World News – US – Carol Arthur, ‘Blazing Saddles’ actress and wife of Dom DeLuise, dies at 85

Carol Arthur, the actress known for her collaborations with Mel Brooks and the widow of comedian Dom DeLuise, died Sunday at the Mary Pickford House at the Motion Picture & Television Fund in Los Angeles She was 85 A MPTF spokesperson confirmed the news to EW

Arthur appeared in Brooks’ 1974 comedy Blazing Saddles as schoolteacher Harriet Johnson, followed by small but memorable roles in three other projects: Silent Movie, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dracula: Dead and Loving It

« Sad to hear of Carol Arthur’s passing, » Brooks tweeted Monday, « She was so great in Blazing Saddles that Harriett Johnson, the over-the-top and outspoken schoolteacher She will be missed »

Arthur was born Carol Arata in Hackensack, NJ on August 4, 1935 She and DeLuise met in Provincetown, Mass, in 1964 while he was working in various stage productions They were married a year later and had three sons: Peter, Michael and David All three are actors

“Thanks for being the best mom in the world You’re free now,” he captioned a photo gallery of Arthur “I’ll miss you and love you forever 🙏🏻 Give dad a big hug and a kiss from me ❤️ Thank you for your wisdom and unconditional love And thank you for giving your gift We have all been so lucky and blessed to have you I love you « 

Arthur turned to television in 1968, starring herself in several episodes of The Dom DeLuise Show.She went on to make small screen appearances on hit shows such as Sanford and Son, Rhoda, Alice, What’s Happening and St Autre part

Although she found a place in film and television, she also returned to her roots in theater.She made her Broadway debut alongside Dick Van Dyke in 1980, followed by a role in Woman of the Year with Lauren Bacall in the lead a year later

Arthur was married to DeLuise until his death in 2009 from kidney failure after battling cancer in private for over a year

Carol Arthur, Blazing Saddles, Dom DeLuise, Mel Brooks, Harriett Johnson