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
best bob guys
Bob Newhart, who is my best friend, is one of the guys I adore.
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.
people
Ninety percent of the people who come to see me are my fans.
button elevator pushes realizing
The average person pushes an elevator button 6 or 7 minutes before realizing it's not working. I did a study on this, you know.
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.
comedians staying
The young comedians always ask me, 'What's the secret for staying around?' I tell them, 'There is no secret - just stay around. Longevity is the most important thing.'
building cement god guy pounding street swear
When I walk down the street in New York, I swear to God, the building constructor, the guy pounding cement and what not, will yell, 'Hey, you hockey puck!'
bob hope totally writers
Bob Hope was totally regimented. I go in and say a line like, 'Hi Bob' and I'd have to do it five times, and then Bob would take me to the writers to say the line different ways. He wouldn't let me ad-lib.
call
I call myself an actor. I always wanted to be one.
great work
My wife, Barbara, is great. She arranges when I do work that I have a day off between performances.
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.