Don Rickles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Don Rickles |
|
|---|---|
Rickles in 1973
|
|
| Birth name | Donald Jay Rickles |
| Born | May 8, 1926 Queens, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 6, 2017 (aged 90) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Medium |
|
| Genres |
|
| Subject(s) |
|
| Spouse |
Barbara Sklar
(m. 1965) |
| Children | 2, including Larry |
Donald Jay Rickles (May 8, 1926 – April 6, 2017) was a famous American comedian and actor. He was best known for his unique style of comedy. This style is called "insult comedy." He would playfully tease and joke about people in his audience.
Don Rickles also acted in many movies. Some of his well-known films include Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) and Kelly's Heroes (1970). Later, he appeared in Casino (1995). On TV, he starred in the sitcom C.P.O. Sharkey from 1976 to 1978. He also had his own variety shows.
Rickles was a popular guest on many talk shows. These included The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He also voiced Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story movies. In 2007, he won an Emmy Award for a documentary about him. It was called Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Comedy
Don Rickles was born in Queens, New York City, on May 8, 1926. He grew up in Jackson Heights. After finishing high school in 1944, he joined the United States Navy. He served during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946.
After the war, Rickles wanted to be a serious actor. He studied acting but found it hard to get roles. So, he started performing comedy in clubs. He found his unique style when he joked back at people who were heckling him. The audience loved his quick, funny comebacks. This led him to make "insult comedy" a big part of his act. He would playfully call rude audience members "hockey pucks."
Becoming a Star
Meeting Frank Sinatra
Early in his career, Don Rickles was performing in Miami Beach. He saw the famous singer Frank Sinatra in the audience. Rickles joked with Sinatra, saying, "I just saw your movie... the cannon's acting was great!" Sinatra enjoyed Rickles' humor very much. He told other famous people to go see Rickles' show. Sinatra's support helped Rickles become a very popular performer. He often headlined shows in Las Vegas.
Nicknames and TV Appearances
Rickles became known by nicknames like "The Merchant of Venom" and "Mr. Warmth." These names came from his funny way of teasing everyone. When he was introduced on TV, Spanish bullfighter music would often play. This was a playful hint that he was about to "gore" people with his jokes.
In 1958, Rickles made his first movie appearance. It was a serious role in Run Silent, Run Deep. Throughout the 1960s, he appeared on many TV shows. He was a guest on sitcoms like Get Smart, The Munsters, and Gilligan's Island.
Rickles became a very frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He appeared over 100 times! He was also a regular on The Dean Martin Show. He often took part in Dean Martin Celebrity Roast specials. These shows were like friendly joke battles where comedians would playfully make fun of a celebrity.
In 1968, Rickles released a comedy album called Hello, Dummy!. He also had his own TV variety show, The Don Rickles Show.
Movies and More TV
In 1970, Rickles had a big role as Crapgame in the movie Kelly's Heroes. He acted alongside stars like Clint Eastwood. In 1972, he starred in another TV show called The Don Rickles Show. From 1976 to 1978, he starred in the sitcom C.P.O. Sharkey.
A funny moment happened during a Tonight Show taping. Johnny Carson surprised Rickles on the set of C.P.O. Sharkey. Carson pretended to be very angry that Rickles had broken his cigarette box on a previous show. This prank became a famous TV moment.
Rickles also appeared on the game show Hollywood Squares. He was even drawn as a character in a Superman comic book!
Later Career and Mr. Potato Head
In the 1980s, Rickles performed concerts with singer Steve Lawrence. In 1985, Frank Sinatra asked Rickles to perform at President Ronald Reagan's second inauguration. Rickles felt this was a very special moment in his career.
In 1995, Rickles played Billy Sherbert in the movie Casino. That same year, he voiced the beloved character Mr. Potato Head in the Disney movie Toy Story. He returned to voice Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story 3 (2010). Kids especially loved him in this role.
In 2007, Don Rickles released his memoir, Rickles' Book. A documentary about him, Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project, also came out. He won an Emmy Award for his performance in this documentary. He continued to voice Mr. Potato Head for Disney attractions.
In 2014, many famous comedians honored Don Rickles in a TV special. It was called "One Night Only: An All-Star Comedy Tribute to Don Rickles." Stars like Jerry Seinfeld, Robert De Niro, and David Letterman took part. Rickles continued to appear on late-night talk shows until close to his death.
He was planning to voice Mr. Potato Head again for Toy Story 4. Sadly, he passed away before recording his lines. With his family's permission, the filmmakers used old recordings of his voice to honor him in the 2019 movie.
Personal Life
Don Rickles married Barbara Sklar on March 14, 1965. They had two children, Mindy and Larry. His son Larry passed away at age 41. Rickles often said his grandchildren were most impressed by his role as Mr. Potato Head.
He was very close friends with fellow comedian Bob Newhart. They often went on vacations together with their wives. Rickles and Newhart appeared together on TV many times, sharing stories about their careers.
Death and Tributes
Don Rickles died on April 6, 2017, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 90 years old. He passed away from kidney failure. He was buried at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery.
Many stars and comedians shared their sadness and respect after his death. Jerry Seinfeld called him one of the "Mount Rushmore of Stand-up Comedy." This means he was one of the greatest stand-up comedians ever. Bob Newhart said Rickles was "one of the kindest, caring, and most sensitive human beings." Director Martin Scorsese, who worked with Rickles, said he was a "giant, a legend" and that "nobody else did what he did."
Toy Story 4 was dedicated to Don Rickles' memory.
Discography
- Hello Dummy! (1968)
- Don Rickles Speaks! (1969)
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Hollywood Walk of Fame | N/A | Lifetime Achievement | Won | |
| 2008 | Primetime Emmy Award | Individual Performance in a Variety Program | Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project | Won | |
| 2009 | TV Land Award | Legend Award | Lifetime Achievement | Won | |
| 2012 | The Comedy Awards | The Johnny Carson Award | Lifetime Achievement | Won | |
| 2013 | New York Friars Club | Lifetime Achievement Award | N/A | Won |
Images for kids
-
Rickles and Lorne Greene on The Don Rickles Show in 1968
-
Rickles and Louise Sorel on The Don Rickles Show
See also
In Spanish: Don Rickles para niños
