Don Rickles
 |
| Don Rickles | |
|---|---|
 Rickles in 1973 | |
| Birth name | Donald Jay Rickles |
| Born | May 8, 1926 Queens, New York City, New York, United States |
| Medium | Stand-up, Television, Film |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1948–present |
| Genres | Improvisational comedy, Observational comedy, Musical comedy, Insult comedy |
| Subject(s) | United States culture, Racism, Self-deprecation, Everyday life, Religion, Current events |
| Spouse |
Barbara Sklar (m. 1965) |
| Children | 2 |
| Notable works and roles | Hello Dummy! Run Silent, Run Deep Kelly's Heroes Casino Toy Story |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1944–1946 |
| Rank |  Seaman first class (S1/c) |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
Donald Jay "Don" Rickles (born May 8, 1926) is an American actor and stand-up comedian. Best known as an insult comic, he is also an actor, playing both comedic and dramatic roles on film. He received widespread exposure as a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Show with David Letterman.
Early life
Rickles was born on May 8, 1926[4] in the New York City borough of Queens to Max Rickles (1897-1953), who emigrated in 1903 with his parents Joseph and Frances Rickles (Richters) from Kaunas, Lithuania[5] (then in the Russian Empire), and Etta (Feldman) Rickles (1898-1984), born in New York to immigrant parents from the Austrian Empire.[6][7][8][9] His family was Jewish and spoke Yiddish at home. Rickles grew up in the Jackson Heights area.[4] After graduating from Newtown High School, Rickles enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during World War II on the motor torpedo boat tender USS Cyrene (AGP-13) as a seaman first class. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Two years later, he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and then played bit parts on television. Frustrated by a lack of acting work, Rickles began doing stand-up comedy, performing in clubs in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. He became known as an insult comedian by responding to his hecklers. The audience enjoyed these insults more than his prepared material, and he incorporated them into his act. When he began his career in the early 1950s he started calling ill-mannered members of the audience "hockey puck[s]."[10] His style was similar to that of an older insult comic, Jack E. Leonard, though Rickles denies that Leonard influenced his style.[11]
Career
1950s–1960s
While working in a Miami Beach nightclub known as "Murray Franklin's" early in his career, he spotted Frank Sinatra and remarked to him, "I just saw your movie, The Pride and the Passion and I want to tell you, the cannon's acting was great." He added, "Make yourself at home, Frank. Hit somebody!"[4][12] Sinatra, whose pet name for Rickles was "bullet-head," enjoyed Rickles so much that he encouraged other celebrities to see Rickles' act and be insulted by him. Sinatra's support helped Rickles become a popular headline performer in Las Vegas.[12] Rickles earned the nicknames "The Merchant of Venom" and "Mr. Warmth" for his insult comedy in which he pokes fun at people of all ethnicities and walks of life. When he is introduced to an audience or on a television talk show, Spanish matador music, "La Virgen de la Macarena," will usually be played, subtly foreshadowing that someone is about to be metaphorically gored. Rickles has said, "I always pictured myself facing the audience as the matador."[11] In 1958, Rickles made his film debut in a serious part in Run Silent, Run Deep with Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. Throughout the 1960s, he appeared frequently on television in sitcoms and dramatic series. Rickles guest-starred in Get Smart as "Sid," an old war buddy of Max who comes to stay with him. In an episode of the 1960s drama series Run for Your Life, Rickles played a distressed comedian whose act culminates when he strangles a patron while imploring the patron to "Laugh!" Rickles took a dramatic turn in the low budget Roger Corman film X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes as a carnival barker out to exploit the title character (played by Ray Milland).
Rickles appeared in the popular Beach Party film series. He recalled in his 2007 memoir that at a White House dinner, Barbara Bush teased him about his decision to appear in those films.[13] Rickles' agent, Jack Gilardi, was married to Annette Funicello when Rickles was cast in the Beach Party films. Rickles subsequently began appearing more frequently on television talk shows, first appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1965. He became a frequent guest and guest host, appearing more than 100 times on The Tonight Show during Carson's era. An early Carson-Rickles Tonight highlight occurred in 1968 when, while two Japanese women treated Carson to a bath and massage by foot, Rickles walked onto the set. At one point, he decided to play massage therapist to the prone and towel-clad Carson. Rickles leaned over and wrapped his arms around Carson, ad-libbing, "Give me a break, I'm so lonely!" Carson broke into hysterical laughter, got up, grabbed Rickles, and tossed the suit-clad comedian into the bathtub.[14] Rickles also made frequent appearances on The Dean Martin Show and became a fixture on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast specials which continued until 1984. In 1968, Rickles released a live comedy album, Hello, Dummy!, which reached #54 on The Billboard 200 album chart.[15] The same year he starred in his own variety show on ABC, The Don Rickles Show, with comedy writer Pat McCormick as his sidekick. The show lasted one season. During the 1960s, Rickles made guest appearances on The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Munsters, The Addams Family, The Mothers-in-Law, Gilligan's Island, Get Smart, The Andy Griffith Show and I Dream of Jeannie.
