Don Rickles Net Worth

Don Rickles's Quotes

• 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.
• [Asked by Jay Leno if he ever worries that his insult comedy might be too offensive for the audience] You know, every night when I go out on stage, there's always one nagging fear in the back of my mind. I'm always afraid that somewhere out there, there is one person in the audience that I'm NOT going to offend!
• [to Frank Sinatra, who arrived during his act] Come on in, Frank. Make yourself at home--hit somebody.
• [on Sammy Davis Jr.] You can't get Negro help like that, anymore. Wow, to have a guy who can sing, dance--and dust!

Interesting Facts about Don Rickles

1. Seen by some as an imitator of Jack E. Leonard.
2. He was a regular on "The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast". He was even a guest of honor on the variety show.
3. Attended and graduated from Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Queens, New York. Carroll O'Connor is also an alumnus.
4. Longtime close friend of Bob Newhart; their families often traveled together over the years.
5. Aspired to be a serious actor and studied drama at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) before doing a stand-up comedy. His classmates included Grace Kelly, Anne Bancroft and Jason Robards.
6. The son of Etta (Feldman) and Max Sidney Rickles, his father was a Russian Jewish immigrant. His mother was born in New York, to Austrian Jewish parents. Don Rickles and his wife were the parents of Mindy Rickles and Larry Rickles, and grandparents of Ethan Mann and Harrison Mann.
7. Served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Cyrene in World War II.
8. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 17, 2000.
9. When he guest-hosted the December 13, 1976 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962), he accidentally broke the wooden cigarette box which Johnny Carson kept on his desk. When Carson returned to the show the following night and discovered what had happened, he interrupted filming of CPO Sharkey (1976), which Rickles was filming, for a confrontation.
10. Became known as an insult comedian when he responded to his hecklers. The audience enjoyed these insults more than his prepared material, and he incorporated them into his act.
11. Although a lifelong Democrat, he performed at the inaugurations of Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush with his friend Frank Sinatra.
12. He never wrote down any of his jokes. He always came up with jokes on the spot.
13. He got his nickname "Mr. Warmth" from Johnny Carson.
14. Born on exactly the same date as Sir David Attenborough.
15. Alumnus of the AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1948.
16. Father was a successful clothing salesman.
17. Family moved to Jackson Heights, Queens, New York when he was a young child.