For the radio and television announcer, see Donald Rickles (announcer). CPO Sharkey was an American Sitcom which aired from 1976 to 1978 on NBC. Casino is an Academy Award nominated 1995 Crime drama Film directed by Martin Scorsese. Mr Potato Head is a popular children's Toy, first sold in 1952 by Hasbro, consisting of a Plastic model of a Potato which can be decorated Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-generated Comedy film, directed by John Lasseter and starring Tom Hanks Toy Story 2 is a 1999 Academy-Award -nominated CGI Film, the Sequel to Toy Story; the third Donald Newton Rickles ( October 7, 1927 – February 19, 1985) was an American Radio and Television

Donald Jay Rickles (born May 8, 1926 in New York City, New York)^[4] is an American comedian and actor. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The City of New York The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience primarily by making them laugh An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works

Biography

Early life and career

Rickles was born in the New York City borough of Queens to Jewish parents Max and Etta Rickles. The City of New York PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ He grew up in the borough's Jackson Heights neighborhood. Jackson Heights is a Neighborhood in north-western portion of the borough of Queens in New York City, USA. ^[4] After graduating from Newtown High School, he served in the U.S. Navy in World War II aboard the USS Cyrene as a S1/c until he was honorably discharged in 1946. Newtown High School is a High school in Elmhurst, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Seaman as a rate refers to one of the lowest rates in a Navy. A military discharge is given when a member of the Armed forces is released from his or her obligation to serve Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Two years later he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and played occasional bit parts on television. The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA is a fully accredited two-year conservatory with campuses located at 120 Madison Avenue in New York City (in a landmark Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Frustrated with the lack of acting work, he began doing stand-up comedy. Stand-up comedy is a style of comedy where the performer speaks directly to the audience with the absence of the theatrical " Fourth wall " He eventually became known as an insult comedian by learning to respond to hecklers. Insult comedy is a Comedy genre in which the act consists mainly of offensive insults directed at the performer's audience and/or other performers A heckler is a person who shouts a disparaging comment at a performance or event or interrupting set-piece speeches for example at a political meeting The audience liked these insults more than his prepared material, so he developed them as part of his act. His act reminded some observers of the older insult comic Jack E. Leonard, though Rickles has denied that Leonard had any influence on his style. Jack E Leonard ( April 24, 1910 &ndash May 10, 1973) was an American Comedian who made frequent appearances on television ^[5]

Career success

1950s-1960s

While working in a Los Angeles nightclub early in his career, he spotted Frank Sinatra, and said "I just saw your movie, The Pride and the Passion and I want to tell you, the cannon's acting was great. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West A nightclub (or "night club" or "club" is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor The Pride and the Passion ( 1957) is a Historical film drama made by Stanley Kramer productions filmed in Technicolor and VistaVision | NOTE Throughout this article "cannon" is used as BOTH the || singular and plural " and "Make yourself at home, Frank: hit somebody!"^[4][6] Sinatra, whose pet name for Rickles was "bullet-head", enjoyed Rickles so much that he encouraged fellow celebrities to see Rickles' act and be insulted by him. Sinatra's support helped Rickles become a popular headline performer in Las Vegas. Las Vegas ( Spanish: "The Meadows" is the most populous City in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally ^[6]

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. Often when he is introduced to an audience or on a television talk show, Spanish matador music, usually "La Virgen de la Macarena", will be played subtly foreshadowing that someone is about to be metaphorically gored. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. "Matador" redirects here For other uses see Matador (disambiguation. Rickles has said "I always pictured myself facing the audience as the matador. "^[5]

In 1958, he made his film debut in Run Silent, Run Deep Throughout the 1960s, he appeared frequently on television in sitcoms and dramatic series. The year 1958 in film involved some significant events Events February 16- " In the Money " by William Run Silent Run Deep is a War Film released in 1958 based on the 1955 novel by then-Commander Edward L The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 In an episode of the 1960s drama series Run for Your Life, Rickles played a distressed comedian whose act culminates with him strangling a patron while imploring the patron to "Laugh!" He also appeared in the popular Beach Party film series. Run for Your Life is a television drama series starring Ben Gazzara as a man with only a short time to live Beach Party movies were an American 1960s genre of feature films which often starred Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon. He reported in his memoirs that at a White House dinner, Barbara Bush teased him about his decision to appear in those films: "Was your career really going that badly?" He also took a rare dramatic turn in the Roger Corman film X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes as a carnival barker out to exploit the protagonist. See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence Barbara Pierce Bush (born June 8 1925 is the wife of the 41st President of the United States, George H X (also known as X The Man with the X-Ray Eyes) is a 1963 Science fiction / horror Motion picture.

