Don Rickles Biography

Don Rickles was an American stand-up comedian, author and actor. He was a respected and popular entertainer. His quick wit and humorous remarks, paired with his genuine care for his audience created an irresistible mix that brought joy, laughter and enjoyment. Due to his capacity to make a slur seem funny and inoffensive, he was a frequent participant in celebrity roasts. He was a source of attention because his jokes were mean and hurtful but the person on the other end of it would laugh wholeheartedly. Although he started out as a traditional comedian with rehearsed jokes in mind, he soon realized that his impromptu remarks were better than his written material. His unique style won him many fans, including Frank Sinatra. He had two comedy albums and appeared in many TV and film shows. He was awarded many awards including a Lifetime Achievement' award from The Comedy Awards. His style of comedy that incorporated insinuations has earned him many nicknames, like 'The Merchant of Venom', 'The Insultan' "Mr. Don Rickles had only small roles in television after his graduation. To earn a living, he started performing stand-up comedy, and later created his "insult comedian" persona. He began the 1970s with an important part in the blockbuster film, Kelly's Heroes (1970) that was starring Clint Eastwood. He was also a part of TV comedy shows such as "The Don Rickles' (1972) or "The Dean Martin Roasts" (1973). Don Rickles married Barbara Sklar on the 14th of March, 1965. They had two children including daughter Mindy and son Larry. Larry was killed by his father in the year 2011. Bob Newhart was their best friend and they frequently went on holidays together. They were a couple that appeared on many TV shows together, including "Newhart". Don Rickles was also a good friend of Bob Newhart and they often spent time together on vacation in California.