Don Rickles Biography

Don Rickles was an American stand-up comedian as well as an author and actor. He was a respected and popular entertainer. His quick wit and funny remarks, combined with his genuine care for his audience created an irresistible mix that brought laughter, joy, and amusement. Because of his extraordinary ability to make an offensive insult seem funny and hilarious, he was a regular participant in celebrity roast circuits. He attracted a lot of attention as his insults were hurtful and cruel, and yet the person at the other end of it would be laughing with joy. Although he started as a regular performer and performed pre-rehearsed jokes at first but he changed his plan after realizing that his impromptu jokes were more well-known than the prepared material. His distinctive style earned him many admirers which included Frank Sinatra. Apart from appearing in several films and TV shows, he also released two comedy albums. He was awarded numerous honors including the Lifetime Achievement Award from  The Comedy Awards. Don Rickles only had small roles on television after his graduation. Stand-up comedy was his first step to make extra money. This is when he developed his 'insult comedian’ persona. He was a major part of Clint Eastwood's hit movie Kelly's Heroes (1970). He made a number of appearances in television comedies like  The Don Rickles Show' (1972) and 'The Dean Martin Roasts' (1973). Barbara Sklar married Don Rickles on the 14th of March, 1965. They had two children, Mindy and Larry. Their son, Larry passed away in the year the year 2011. Bob Newhart was his best friend, and he frequently went on vacations with his wife. They were on various shows including "Newhart" and Don Rickles passed away from kidney failure in his Beverly Hills home on April 6, 2017.