1970s–1980s
In 1970, Rickles had a notable role as "Crapgame" in the hit film Kelly's Heroes, sharing the marquee poster with co-stars Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland and Carroll O'Connor. In 1972, he starred in the sitcom The Don Rickles Show which lasted for 13 episodes. He also starred in a series of television specials. In his memoir, Rickles acknowledged that a scripted sitcom was not well-suited to his ad-lib style of performing. Starting in 1973, Rickles became a popular comedian appearing on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast specials. In 1976-1978, he starred in the sitcom C.P.O. Sharkey, which lasted two seasons. The show is primarily remembered for the cigarette box incident when Johnny Carson did an impromptu surprise visit during an episode's taping because he was "incensed" that Rickles broke his cigarette box while he chatted with Bob Newhart (who was sitting in for Carson as the guest host of the The Tonight Show) on the previous night's show. The incident was often replayed in Tonight Show retrospectives and was considered a highlight of the 1970s era of the show. Rickles occasionally appeared as a panelist on Hollywood Squares and was depicted in comic book form by Jack Kirby during his work on the Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen series.[16][17][18]
1980s–1990s
In the early 1980s, Rickles began performing with singer Steve Lawrence in concerts in Las Vegas. In 1983, the duo co-hosted the short-lived ABC-TV series Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders, an imitation of NBC's TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes. In 1985, when Frank Sinatra was asked to perform at Ronald Reagan's Second Inaugural Ball, he stipulated he would not perform unless Rickles was allowed to perform with him. Rickles considers this performance the highlight of his career.[19] In 1990, he appeared in the second season of Tales From the Crypt in the episode "The Ventriloquist's Dummy". In 1992, he was cast in the film Innocent Blood, directed by John Landis. In his memoir, Rickles wrote that he recalled that Landis was once a "Production Assistant" to director Brian G. Hutton during the filming of Kelly's Heroes. During the filming of Innocent Blood, Rickles would kid Landis by ordering him to get coffee or to run other errands befitting his one-time "gofer" status. In 1993, Rickles starred in another short-lived sitcom, Daddy Dearest, with comedian Richard Lewis. In 1995, he made a return to film in two high-profile projects: a dramatic role as Robert De Niro's trusted colleague in Martin Scorsese's Casino, and voicing Mr. Potato Head in the Pixar film Toy Story (1995), which he reprised his latter role in Toy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story 3 (2010). In 1998, he portrayed a film theater manager in Dirty Work and voiced Cornwall, one of the heads of a two-headed dragon, in Quest for Camelot.
2000s–present
In February 2007, Rickles made a cameo appearance as himself in a strange, recurring dream sequence that was woven through an episode titled "Sub Conscious" of the CBS dramatic series, The Unit.[20] Rickles' memoir, titled Rickles' Book, was released on May 8, 2007 by Simon & Schuster. Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project, a documentary about Rickles directed by John Landis, made its debut on HBO on December 2, 2007. Rickles won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program, besting a number of notable comics, including David Letterman, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. To this Rickles remarked, "Stephen Colbert's a funny man, but he's too young. He has got plenty of time to win awards, but this may be my last year and I think that I made it count. On second thought it was probably just a mercy award for an old man."[21] Rickles reprised the role of Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story Midway Mania! attraction at Disney California Adventure Park, Disney's Hollywood Studios[22] and the film Toy Story 3. In 2009, Rickles appeared on Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List and met Griffin's mother, Maggie, to fulfill one item on Maggie's "bucket list". In 2010, he appeared in a commercial during Super Bowl XLIV as a talking rose and appeared on the 37th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on CBS TV on June 27, 2010. In 2011, Rickles reunited with his Casino-co-star Joe Pesci in a Snickers advertisement highlighting the actors known for their "short fuses."[23] Also in 2011, he made a surprise appearance as the late husband of Elka (Betty White) on the TV Land original comedy Hot in Cleveland—a "surprise" because Rickles' character was thought to be dead. Rickles remains very active on the stand-up comedy scene and has no plans to retire, as he recently stated in an interview. "I'm in good health. I'm working better than I ever have. The audiences are great. Why should I retire? I'm like a fighter. The bell rings and you come out and fight. My energy comes alive. And I still enjoy it."
