Don Rickles
Don Rickles
Donald Jay "Don" Ricklesis an American stand-up comedian and actor. Best known as an insult comic, he is also an actor, playing both comedic and dramatic roles on film. He received widespread exposure as a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Show with David Letterman...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionComedian
Date of Birth8 May 1926
CityQueens, NY
CountryUnited States of America
nice kissing grandchildren
I was nice to the people in the Philippines for the two and a half years I was there, because I knew eventually I'd have to kiss up to them so my grandchildren could have toys.
success successful ifs
Showbiz is great if you're successful.
vegas islands melting
The thing I love about Vegas is that it's a melting pot. It's like working Ellis Island.
breathe enjoy mixed particular
I enjoy mixed audiences, not one particular group. Short, tall, scientists, Jews, gentiles, whatever, as long as they breathe and like to laugh.
father
I was 28 when my father died, and I was an only child.
funny
If something strikes me as funny, I'll put it in my performance.
audiences became social tried whatever
After I graduated, I tried Broadway, which was difficult for me. It was tough to get a part on Broadway, so I just started talking to audiences at different social gatherings, and little by little I became Don Rickles - whatever that is.
call
I call myself an actor. I always wanted to be one.
comics compared material
Compared to what some of the young comics use for material today, I'm a priest.
wants
I'm not one of those guys who wants to die on a stage.
although audiences
When you do comedy, you can't please the world, although I'd like to think that most of my audiences were on my side.
cried time took war
I was in World War II; I cried when they took me in the Navy. That's the last time I cried.
days maintain saloon trying
I mean, in my - and I'm not trying to do spilled milk, but in those days it was a little - I think it was much tougher, because you got an image, and you were in a saloon. And it was tough to come out of a saloon and to get in films, and to maintain an image, you know.