Donald Jay Rickles
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Reading time
1,500
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Published
136
Film credits
5
Awards
Don Rickles, born May 8, 1926, started in nightclubs and turned his insult comedy into a career. He made his film debut in Run Silent Run Deep 1958 and later voiced Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story 1995. He died April 6, 2017 at age 90.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Don Rickles — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Don Rickles by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Don Rickles — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
The son of Etta and Max Rickles, Don Rickles grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens, after his family moved there when he was young. His father was a successful clothing salesman. Rickles attended Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Queens, where Carroll O’Connor also graduated. He aspired to be a serious actor and studied drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, alongside classmates Grace Kelly, Anne Bancroft, and Jason Robards.
Rickles got his start in nightclubs, toiling for over 20 years until his film debut in Run Silent Run Deep 1958, a major hit. He starred in films such as X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes 1963, Bikini Beach 1964, Enter Laughing 1967, and Kelly’s Heroes 1970. In 1973, he became a regular on Dean Martin’s Celebrity Roasts, where he roasted stars like Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra. He had his own TV series CPO Sharkey 1976-1978. After slowing down, he made a comeback as the voice of Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story 1995 and Toy Story 2 1999. He also guest-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and accidentally broke Carson’s cigarette box.
Rickles married Barbara Rickles on March 14, 1965. They had two children: Larry Rickles and Mindy Rickles, and later two grandchildren, Ethan Mann and Harrison Mann. He served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Cyrene during World War II. He is interred at Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, in the Courts of Tanach.
Nicknamed Mr. Warmth by Johnny Carson, Rickles pioneered insult comedy. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for live theatre on October 17, 2000. His role as Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story 1995 reached younger audiences. He died in 2017 at age 90 due to renal disease. His official YouTube channel, TheDonRicklesChannel, continues to share his performances.
The complete filmography of Don Rickles — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Don Rickles — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Don Rickles — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
If I Were to Insult People and Mean It, That Wouldn’t Be Funny.
Whatever You Do to Gain Success, You Have to Hang in There and Hope Good Things Happen. Always Think Positive.
I’m Not a Big One for Jokes. I Can’t Tell a Joke, Believe It or Not. If You Gave Me a Thousand Bucks and Said, Don, Get up at a Party and Tell a Joke, I’m the Worst.
Some People Say Funny Things – but I Say Things Funny.
Little-known facts about Don Rickles — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Rickles never wrote down any of his jokes, preferring to create them on the spot.
When Rickles guest-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on December 13, 1976, he accidentally broke Carson’s wooden cigarette box. Carson interrupted filming of CPO Sharkey the next night for a confrontation.
Johnny Carson gave Rickles the nickname Mr. Warmth.
Before becoming a stand-up comedian, Rickles studied drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with classmates including Grace Kelly, Anne Bancroft, and Jason Robards.
Rickles served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Cyrene during World War II.
On April 6, 1972, Rickles performed at the Copacabana in NYC. Mob boss Joe Gallo, in the audience, invited him to his birthday dinner after being the butt of jokes. Rickles declined; later that night, Gallo was fatally shot at the party.
Rickles developed his insult comedy style by responding to hecklers, as the audience enjoyed those insults more than his prepared material.
He enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a seaman first class on the USS Cyrene during World War II.
Rickles graduated from Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Queens, where Carroll O’Connor was also an alumnus.
Rickles claimed his childhood idol was Milton Berle.
Rickles was a regular on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, and was once a guest of honor.
On October 17, 2000, Rickles received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for live theatre at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard.
Rickles was the son of Etta Feldman and Max Sidney Rickles. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant, and his mother was born to Austrian Jewish parents. He and his wife Barbara had two grandchildren, Ethan Mann and Harrison Mann.
Frank Sinatra famously said of Rickles: I like him. But that’s because I have no taste.
Some saw Rickles as an imitator of Jack E. Leonard.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Don Rickles.
Celebrities similar to Don Rickles — same craft, ranked by reach.
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