"Excuse me! (Oof!) Pardon me! (mmph!)"

Dom DeLuise feigns a stumble on his way back to the microphone during a recording session.

He fusses, fidgets and philosophizes about the range of emotions ("All four!") he's expected to bring his vocal characterization of Jeremy the crow, the neophyte ladykiller in "The Secret of NIMH," an animated action fantasy in the classical style set to be released in July. The film, an Aurora presentation, is the first feature from Don Bluth Productions. MGM/UA Entertainment Co. will release the film in the U.S. and Canada.

DeLuise lends his vocal talent to the newfound friend of heroine field mouse Mrs. Brisby, who must seek the help of some mysterious, intelligent rats to save her family. Jeremy, who thinks of himself as master of panache, is on a fervent search for Miss Right but does everything wrong.

"Not fat," DeLuise declares. "I told the producers to make my character anything they wanted except fat." Producers Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy designed a young, awkward, gangly bird. He spends a lot of time upside down, tangled in bright strings he's gathering for his nest. He also spends a lot of time in disguises like bloomers and lilypads.

In one scene, Jeremy tries to talk through a tied-up beak. At the recording session, DeLuise pinches his lips together with his fingers.

"Mmph scrrw rlllmmm." He shakes off the character. "How was that?" he asks Bluth, who is also directing.

Not bad for a grown man who began a career in comedy as Peter Rabbit (age 8) then moved right on to play a penny (age 9).

DeLuise was chosen for the role in "NIMH" simultaneously though separately by the three producers during a televised broadcast of his film, "The End." The producers, who had listened to hundreds of voices, all phoned each other and by the first commercial break, they had made up their minds.

One of America's favorite funnymen, DeLuise is currently starring in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" with Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton. Other movies include "Fatso," "Smokey and the Bandit II," "Twelve Chairs" and "Silent Movie."

Was it difficult for him to play a klutz?

"What klutz? Jeremy is handsome, charming, sophisticated."

DeLuise says it wasn't hard to create a character who didn't exist. "I consider myself an actor. A characterization always starts in the head. In an animated film, you keep it there and in your voice and forget you have a body."

DeLuise was born August 1 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, had two other children, Nick and Ann. His father worked for the sanitation department.

Inspired by his early school stage appearances, DeLuise attended the High School of the Performing Arts in Manhattan.

He enrolled in Tufts College as a biology major, with plans to become a biology teacher. He found, however, that the theatre held more charm. With the assistance ofa high school friend from Ohio, DeLuise joined the Cain Park Theatre in Cleveland and spent two seasons at the Cleveland Playhouse.

His New York debut was in the off-Broadway production of "Little Mary Sunshine." After several other productions, he worked summer stock in Provincetown, Massachusetts. It was there, while he was appearing in "Mixed Company," that he met his future wife, actress Carol Arthur.

DeLuise became nationally known on the Garry Moore Show where he was "Dominick the Great," a klutzy magician. He made numerous guest appearances and became a regular on "The Entertainers" teleseries with Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett and John Davidson. He also appeared for eight years on "The Dean Martin Show" and became a favorite of the talk show circuit.

His first special in 1964 was entitled "Bar-Rump Bump," and he hosted the Dom DeLuise Variety Show on CBS-TV, later starring as Stanley on the "Lotsa Luck" series.

His motion picture debut was in "The Glass Bottom Boat" with Doris Day. Other movies include "The Busy Body," "Norwood," "Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?", "Fail-Safe," "The Twelve Chairs," "Blazing Saddles," "Silent Movie," "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother," "The World's Greatest Lover," "Sextette," "The Cheap Detective," "The End," "The Last Married Couple in America," "The Muppet Movie," "Fatso," "Hot Stuff," (which he also directed), "Smokey and the Bandit II," "Cannonball Run," and "History of the World, Part I."

DeLuise and his wife Carol are raising a dog, cat, rabbit, parakeet, chickens. tropical fish and three sons, Peter, 14; Michael, 11; and David, 10. DeLuise enjoys gardening, refinishing furniture, cooking, bike riding and tennis.

In "The Secret of NIMH," DeLuise lends his vocal talents with Elizabeth Hartman, Peter Strauss, Derek Jacobi, John Carradine, Hermione Baddeley, Arthur Malet and Paul Shenar. The story was adapted by Bluth, Pomeroy, Will Finn and Goldman from the Newbery Award-winning novel, "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien. Jerry Goldsmith composed and conducted the songs and score and Paul Williams wrote the lyrics. Rich Irvine and James L. Stewart are executive producers. MGM/UA Entertainment Co. will release the film throughout the U.S. and Canada.