Don Rickles (left) makes a surprise appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the ''Tonight Show'' franchise from 1962 Frank Sinatra was one of the guests that night. Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor

As his career progressed, he made more and more appearances on television talk shows, making his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1965. A talk show ( American) or chat show ( Global) is a Television or Radio program where one person or group of people come together to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the ''Tonight Show'' franchise from 1962 Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. He became a frequent guest and guest host and would make over 100 appearances on The Tonight Show throughout its run during Carson's era. An early Carson-Rickles Tonight highlight happened 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, "I'm so lonely, Johnny!" Carson broke into hysterical laughter, got up, grabbed Rickles and tossed the suit-clad comedian into the bathtub. Rickles also began making frequent appearances on The Dean Martin Show and became a fixture on Martin's roast specials, which continued until 1984. The Dean Martin Show is a TV variety - comedy series that ran from 1965 to 1974, for 245 episodes Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7 1917 &ndash December 25 1995 was an American Singer, Film Actor, television personality A roast, in North American English, is an event in which an individual is subject to publicly bearing comedic Insults praise outlandish true and untrue stories and Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar)

In 1968, he came out with the live comedy album Hello, Dummy! which reached #54 on Billboard's Hot 100. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[7] That same year he starred in his own variety show on ABC, The Don Rickles Show, with comedy writer Pat McCormick as his sidekick. A variety show or variety entertainment is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts especially Musical performances and Comedy Skits and The show lasted one season. During the 1960s, Rickles also made guest appearances on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gilligan's Island and I Dream of Jeannie. The Dick Van Dyke Show is an American television Situation comedy which initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to Gilligan's Island is an American TV sitcom originally produced by United Artists Television. I Dream of Jeannie is a 1960s American sitcom with a Fantasy premise

1970s-1980s

In 1970, Rickles had a notable role as the con man Sgt. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A confidence trick or confidence game (also known as a bunko, con, flim flam, gaffle, grift, scam, scheme Crapgame in the hit film Kelly's Heroes with Clint Eastwood. Kelly's Heroes is an offbeat 1970 War film about a group of enterprising World War II soldiers who set out to rob a bank behind enemy lines Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr (born May 31 1930 is a four-time Academy Award winning American Actor and Filmmaker. In 1972, he starred in the sitcom The Don Rickles Show which lasted for thirteen episodes. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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.

In 1976, he began starring in the sitcom C.P.O. Sharkey which lasted for two seasons. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. CPO Sharkey was an American Sitcom which aired from 1976 to 1978 on NBC. It is mostly remembered for the cigarette box incident where Johnny Carson visited during a show's taping because he was incensed that Rickles had broken his cigarette box while he was guest hosting. CPO Sharkey was an American Sitcom which aired from 1976 to 1978 on NBC. John William “Johnny” Carson ( October 23, 1925 &ndash January 23, 2005) was an American Television host and This incident was often replayed in Tonight Show retrospectives and was considered a highlight of the 1970s era of the show. Retrospective (from Latin retrospectare, "look back" generally means to take a look back at events that already have taken place This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970.

From time to time he appeared as a panelist on Hollywood Squares:

Q. The Hollywood Squares was an American Television comedy and Game show in which two contestants play Tic-tac-toe to win money You go down to a brook and you catch a frog. This article is about the block cipher algorithm For the ultrafast laser pulse measurement technique see Frequency-resolved optical gating. Then you rub it on your face! Just what is that supposed to do?
Rickles: That's supposed to put you in the state hospital!

1980s-1990s

In the early 1980s. A hospital is an institution for Health care providing treatment by specialised staff and equipment and often but not always providing for The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Rickles began performing with singer Steve Lawrence in concerts in Las Vegas. SUP YALL This is about the singer/actor For other uses see Steve Lawrence (disambiguation. 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. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. Foul-Ups Bleeps & Blunders is the title of a comedy series that aired on ABC for two short seasons in the mid-1980s The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes was a television series and a group of Television specials that aired in the United States by NBC and

In 1985, when Frank Sinatra was asked to perform at Ronald Reagan's Second Inaugural Ball he stated he would not perform unless Rickles was allowed to perform with him. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Rickles considers this performance the highlight of his career. ^[8]

In 1992, he was cast in the film Innocent Blood, directed by John Landis. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Innocent Blood (aka A French Vampire in America) is a 1992 film John David Landis (born August 3, 1950) is an American movie Actor, director, writer, and producer. In his memoir, Rickles reported that he recalled the then-unknown Landis being a "Production Assistant" to director Brian Hutton during the filming of Kelly's Heroes. James Brian Edward Hutton Baron Hutton QC PC (born June 29, 1931) is a former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and British Kelly's Heroes is an offbeat 1970 War film about a group of enterprising World War II soldiers who set out to rob a bank behind enemy lines During the filming of Innocent Blood, he would sometimes tease Landis by yelling at him to go get coffee or to run other errands befitting his one-time "gofer" status.