On May 28, 2014, Rickles was honored by Spike TV's "One Night Only: An All-Star Comedy Tribute to Don Rickles". Recorded live at New York City's Apollo Theater, Jerry Seinfeld was the Master Of Ceremonies for the two-hour special. Live monologs were performed by Johnny Depp, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, Jon Stewart, David Letterman, Tracy Morgan, Brian Williams, Regis Philbin, and Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. Recorded segments included bits from Bob Newhart, Bill Cosby, Jimmy Kimmel, and Eddie Murphy. The show was highly praised by audiences and critics alike.
"The camaraderie and the comedy made the show a cross between a traditional roast and a dignified lifetime achievement award, spanning emotions ranging from admiration and gratitude to, well, degradation. And as the evening reached its climax, when Rickles got his say after all that had said about him and his nearly 60-year-long career, fittingly, he had the last laugh." - TV Week[24]
At 89, he is still a frequent guest on late night talk shows, including the Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.[19][25][26] On May 11, 2015, Rickles appeared as a guest on one of the final episodes of The Late Show with David Letterman.
In the summer of 2015, Rickles also made a cameo on the show Grandfathered.
Personal life
Rickles married Barbara Sklar, a native of Philadelphia on March 14, 1965, and had two children: a daughter, Mindy, and a son, producer Larry Rickles (1970–2011).[27] According to Rickles' memoir, his grandchildren, Ethan and Harrison Mann, are much more impressed by his role as Mr. Potato Head than by any of his other achievements.
Although a lifelong Democrat, he performed at the inaugurations of Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush with his friend Frank Sinatra.[28]
Rickles considers comedian Bob Newhart to be his best friend, an unusual partnership since Newhart's low-key, hesitant, self-effacing comic persona is almost completely the opposite of Rickles' high energy, rapid-fire act. Rickles and Newhart appeared together on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on January 24, 2005, the Monday following Johnny Carson's death, reminiscing about their many guest appearances on Carson's show, which included footage of the "cigarette box incident". The two also appeared together on the television sitcom Newhart, and for previous episodes of The Tonight Show where Newhart or Rickles were guest-hosts. Rickles, Newhart, and their wives often vacation together.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Run Silent, Run Deep | Quartermaster 1st Class Ruby | |
| 1959 | The Rabbit Trap | Mike O'Halloran | |
| 1960 | The Rat Race | Nellie | |
| 1963 | X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes | Crane | |
| 1964 | Muscle Beach Party | Jack Fanny | |
| 1964 | Bikini Beach | Big Drag | |
| 1964 | Pajama Party | Big Bang The Martian | |
| 1965 | Beach Blanket Bingo | Big Drop | |
| 1967 | Enter Laughing | Harry Hamburger | |
| 1967 | The Money Jungle | Harry Darkwater | |
| 1969 | Where It's At | Willie | |
| 1970 | Kelly's Heroes | Staff Sergeant Crapgame | |
| 1971 | The Love Machine | Announcer | Uncredited |
| 1990 | Keaton's Cop | Jake | |
| 1992 | Innocent Blood | Emmanuel "Manny" Bergman | |
| 1995 | Casino | Billy Sherbert | |
| 1995 | Toy Story | Mr. Potato Head (voice) | |
| 1997 | Redux Riding Hood | The Boss (voice) | Short film |
| 1998 | Quest for Camelot | Cornwall (voice) | |
| 1998 | Dirty Work | Mr. Hamilton | |
| 1998 | Dennis the Menace Strikes Again | George Wilson | |
| 1999 | Toy Story 2 | Mr. Potato Head (voice) | |
| 2010 | Toy Story 3 | ||
| 2011 | Hawaiian Vacation | Short film | |
| 2011 | Zookeeper | Jim the Bullfrog (voice) | |
| 2011 | Small Fry | Mr. Potato Head (voice) | Short film |
| 2012 | Partysaurus Rex | ||
| 2018 | Toy Story 4 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Stage 7 | Announcer | Episode: "A Note of Fear" |
| 1956 | Chevron Hall of Stars | Announcer | 2 episodes |
| 1955–56 | Cavalcade of America | Commentator | 2 episodes |
| 1956 | Four Star Playhouse | Announcer | Uncredited Episode: "The Listener" |
| 1957 | M Squad | — | Scenes deleted Episode: "Pete Loves Mary" |
| 1959 | The Thin Man | Eddie | Episode: "The Cat Kicker" |
