VANCOUVER — Canadian actor and comic Rick Ducommun, whose movie roles included parts in "The 'Burbs" and "Groundhog Day," has died.
He was 62.
Leslie Ducommun says her husband died on June 12 in a Vancouver hospice, where he was surrounded by family.
She says he was admitted four days earlier suffering from complications from diabetes, but had been "seriously ill for the past five years."
Word of his death spread on social media with "The 'Burbs" director Joe Dante and "The 'Burbs" co-star Corey Feldman saluting Ducommun's comedic prowess.
The Prince Albert, Sask., native made his name as a stand-up comic, writer and actor. His film and TV credits also included the children's TV series "Zig Zag," as well as roles in "Jury Duty," "Murphy Brown" and "Scary Movie."
"He's one of the reasons that 'The 'Burbs,' which is currently a cult item, stood the test of time," Dante, who also directed Ducommun in "Gremlins 2: The New Batch," said when reached by phone in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Ducommun played eccentric neighbour Art Weingartner to Tom Hanks' character Ray Peterson in "The 'Burbs." Feldman tweeted that Ducommun was one of the greatest stand-up comics he'd ever seen.
Ducommun's widow said she was touched by the outpouring of support online.
"That would make him very happy," Leslie Ducommun said Thursday.
"Comedy was his life. We appreciate all the kind thoughts that people are putting out there."
She said there will be a private celebration of life at the Lafflines Comedy Club in New Westminster, B.C., on Saturday.
Ducommun is survived by his children Hudson, Cord, Austin and Nash.
