Rick Dalton is dead. The actor died at the age of 90. The announcement was made by cult director Quentin Tarantino (60) via the Twitter account of his podcast, which he runs with Roger Avary (57).
"We are saddened by the news of the death of actor Rick Dalton, best known for his roles in the television series 'Bounty Law' and the 'Fireman Trilogy,'" it reads. "Rick passed away peacefully at his home in Hawaii and is survived by his wife Francesca."
Fans of Quentin Tarantino know, of course, that Rick Dalton never lived. The director and writer invented him for his film 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood'. In it Leonardo DiCaprio (48) embodies the actor, who became a star in the 1950s, with the (also fictitious) western series 'Bounty Law'. By the end of the 1960s, however, he is trapped in a deep career hole.
Tarantino had already treated Rick Dalton like a real person when writing the script. He designed an entire filmography for the character. There is even a Wikipedia page that lists all the movies with Rick Dalton.
In addition, Tarantino even wrote a few whole episodes of 'Bounty Law'. Only logical that the director now also announces Dalton's death.