| 1959–60 | The DuPont Show with June Allyson | Reporter / Newscaster / Announcer | 3 episodes |
| 1961 | The Twilight Zone | Bettor | Episode: "Mr. Dingle, the Strong" |
| 1961 | Wagon Train | Joe Carder | Episode: "Wagon to Fort Anderson" |
| 1961 | Hennesey | Chief Petty Officer Ernie Schmidt | Episode: "Professional Sailor" |
| 1962 | The Dick Powell Show | Newscaster | Episode: "Seeds of April" |
| 1962 | Cain's Hundred | Dave Molloy | Episode: Blood Money |
| 1964 | The Addams Family | Claude | Episode: "Halloween With the Addams Family" |
| 1964 | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Lyle Delp | 2 episodes |
| 1963–65 | Burke's Law | Swifty Piedmont / Frank Cross / Lou Kronkeit | 3 episodes |
| 1965 | The Beverly Hillbillies | Fred | Episode: "Jed's Temptation" |
| 1965 | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. | Sergeant Jim Mason | Episode: "My Buddy, the War Hero" |
| 1965 | The Munsters | 'Doc' Happy Havemeyer | Episode: "Dance with Me, Herman" |
| 1965 | The Andy Griffith Show | Newton Munroe | Episode: "The Luck of Newton Munroe" |
| 1965 | F Troop | Bald Eagle | Episode: "The Return of Bald Eagle" |
| 1966 | The Wild Wild West | Asmodeus | Episode: "The Night of the Druid's Blood" |
| 1966 | The Bob Hope Show | — | October 19 |
| 1965–66 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | Linny | 2 episodes |
| 1966 | Gilligan's Island | Norbert Wiley | Episode: "The Kidnapper" |
| 1967 | The Lucy Show | Eddie Rickles | Episode: "Lucy the Fight Manager" |
| 1967 | I Spy | Frank Bodie | Episode: "Night Train to Madrid" |
| 1967 | I Dream of Jeannie | Kiski | Episode: "My Master, the Weakling" |
| 1966–67 | Run for Your Life | Willy Hatch / Leo Mazinov | 2 episodes |
| 1968–69 | Get Smart | Sid Krimm / Guard | Episodes: "The Little Black Book - Parts 1&2" Episode: "To Sire, with Love - Part 2" |
| 1972 | The Don Rickles Show | Don Robinson | |
| 1974 | Sanford and Son | Fight Announcer (voice) | Episode: "Once a Thief" |
| 1975 | Buy This Tape, You Hockey Puck | Himself | Standup Comedy special |
| 1976 | Medical Center | — | Episode: "The Happy State of Depression" |
| 1976–78 | C.P.O. Sharkey | "C.P.O. Otto Sharkey" | 37 episodes |
| 1982 | Archie Bunker's Place | Al Snyder | Episode: "Death of a Lodger" |
| 1983 | Gimme a Break! | Max | Episode: "Nell and the Kid" |
| 1985 | George Burns Comedy Week | Mayor | Episode: "Disaster at Buzz Creek" |
| 1989 | Newhart | Don Prince | Episode: "The Nice Man Cometh" |
| 1990 | Tales from the Crypt | Mr. Ingles | Episode: "The Ventriloquist's Dummy" |
| 1991 | Hunter | Harold Schwan | Episode: "Ex Marks the Spot" |
| 1993 | Daddy Dearest | Al Mitchell | 13 episodes |
| 1997 | The Larry Sanders Show | Himself | Episode: "Artie and Angie and Hank and Hercules" |
| 1997 | The Single Guy | Dr. Dick Sloan, Sam's Father | Episode: "Big Baby" |
| 1998 | Murphy Brown | Leonard, Secretary #90 | Episode: "Dial and Substance" |
| 2002 | The Bernie Mac Show | Himself | Episode: "The Sweet Life" |
| 2004 | The Wool Cap | Ira | Television film |
| 2005 | The Catch | Roy Kozikowski | Television film |
| 2007 | The Unit | Himself Priest |
Episode: "Sub-Conscious" |
| 2011 | Hot in Cleveland | Bobby | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Toy Story of Terror! | Mr. Potato Head (voice) | Short |
| 2014 | Toy Story That Time Forgot | Mr. Potato Head (voice) | Television film |
Other
Theme park
- Toy Story Midway Mania! - Mr. Potato Head
Discography
- Hello Dummy! (1968)
- Don Rickles Speaks! (1969)
Books
- Rickles' Book: A Memoir by Don Rickles with David Ritz (Simon & Schuster, 2007), ISBN 978-0-7432-9305-1
- Rickles' Letters by Don Rickles with David Ritz (Simon & Schuster, 2008), ISBN 978-1-4165-9663-9
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Hollywood Walk of Fame | Won | |
| 2008 | Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project | Won |
| 2009 | Legend Award | Won | |
| 2012 | The Johnny Carson Award | For a lifetime of comedic excellence | Won |
See also
References
- ^ [1] Archived 2009-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ O'Brien, Daniel. "Insomniac's Dave Attell, Pt. 1". Cracked.com. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ a b c Witchel, Alex. " I'm No Howard Stern, You Dummy", The New York Times, August 25, 1996. Accessed 2007-10-08.
