Michael DeLano, the veteran character actor whose face became a fixture across decades of film and television, has died at 84. His family confirmed he passed away on October 20 in Las Vegas from a heart attack. His wife of 28 years, Jean, shared the news, marking the end of a long career defined by grit, humor, and unmistakable screen presence.
Born in New York City in 1940 and raised in Harlem, DeLano discovered performing early, joining a local singing group and eventually running away at fourteen to chase a Hollywood dream. He spent years traveling as a singer before joining the Army, where he performed in military revues while serving as a paratrooper — an experience that strengthened both his discipline and dedication to entertainment.
In 1960, he briefly recorded music under the stage name “Key Larson,” but by the early 1970s he returned to acting under his real name and quickly found steady work. He appeared on major TV shows including Adam-12, Barnaby Jones, Kojak, Starsky and Hutch, Charlie’s Angels, Magnum, P.I., and The A-Team, becoming one of those instantly recognizable actors audiences knew even if they couldn’t always name.
A standout role came on Rhoda, where he played lounge singer Johnny Venture. In film, he brought memorable energy to 9 to 5 (1980), Commando (1985), and numerous action movies throughout the 1990s. A new generation discovered him in Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven and Ocean’s Twelve, where he played a polished Las Vegas casino manager.
DeLano continued acting into the 2000s, appearing in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and My Blueberry Nights. His final role was in 2012 on Royal Pains, concluding a 50-year career.
He is survived by his wife Jean, his daughter Bree, and three grandchildren — Michael, Lincoln, and Jaxon. To them, he was not just a familiar TV presence but a storyteller, a worker, and a man full of resilience and heart.
Michael DeLano built a career on consistency, talent, and presence — leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable roles and a life spent doing what he loved.
Rest in peace, Michael DeLano.