Don Rickles

Donald Jay Rickles (born May 8 1926, New York City, New York) is an American comedian, film actor, and voice actor.

Early life and stand-up career

He was born in New York City to a Jewish parents Etta and Max Rickles, and spent most of his early career doing stand-up comedy, becoming known primarily as an "insult comedian." It is said that this characteristic was partially inspired by his admiration for older comic Jack E. Leonard and was greatly elaborated when he learned to respond to hecklers by insulting them back. The audience liked these insults more than his prepared material, so he developed that part of his act. There is a story that while working in a Los Angeles nightclub early in his career, he spotted Frank Sinatra, and called out "Make yourself at home, Frank: hit somebody!"

Military service and early acting career

Rickles served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Cyrene as a S1/c until 1946, when he was honorably discharged. Two years later he studied drama, and played occasional bit parts on television alongside his work in nightclubs. In 1958 he made his film debut in Run Silent, Run Deep, and went on to appear in a number of other films.

A frequent Tonight Show guest

As his career progressed, he made more and more appearances on television talk shows, making his first appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show in 1965. He would go on to make an estimated over 100 appearances on The Tonight Show throughout the rest of its run during Carson's era. From the 1970s, he made several appearances on Dean Martin's show. Frank Sinatra provided a big career boost, allowing Rickles to poke fun of his hairpiece, his voice, and his alleged Mafia connections.

In 1968, he came out with the comedy album Hello, Dummy!, which consisted of edited-together live performances of his Las Vegas act.

Television series and the "cigarette box incident"

From 1976-1978 he starred in the Navy-themed sitcom C.P.O. Sharkey as an abrasive Chief Petty Officer. During production of the series, Rickles appeared on The Tonight Show with guest host Bob Newhart. While poking fun at Newhart, in faux-anger, Rickles slammed the cigarette box which Johnny Carson kept on his desk and broke it. When Carson returned from vacation and discovered this incident (during the taped broadcast of his show), he took a camera crew to the studio next door where Sharkey was being taped, and disrupted taping in order to tease Rickles about it. Rickles, known for his quick comebacks, was left speechless and could only laugh heartily. This incident was often replayed in Tonight Show retrospectives and was considered a highlight of the 1970s era of the show.

Recent voice and film work

More recently, he made a return to film, appearing in Martin Scorsese's film Casino, and voicing Mr. Potato Head in the Pixar computer-generated film Toy Story and Toy Story 2.

Rickles has for many years also been known as "Mr. Warmth" (a satirical self-reference to his insult comedy schtick). Often when he is introduced to an audience or on a television talk show, Spanish matador music will be played (subtlely foreshadowing that somebody is going to be metaphorically gored).

Personal

Rickles and his wife are fast friends with comedian Bob Newhart and his wife, and they often vacation together. 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. Included was Rickles (and Newhart) recounting the "cigarette box incident". The footage of the incident was also included.

Filmography

Run Silent Run Deep (1958)
The Rabbit Trap (1959)
The Rat Race (1960)
The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963)
Muscle Beach Party (1964)
Bikini Beach (1964)
Pajama Party (1964)
Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
Enter Laughing (1967)
The Money Jungle (1968)
Where It's At (1969)
Kelly's Heroes (1970)
The Love Machine (1971)
Keaton's Cop (1988)
Innocent Blood (1992)
Casino (1995)
Toy Story (1995) (voice)
Redux Riding Hood (1997) (short subject) (voice)
The Last Days of Chasen's (1997) (documentary)
Quest for Camelot (1998) (voice)
Dirty Work (1998)
Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! (1998)
Toy Story 2 (1999) (voice)
Goodnight, We Love You (2004) (documentary)
The J-K Conspiracy (2004) (documentary)
The Aristocrats (2005) (documentary)

Upcoming:

The Last Laugh (2006) (documentary)

Television work

''F Troop (1965)
Kibbee Hates Fitch (1965)
The Don Rickles Show (1968-1969)
The Don Rickles Show (1972) (canceled after a few weeks)
C.P.O. Sharkey (1976-1978)
For the Love of It (1980)
Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders (1984-1985)
Rickles on the Loose (1986)
Daddy Dearest (1993) (canceled after 4 episodes)
The Wool Cap (2004)
The Catch (2005) (unsold pilot)

External links

"The Ultimate Don Rickles Experience"