Actor-comic Richard Dimitri of Johnny Dangerously fame dies at 83 in LA

Actor-comic Richard Dimitri has died at the age of 83, his family said.

Dimitri died December 18 in Los Angeles 'with his wife, Christianne, at his side,' an online obituary posted by the family Wednesday read, following 'a decades-long battle with heart and lung illnesses.'

The Yonkers, New York native got his beginnings in show business in 1963, playing the role of Bashir in an Off-Broadway revival of The Immoralist. He would later appear in Broadway productions including Zorba, The Guide and Lysistrata. 

Dimitri racked up a number of credits appearing in television shows and films throughout the 1970s and 80s.

Most famously, Dimitri appeared in the ensemble cast of the 1984 motion picture Johnny Dangerously, which starred Michael Keaton in the title role and also included Joe Piscopo, Marilu Henner, Danny DeVito and Griffin Dunne.

Dimitri also appeared in the 1989 horse racing comedy Let It Ride opposite Richard Dreyfuss and late stars Teri Garr and David Johansen.

Among the television shows Dimitri appeared on included Welcome Back, Kotter; Starsky and Hutch; The Tracey Ullman Show and Hawaii Five-0.

Dimitri also was an educator, having taught the craft of acting at Queen's College, The City University of New York in 1973, according to the obit.

'He loved to mentor and inspire his students, many of whom kept in touch with him for years,' the obit read.

Dimitri moved to Los Angeles in 1975 after he was cast on the TV show When Things Were Rotten, portraying two roles: twins Bertram and Renaldo.

Said his family: 'Throughout his life, Richard touched many people with his talent, brilliant sense of humor, unique perspective, honesty and intellect. 

'But it was his role as a valued father and husband, who surrounded his family with warmth and security, that was the most important and rewarding of his life. It was that which brought him his greatest joy.'