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Don Rickles is one of the 20th century's most famous funnymen. For almost 40 years, the native New Yorker has appeared in top showrooms in Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas and Reno. He is regarded among the world's top entertainers. Rickles is also highly visible on television and in motion pictures, including appearances in Casino, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Kelly's Heroes and Rat Race.
In the late 1950s, he became the "in" comic among Hollywood stars who flocked to his nightclub engagements to become the targets of his "insults." His freewheeling performances became the talk of the show business industry and caused nationwide comment among the press and public.
In 1967, Rickles was signed to appear on The Dean Martin Show. Celebrities were invited to sit in the audience to become the targets of Rickles' impromptu "insults." He faced such celebrities as Jackie Cooper, Lena Horne, Dean Martin, Bob Newhart and Danny Thomas. For weeks afterwards, people throughout the country repeated Rickles' lines. Particularly memorable was his remark as Bob Hope walked into the studio and took a seat. The taping was during the Vietnam war and Rickles snapped, "What's Bob Hope doing here? Is the war over?"
Meanwhile, the public was discovering that behind the sharp Rickles' barbs were deep affection and love for those whom he seemed to be taunting. "If I were to insult people and mean it, that wouldn't be funny. There is a difference between an actual insult and just having fun." By year's end, all three major networks and every major independent producer were besieging Rickles with ideas for a TV series of his own. He has since starred in prime-time series for ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.
During the 1970s and 80s, Rickles also hosted or co-hosted seven television specials, and in 1984, he was invited by President Ronald Reagan to perform at the televised Inaugural Gala, where he zinged the president, vice president and other dignitaries.
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