Biography
Don Rickles earned his reputation as comedy's premier master of the insult, a performer whose stinging barbs spared no one on grounds of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or social position. Audiences and fellow entertainers alike became targets during his outbursts, which earned him the nickname "Mr. Warmth." Born Donald Jay Rickles in New York City on May 8, 1926, he first pursued a career in dramatic acting and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His compact build and receding hairline, however, limited him to supporting character parts, and steady employment proved elusive. While waiting between roles, he developed a nightclub routine that began with conventional material. When hecklers interrupted, he responded with sharp, fast-paced retorts that won over crowds and gradually shaped his persona as the "Merchant of Venom," a combative figure who lashed out at anyone within earshot.
In 1957 he secured a booking at the modest Slate Brothers club in Hollywood. Frank Sinatra's arrival in the audience prompted the remark, "Make yourself at home, Frank -- hit somebody." The comment won Sinatra's lasting support and soon turned Rickles into a sought-after attraction, with celebrities eager to become the next object of his verbal assaults. Within two years he made his Las Vegas debut and rose to headline the main showroom at the Hotel Sahara. His screen career began in 1958 with a role in Run Silent, Run Deep, followed by appearances in several low-budget features, most notably the beach-party comedies starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, as well as various television episodes. National recognition arrived through repeated guest spots on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, where he first appeared in 1965. After establishing himself as a regular, Rickles received his own variety program, The Don Rickles Show, on ABC in 1968.
At the same time he recorded his debut comedy album, Hello Dummy!, for Warner Bros. The 1968 live set, captured in Las Vegas, showcased his audience-baiting style and included an extended, almost dreamlike monologue concerning his wife's private preferences. Its successor, Don Rickles Speaks! from 1969, presented five panelists—Rosalind Ross, Dick Whittington, Pat McCormick, Don Richmond, and Joe Smith—who posed questions that elicited spontaneous commentary on television, sports, Sinatra, and other comedians. Despite continued visibility on The Tonight Show and Dean Martin's celebrity roasts, broader television success remained limited. The initial Don Rickles Show ended after thirteen weeks, while a 1972 sitcom sharing the title performed only marginally better. Greater stability arrived with the 1976 series C.P.O. Sharkey, which ran for two seasons, whereas the 1993 sitcom Daddy Dearest, co-starring Richard Lewis, lasted barely two months. Throughout these years Rickles maintained strong drawing power in Las Vegas. A career resurgence occurred in 1995 when he appeared in Martin Scorsese's Casino and supplied the voice of Mr. Potato Head for John Lasseter's Toy Story. He died at his Los Angeles home on April 6, 2017, at the age of ninety.
In 1957 he secured a booking at the modest Slate Brothers club in Hollywood. Frank Sinatra's arrival in the audience prompted the remark, "Make yourself at home, Frank -- hit somebody." The comment won Sinatra's lasting support and soon turned Rickles into a sought-after attraction, with celebrities eager to become the next object of his verbal assaults. Within two years he made his Las Vegas debut and rose to headline the main showroom at the Hotel Sahara. His screen career began in 1958 with a role in Run Silent, Run Deep, followed by appearances in several low-budget features, most notably the beach-party comedies starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, as well as various television episodes. National recognition arrived through repeated guest spots on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, where he first appeared in 1965. After establishing himself as a regular, Rickles received his own variety program, The Don Rickles Show, on ABC in 1968.
At the same time he recorded his debut comedy album, Hello Dummy!, for Warner Bros. The 1968 live set, captured in Las Vegas, showcased his audience-baiting style and included an extended, almost dreamlike monologue concerning his wife's private preferences. Its successor, Don Rickles Speaks! from 1969, presented five panelists—Rosalind Ross, Dick Whittington, Pat McCormick, Don Richmond, and Joe Smith—who posed questions that elicited spontaneous commentary on television, sports, Sinatra, and other comedians. Despite continued visibility on The Tonight Show and Dean Martin's celebrity roasts, broader television success remained limited. The initial Don Rickles Show ended after thirteen weeks, while a 1972 sitcom sharing the title performed only marginally better. Greater stability arrived with the 1976 series C.P.O. Sharkey, which ran for two seasons, whereas the 1993 sitcom Daddy Dearest, co-starring Richard Lewis, lasted barely two months. Throughout these years Rickles maintained strong drawing power in Las Vegas. A career resurgence occurred in 1995 when he appeared in Martin Scorsese's Casino and supplied the voice of Mr. Potato Head for John Lasseter's Toy Story. He died at his Los Angeles home on April 6, 2017, at the age of ninety.
Albums
Singles