In 1993, he starred in another short-lived sitcom, Daddy Dearest, with comedian Richard Lewis. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Richard Philip Lewis (born June 29 1947) is an American Comedian and Actor. 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 computer-animated film Toy Story. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Robert Mario De Niro Jr (born August 17 1943 is a two-time Academy Award -winning American Film Actor, director and producer Casino is an Academy Award nominated 1995 Crime drama Film directed by Martin Scorsese. Mr Potato Head is a popular children's Toy, first sold in 1952 by Hasbro, consisting of a Plastic model of a Potato which can be decorated Pixar Animation Studios is a CGI animation production company based in Emeryville California. Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-generated Comedy film, directed by John Lasseter and starring Tom Hanks He reprised the latter role in Toy Story 2. Toy Story 2 is a 1999 Academy-Award -nominated CGI Film, the Sequel to Toy Story; the third

In 1998, he starred in "Dirty Work" with Norm Macdonald and Artie Lange. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) He played to role of MacDonald and Lange's boss at the movie theater in which they worked.

2000s-Present

Rickles continues to be very active on the stand up comedy scene to this day. He is still a popular performer in Las Vegas and has many dates booked through the end of 2008. ^[9] He has no plans to retire as he recently said 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. "^[8]

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. A cameo role or cameo appearance (often shortened to just cameo) is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the Performing arts, such as A dream sequence is a technique used in Storytelling, particularly in Television and Film, to set apart a brief interlude from the main story The following is a list of episodes for the Drama Television series, The Unit. Dramatic programming is Television content that is scripted and (normally fictional The Unit is an American action-drama television series that focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real life Delta Force. ^[10]

Rickles' memoir, Rickles' Book, was released on May 8, 2007 by Simon & Schuster. for other uses see Memoir (disambiguation As a literary Genre, a memoir (from the French: mémoire Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Simon & Schuster Inc, a division of CBS Corporation, is a Publisher founded in New York in 1924 by Richard L Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project, a documentary about Rickles directed by John Landis, made its debut on HBO on December 2, 2007. Mr Warmth The Don Rickles Project is an Emmy Award -winning documentary about stand up legend Don Rickles. Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality John David Landis (born August 3, 1950) is an American movie Actor, director, writer, and producer. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Rickles reprised the role of Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story Midway Mania! attraction at Disney's California Adventure and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Toy Story Midway Mania! (marketed as Toy Story Mania!) is an interactive theme park attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida and Disney's Disney's California Adventure Park (commonly referred to by its initials DCA) is a Theme park in Anaheim California, adjacent to Disneyland Park Disney's Hollywood Studios is a Theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. ^[11] He will voice the character again in Toy Story 3. Toy Story 3 is an upcoming computer-animated 3-D film being produced by Pixar Animation Studios, slated for release on June 18,

Personal life

Rickles has been married for over 42 years to his wife, Barbara, who is from Philadelphia. They have a daughter, Mindy, a son, Larry and two grandchildren, Ethan and Harrison Mann. According to Rickles' memoir, his grandchildren are much more impressed by his having played "Mr. Potato Head" than by any of his other career achievements. Mr Potato Head is a popular children's Toy, first sold in 1952 by Hasbro, consisting of a Plastic model of a Potato which can be decorated

Rickles and his wife Barbara are close friends with comedian Bob Newhart and his wife, Ginny, and they often vacation together. George Robert "Bob" Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is an American stand-up comedian and Actor. 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, including footage of the "cigarette box incident". The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show currently hosted by Jay Leno, on Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Works

Filmography

• Run Silent Run Deep (1958)
• The Rabbit Trap (1959)
• The Rat Race (1960)
• X: 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)
• Off the Menu: 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)
• The Last Laugh (2006) (documentary)
• Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007) (documentary)

Selected television work

• The Andy Griffith Show (1965) (Guest Star)
• Kibbee Hates Fitch (1965) (unsold pilot)
• The Munsters (1965 episode - Dance With Me, Herman)
• The Don Rickles Show (1968-1969)
• The Don Rickles Show (1972)
• C.P.O. Sharkey (1976-1978)
• For the Love of It (1980) (TV movie)
• Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders (1984-1985)
• Don Rickles: Rickles on the Loose (1986) (television special)
• Tales From The Crypt (The Ventriloquist's Dummy) (1990)
• Daddy Dearest (1993)
• The Wool Cap (2004) (TV movie)
• The Catch (2005) (unsold pilot)
• Live with Regis and Kelly (2007)
• The Daily Show (2007)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live (2007)
• Late Show with David Letterman (2008)

Discography

• Hello Dummy! (1968)
• Don Rickles Speaks! (1969)

See also

References

External links

• Official website
• Don Rickles at the Internet Movie Database