Quentin Tarantino has announced that Rick Dalton, the actor who rose to fame for playing Jake Cahill on the popular western television series ‘Bounty Law’, has “passed away”. Fans of the 2019 movie ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ will recognize him as the character portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. The character’s passing was announced via The Video Archives podcast’s official Twitter account.
Details from the Announcement
- The Video Archives Podcast tweeted the news.
- Rick Dalton was portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’.
- In the film, he used a flamethrower to incinerate a follower of Charles Manson.
- The podcast announced that next Tuesday’s episode will be dedicated to a memorial of Rick Dalton, featuring clips of his best roles.
Rick Dalton’s Backstory
Although ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ is set in 1969, Tarantino has mapped out Dalton’s life and career far beyond the months covered in the film.
Dalton’s Career
Dalton was a 60s actor who lived next door to Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski, characters played by Margot Robbie and Rafal Zawierucha in the film. At the end of the movie, he uses a flamethrower to incinerate a follower of Charles Manson played by Mikey Madison.
Tarantino said that he wrote most of a book about Dalton’s TV shows and movies. In an interview with podcaster Jeff Goldsmith to publicize Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood novelization, the director revealed that the book’s title is ‘The Films of Rick Dalton’.
Dalton’s Movies
The book features the synopsis and critical quotes from the time for every one of Rick’s movies, leading up to the end of his career in 1988. Dalton became a major Italian movie star in films such as ‘Kill Me Quick, Ringo, Said the Gringo’ and ‘Operazione Dyn-O-Mite’ after working with director Sergio Corbucci.
Dalton’s Personal Life
Dalton was married to Francesca, played by Lorenza Izzo in the film. According to Tarantino, the Manson incident revived Dalton’s celebrity status, and he became a regular on “The Tonight Show” and began booking bigger acting jobs on shows like “Mission: Impossible” before retiring to Hawaii in 1988. Tarantino even closed his own meta storytelling loop by revealing that he himself met Dalton at the 1996 Hawaii International Film Festival.
Cliff Booth
Cliff Booth, Rick Dalton’s best friend and longtime stuntman, played by Brad Pitt in the film. There is no word on the status of Cliff Booth following the announcement of Rick Dalton’s death.
Fans React to the News
As with any surprising news, fans of the film took to social media platforms to share their thoughts and emotions. Many expressed their sadness and affection for the character. Others expressed their admiration for Tarantino’s dedication to his characters, even beyond the films themselves.
Conclusion
The announcement of Rick Dalton’s passing has sent shockwaves through the film community, but as always, Tarantino’s meticulous attention to his characters’ lives means that Dalton’s legacy will live on.
FAQs
1. Is Rick Dalton a real person?
No, Rick Dalton is a fictional character from the 2019 movie ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’.
2. Who played Rick Dalton in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’?
Leonardo DiCaprio played the role of Rick Dalton in the 2019 film.
3. Who was Francesca in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’?
Francesca was Rick Dalton’s wife in the film, played by Lorenza Izzo.
4. What is the Video Archives podcast?
It is a podcast hosted by Quentin Tarantino and his Pulp Fiction co-writer Roger Avary.
5. Will there be a sequel to ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’?
There are no official plans for a sequel, but Tarantino has not ruled it out.