roles. His big break came with the voice of the slacker hero Coop in the cult Cartoon Network series 'Megas XLR.' But it was his turn as Jerry Russo, the sweetly bewildered mortal father to a family of wizards on Disney's 'Wizards of Waverly Place,' that made him a familiar face to a new generation. Playing the sandwich shop owner trying to keep his magical kids grounded, DeLuise delivered a performance that was both genuinely warm and perfectly pitched for family comedy.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
David was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the series regular role of Jerry Russo, the father, on the hit Disney Channel series 'Wizards of Waverly Place' for its entire run.
- Voiced the lead character Coop in the Cartoon Network cult classic animated series 'Megas XLR'.
- Appeared in multiple episodes of the popular 90s sitcoms '3rd Rock from the Sun' and 'Boy Meets World'.
Did You Know?
He is the brother of actors Peter and Michael DeLuise.
His father, Dom DeLuise, made a guest appearance on 'Wizards of Waverly Place' as a magical pasta-making uncle.
He directed several episodes of 'Wizards of Waverly Place' later in the series' run.
“I learned comedy by watching my dad make people laugh.”
