Richard Dimitri, an actor best known for When Things Were Rotten, has died at 83. He passed away on Dec. 18, 2025, with his wife, Christianne, by his side. According to his obituary, Dimitri had battled heart and lung illnesses for many years. Dimitri is remembered for his work in television and his long life shared with loved ones.

Richard Dimitri (June 27, 1942 – December 18, 2025)  was born in Yonkers, New York, and of Assyrian descent, per his obituary.  Dimitri was raised by his mother and grandfather. He studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and began his career on stage, appearing Off-Broadway and on Broadway in productions such as Zorba and Lysistrata. He later taught acting at Queens College, where he was a devoted mentor to students.

In the 1970s, Dimitri moved to Los Angeles and gained wider recognition on television, including a starring role on When Things Were Rotten.

When Things Were Rotten was a short-lived American television comedy created by Mel Brooks.

The series aired on ABC in 1975 and was a spoof of the Robin Hood legend. Set in medieval England, it followed Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men as they battled the corrupt Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham. The show used broad slapstick humor, rapid-fire jokes, and satirical takes on politics, greed, and heroism—hallmarks of Mel Brooks’ comedic style.

Although When Things Were Rotten lasted only 13 episodes, it later developed a cult following. Many of its jokes and characters were later reworked and expanded into Brooks’ 1993 film Robin Hood: Men in Tights. He also appeared in films like Johnny Dangerously and Let It Ride. Beyond acting, he wrote TV pilots and film scripts and performed stand-up comedy.

After health issues led to early retirement, Dimitri built a successful second career as an art and antiques dealer, eventually opening a gallery with his wife and selling works to major institutions, including the Getty Museum.

He is remembered for his talent, humor, generosity, and deep devotion to his family. Dimitri was predeceased by his son, John W. Dimitri, who died in 2017 at the age of 19 from a rare congenital heart defect known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, per People. In his son’s honor, the John Dimitri Research Foundation for Congenital Heart Disease was later established. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Christianne.