Rick Ducommun, 'The 'Burbs' and 'Groundhog Day' Actor, Dies at 62

by Alex Stedman

Rick Ducommun, a Canadian actor who appeared in many popular comedies in the ’80s and ’90s, has died. He was 62.

Joe Dante, who directed Ducommun in The ‘Burbs and also helmed such works as Gremlins and Small Soldiers, broke the news on Twitter late on Wednesday.

Ducommun’s Twitter also posted the news.

1989’s The ‘Burbs was one of Ducommun’s most notable appearances, playing Tom Hanks’ noisy, paranoid neighbor. The comedian also had small roles in Groundhog DayLittle Monsters, Die Hard, The Hunt for Red October, The Last Boy Scout, Last Action Hero and Scary Movie, in which he played Anna Faris’ character’s father.

Dante posted several tweets honoring the late actor, noting that Ducommun, a relatively unknown stand-up comic at the time, beat out Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis to take the memorable role in The ‘Burbs, and “knocked it out of the park.”

“Lots of the funniest stuff he says was totally ad-libbed,” the Dante went on.

In television, Ducommun guest starred on The Wayans Bros. sitcom on The WB, before also working with the Wayans on 2000’s Scary Movie, which was written by Shawn and Marlon Wayans and directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans.

Ducommon also starred in the short-lived 1986 NBC comedy The Last Precinct and appeared in MoonlightingMax Headroom, NYPD Blue and Murphy Brown. HBO featured him in stand-up specials in 1989 and 1992.

Watch a video about Ducommon: