Rick Dalton is no more. The tragic news which was publicly announced in the early hours of the morning on May 20, 2023, has taken the world by shock. Although a formal statement is yet to be released by Leonardo DiCaprio, the renowned filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, who also happens to be the maker of Dalton, is beside himself with grief.
It has been reported that Dalton is survived by his wife, Francesca, who the late actor had met while shooting a film in Italy. Although plagued by an undiagnosed bipolar disorder for most of his life, Dalton, who Tarantino referred to as “a man full of inner turmoil and self-pity,” managed to shine brilliantly in his illustrious career, although briefly stumbling through a rough patch in the late 60s and 70s.
Quentin Tarantino Relays the News of Rick Dalton’s Passing
The 2019 film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood marked Quentin Tarantino’s ninth directorial venture and a magnificent one at that. Star-studded up to the brim with an ensemble cast comprising the likes of Margot Robbie, Austin Butler, Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Luke Perry, Bruce Dern, and numerous others, the film navigated the lives of fading Hollywood star Rick Dalton [Leonardo DiCaprio] and his stunt double, Cliff Booth [Brad Pitt] as they try to find their way to the top in 1960s Los Angeles.
In his universe, Dalton turns 90 this year. The news of his death was announced via Twitter by The Video Archives Podcast, which is hosted by the filmmakers Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary.
I was never actually that big of a fan of Rick Dalton, but seeing how upset Quentin is today and how inconsolable he is has me wanting to see The Fireman 2 again. My favorite Dalton film. https://t.co/Se8957tZcQ
— Roger Avary (@AVARY) May 19, 2023
Despite a brilliant career with such noteworthy career-defining projects to his name as Tanner (1965), his cult classic film, The Fourteen Fists of McCluskey (1966), the highly criticized Salty, The Talking Sea Otter (1967), and the inimitable Western, Bounty Law which ran from 1958 to 1963, the actor later began to fade from the Hollywood scene by the late 60s but made a daring and unforgettable comeback in the 80s with his directorial venture, The Fireman trilogy, which he also wrote and produced alongside long-time collaborator, friend, and stunt double, Cliff Booth.
The journey that ensued in the aftermath of Bounty Law up until the 80s would eventually go on to be chronicled by Quentin Tarantino in his potentially penultimate film installment.
Quentin Tarantino Gives Rick Dalton a Proper Send-off
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton has been a hero in his own right, and in his story, he was the pioneering tour de force that carried Hollywood into the 60s, blazing his own undiminishable trail along the way. Outside the fictional realm of Once Upon a Time, Quentin Tarantino has managed to establish a life fully lived by his film’s hero, and it includes the existence of a book titled The Films of Rick Dalton.
Also read: Tarantino To Write And Direct Upcoming Limited Series Bounty Law
Penned by Tarantino himself, the very real and upcoming publication chronicles the film and television works of Rick Dalton and reads like a comprehensive Hollywood retrospective into the protagonist’s life throughout his extensive years in the industry. Tarantino had earlier announced the completion of his manuscript in July 2021 but has yet to publish the book.
In the meanwhile, the next episode of The Video Archives Podcast will witness Tarantino and Avary further leaning into their mourning period as they go on a trip down memory lane to discuss the best of Dalton’s roles throughout his career arc.
