'Rhoda' actor Michael DeLano dead at 84

Beloved TV Actor Michael DeLano Passes Away at 84

The entertainment world has lost a cherished figure, as veteran actor and singer Michael DeLano succumbed to a fatal heart attack on October 20th. The 84-year-old star left behind an impressive legacy of captivating performances in some of the most iconic television shows and films.

DeLano's career spanned over six decades, taking him from his early days as a regular dancer on "American Bandstand" to becoming a household name with his memorable roles in "Firehouse," "Rhoda," "Wonder Woman," and many more. His portrayal of Johnny Venture in the hit sitcom "Rhoda" remains one of his most well-known and beloved performances, alongside Valerie Harper.

Throughout his illustrious career, DeLano worked alongside A-list stars such as Dolly Parton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, showcasing his versatility and range as an actor. He also lent his voice to several films, including the 1985 blockbuster "9 to 5" starring Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton.

One of DeLano's most notable roles came in 2001 with the heist film "Ocean's Eleven," alongside George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon. His performance as a casino manager marked a significant departure from his earlier work, demonstrating his ability to adapt to new genres and characters.

In recent years, DeLano shifted focus towards music, performing regularly at the Dispensary Lounge on Tropicana Avenue in Las Vegas. His dedication to his craft earned him recognition within the entertainment industry.

DeLano is survived by his wife, Jean DeLano; a daughter; and three grandchildren. The news of his passing has sent shockwaves through the entertainment community, with fans and colleagues alike paying tribute to this talented individual who left an indelible mark on the world of television and film.

awww he was so talented!!! i loved him in rhoda his performance as johan venture is still one of my fave episodes lolol what a legacy! sadly he's no longer with us, but we can keep enjoying all the amazing movies and shows he made rest in peace michael deLano you will be missed so much

Wow what's going on in Hollywood these days... 84 is old for an actor, but he had an amazing career, doing everything from dance to films, even singing with Dolly Parton! Interesting how he adapted his roles over the years, like that casino manager gig in Ocean's Eleven. Sadly, he left behind a big legacy and fans are going to miss him

RIP Michael DeLano 84 years young went out like a rockstar #RIPMichaelDeLano

aww man whats up with all these nostalgic vids poppin up on my feed ... like, i'm not even close to bein alive when Michael DeLano was rockin the small screen lol . but seriously tho, 84 is still kinda young 2 b goin out like that . he had such a long & accomplished career, it's crazy 2 think about all the iconic roles he played. Rhoda, Wonder Woman, Ocean's Eleven... i mean, who can forget Johnny Venture? anywayz, deLano was def one of them legends whos legacy will live on thru his body of work

He was like a rock , always strong and steady, even in the entertainment industry where one wrong step can be a total disaster . I loved watching him on TV especially in "Rhoda" with Valerie Harper , their chemistry was undeniable . His career was so long and full of awesome roles , from singing to acting, he did it all ! I'm so sad to hear that he's gone too soon ... rest in peace Michael DeLano

just saw that Michael DeLano passed away at 84... so sad he was always so charming on screen & off too his legacy will live on in all those iconic roles he played like Johnny Venture in Rhoda loved him in Ocean's Eleven too! anyway, it's crazy to think about how long his career spanned - from American Bandstand to 9 to 5 and beyond RIP Michael DeLano

omg can you even imagine the amount of iconic roles he played lol i mean 6 decades is like a lifetime in the industry and he still managed to bring so much joy and energy to every single character he played from firehouse to wonder woman its insane and what's crazy is that his range as an actor was so diverse he could go from singing and dancing on american bandstand to being part of blockbuster films like oceans eleven and 9 to 5 it just shows how talented and versatile he was i feel like we're gonna miss him so much especially since he was still doing music and performing live in las vegas

I'm having a 'grave' time coming to terms with the fact that Michael DeLano is gone... sorry I had to ! 84 years young, what can you say? He's been around longer than some of our grandparents! But seriously, his legacy lives on through all those amazing roles and music performances. I'm sure he'll be rocking out in heaven with Dolly Parton and the rest of the A-list crew . Time to 'play' it cool and remember this talented guy who entertained us for so long... RIP Michael

aww man ... just heard about Michael DeLano's passing . 84 is still pretty old tho . anywayz, i feel like we're losin' some of the OGs from back in the day . i mean, who else can say they worked with dolly parton and arnold schwarzenegger? that's straight outta a dream career . he had so many iconic roles and was still performin' music till his passin'. gives me chills thinkin bout how talented he was . rip michael deLano

just can't believe he's gone... I remember watching "Rhoda" as a kid and loving Johnny Venture's sassy attitude - still chuckles me up today . Loved how Michael DeLano had this amazing range from dancing to acting in so many iconic roles. And 9 to 5 is such an underrated film, he added so much depth to the movie . RIP Michael DeLano, your legacy lives on .