- ^ World War I draft registration, NY City, #31-9-149-B, Max S. Rickles, born 12 Aug 1897 in Kovna (Kaunas), Russia
- ^ US Census, 1930. Queens, New York, Supervisor's District 33, sheet 6A, family #136
- ^ US Census, 1920. NY City, Enumerationer's district 1508, Sheet 33A, family #138
- ^ 55113/mr-warmth-the-don-rickles-project-mr-warmth---the-don-rickles-project
- ^ "Don Rickles Biography (1926-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
- ^ The Tonight Show with Jay Leno April 15, 2009
- ^ a b MacPherson, Guy (2006-10-06). "Don Rickles Interview". The Comedy Couch. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
- ^ a b "Biography". The Hockey Puck. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
- ^ Rickles, Don and David Ritz (2007). Rickles' Book: A Memoir. Simon & Schuster. p. 202. ISBN 978-0-7432-9305-1.
- ^ Video on YouTube
- ^ "Don Rickles Charts & Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
- ^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1970s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
In one of Jack Kirby's strangest tales, Jimmy Olsen met real-world funnyman Don Rickles' costumed likeness, 'Goody' Rickles.
{{cite book}}:|first2=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Kirby, Jack (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Colletta, Vince (i). "The Guardian Fights Again!!!" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 139 (July 1971).
- ^ Kirby, Jack (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Colletta, Vince (i). "Will The Real Don Rickles Panic?!?" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 141 (September 1971).
- ^ a b Darrow, Chuck (2007-03-16). "Insults still flying from legendary Don Rickles". The Daily Record. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ TV.com. "The Unit - Season 2, Episode 13: Sub Conscious". TV.com. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
- ^ "Gold Derby". Goldderby.latimes.com. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
- ^ Barnes, Brooke (2008-02-10). "Will Disney Keep Us Amused?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Joe Pesci and Don Rickles Join the Snickers “Party�". The Ad Buzz. 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
- ^ "Spike TV's All-Star Don Rickles Tribute: Turning Up the Heat on 'Mr. Warmth'". TVWeek.com. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
- ^ "Pollstar—Don Rickles Concert Dates". Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ "Don Rickles heckles Jimmy Fallon on 'Tonight Show': 'I never liked you'". Retrieved 2016-03-14.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (2011-12-06). "Don Rickles' Only Son Dies at 41, Larry Rickles earned an Emmy Award for a 2007 documentary about his dad". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
- ^ Stein, Joel (1999-12-05). "Don Rickles". TIME.com. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
Further reading
- Rickles' Book: A Memoir by Don Rickles with David Ritz (Simon & Schuster, 2007), ISBN 978-0-7432-9305-1
External links
- Official website
- Don Rickles at IMDb
- Don Rickles at TVGuide.com
- Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project full-length feature film at Hulu (link is only accessible from within the United States)
- Don Rickles Mr. Warmth App - iTunes Store
- 1926 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American Jews in the military
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- American naval personnel of World War II
- American people of Austrian-Jewish descent
- American people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent
- American stand-up comedians
- Jewish American male actors
- Jewish comedians
- Male actors from New York City
- People from Jackson Heights, Queens
- Primetime Emmy Award winners
- United States Navy sailors
- New York Democrats
- Yiddish-speaking people
- Las Vegas entertainers