Rick Ducommun, a Canadian comic, transformed his life in the late 1980s by shedding his excess weight and pursuing a successful career in film and television, as well as headlining several HBO and pay-cable specials.
Born on a farm, Ducommun was the son of an entrepreneur father with whom he had a strained relationship. At the age of 14, he ran away from home and hitchhiked around the northern United States, often living in communes, until he returned to Canada at 17, settling in Vancouver.
On a dare, Ducommun attempted stand-up comedy at a Vancouver club, where he was not only asked back but also bitten by the show business bug. He began performing at clubs in Canada, hosted his own children's show, "ZigZag," and was discovered by Alan Thicke, who was hosting a talk show in Vancouver at the time.
When Thicke made the deal to create "Thicke of the Night" (1983),a late-night talk show in Los Angeles, he brought Ducommun down to serve as the announcer and a performer. After the show's failure, Ducommun transitioned to performing at L.A. clubs and acting in sitcoms, including "The Last Precinct" (1986) and "Max Headroom" (1987).
Ducommun also appeared in small film roles, starting with "No Small Affair" (1984),but his weight limited his opportunities. After shedding over 200 pounds, he landed the role of Art Weingartner, the lovable but dim-witted neighbor to Tom Hanks in "The 'Burbs" (1989).
Although the film received positive reviews, it was not a commercial success, and Ducommun continued to balance live performances with occasional film work, including an appearance in "Blank Check" (1994).
HBO produced two stand-up specials featuring Ducommun: "Rick Ducommun: Piece of Mind" (1989) and "Hit and Run" (1992),both of which received positive reactions. Ducommun frequently hosted pay and cable programs featuring stand-up comedy and was a regular performer on the Comedy Channel, later renamed Comedy Central.
