American actor Dom DeLuise has died, according to reports from his family. DeLuise had been battling cancer previously.

Born in 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, DeLuise came to be known for his roles in several Mel Brooks movies: The Twelve Chairs,Blazing Saddles, Silent Movie, History of the World, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. DeLuise also co-starred withBurt Reynolds in several movies: The Cannonball Run and Cannonball Run II, Smokey and the Bandit II, The End, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and All Dogs Go to Heaven. He was also well known for his role as the talent agent "Bernie" in The Muppet Movie. His most recent role was a cameo in the movie Horrorween, which is currently in production.

Beatrice Arthur, an American actress, died at the age of 86 on Saturday morning at her home in Los Angeles, California, according to a spokesperson. Arthur had been suffering from cancer for some time.

"She was a brilliant and witty woman. Bea will always have a special place in my heart," said Dan Watt, Arthur's spokesman for six years.

Born in New York City in 1922, Arthur was probably most famous for her role in the American TV seriesThe Golden Girls, where she played Dorothy Zbornak, and her role in Maude. Both roles earned herEmmy Awards. She also won a Tony Award for her role in the Broadway musical Mame.

British author James Graham Ballard, known as J. G. Ballard has died at the age of 78. Ballard died on Sunday after a long battle with prostate cancer.

According to a spokesperson, Ballard had been sick "for several years" and that it was "with great sadness" to have to make the announcement of his death. He died at the home of his long-time partner.

Ballard is best known for writing the novels Crash in 1973 and Empire of the Sun in 1984 which won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. Both books went on to be major motion pictures.

"He was a colonial figure in some senses. He had grown up in Shanghai and had very good manners. He was very generous and polite and it took a long while before he would do anything that wasn’t very controlled," said friend and author Iain Sinclair to The Times.