Man, 84 is crazy old for a legend like Michael DeLano to pass away... still can't believe I'm reading about him in 2025 lol . He was one of those rare actors who seemed to age perfectly with his roles, you know? From "Firehouse" to "Ocean's Eleven", the dude had range and charm for days . And let's not forget that iconic performance in "Rhoda"... still gives me goosebumps thinking about it . What I love most is how he transitioned into music and kept performing, that's dedication right there! The entertainment world just lost a true icon .

man I'm still trying to wrap my head around it ... 84 is like, almost as old as I am ... Michael DeLano was one of those guys who had a career that spanned like, a million different decades ... from being on "American Bandstand" to working with Dolly Parton and Arnold Schwarzenegger... it's crazy to think about how many iconic shows and films he must've been in ... Rhoda is still one of my favorite childhood TV shows, and now I'm gonna have to rewatch all the episodes without him ... anyway, it's clear that this dude was a legend in his own right

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the loss of Michael DeLano. His body of work is a testament to his remarkable range as an actor, effortlessly navigating from 60s rockstar to comedy legend . It's fascinating to think about how he transitioned between genres, collaborating with icons like Dolly Parton and Arnold Schwarzenegger. His legacy extends far beyond his most iconic roles – the music industry would be poorer for not having had him lend his voice to films like "9 to 5". The impact of his passing will undoubtedly be felt by fans of TV and film alike, as well as the community that supported him through his performances in Las Vegas.

RIP Michael DeLano

So many iconic roles in my fave shows like "Rhoda" and "Wonder Woman" I wonder what he was working on before his passing, maybe some new music at the Dispensary Lounge? Here's a quick doodle of him in some of those iconic roles...
```
+---------------+
/ \
Johnny Venture (Rhoda) |
\ /
+---------------+
\
Michael DeLano
|
\
___________
/ \
Firehouse Wonder Woman
| |
| Casino Manager |
v v
+---------------+ +---------------+
| Ocean's Eleven |
|____________________| |__________________|
```
He had some amazing collaborations with A-listers like Dolly Parton and Arnold Schwarzenegger

omg just heard about michael delano he was literally a legend from my grandma's old country club days lol i mean 84 is crazy for anyone but especially with all that history behind him! his rhoda days are still iconic to this day, and who can forget his voice in 9 to 5 anyway, sad news but glad we got to see his range as an actor and even his music gigs rest in peace michael

.. can you believe it? Another legend gone too soon . I mean, 84 is old, but he was still out there killing it on stage and screen . I remember watching "Rhoda" back in the day with my grandma, she loved Valerie Harper and Michael DeLano's chemistry was undeniable . He was one of those guys who could just disappear into his roles, you know? Like, have you seen him in "Ocean's Eleven"? Game-changer . And let's be real, who can forget that iconic hairdo ? Rest in peace, Michael DeLano ...

just saw the news about Michael DeLano passing away at 84... feels like only yesterday he was starring alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Ocean's Eleven what happened to all these classic actors, it's like they're disappearing one by one and now he left us with that iconic performance as Johnny Venture on Rhoda anyway, always sad to see talented people go

awww this is such sad news michael delano was a legend! i loved watching him in wonder woman he had so much talent and energy, always brought characters to life his career spanned like, forever! it's crazy that he went from dancing on american bandstand to being a household name. anyway, rest in peace michael, your music and movies will live on

Sorry to hear about Michael DeLano's passing... 84 is still pretty old, but I guess that's what happens when you've been working non-stop for over 6 decades . I'm not surprised he ended up doing music gigs at the Dispensary Lounge in Vegas, though - he always seemed like a guy who just wanted to perform, and have fun while doing it . The list of actors he worked with is insane... Dolly Parton, Arnold Schwarzenegger? That's some serious A-list cred . I'm gonna miss seeing him around in movies and TV shows, but at least we got to see his iconic performances like Johnny Venture on Rhoda - classic!