Don appeared May 25 - 27 at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino
and rocked the house with laughter. He walked out to a well-deserved
standing ovation and ended the show the same way, only this time the
audience was screaming for more! I have seen Mr. Rickles many times
throughout the years and, I must say, on this night he was as funny
as ever. He stands there with 81 years under his belt, just as
quick, witty, and out-of-the-box as he has ever been. His age has
not slowed him down one iota. He sings, he dances, and paces the
stage in true Rickles STYLE, all of which has made him one of the
20th century’s most famous funny man.
Throughout his show,
Rickles pardons no one. He is an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INSULTER! He
makes fun of everybody. What is really amazing is that audience is
filled, and nobody gets insulted or offended. What we all were was
hysterical! How Rickles gets away with this is true brilliance. He
is risqué, ridiculous, crazy, insane, but, above all, FUNNY…VERY
FUNNY!
Not only has he appeared in top showrooms all around the world,
but Rickles is also (and has been) highly visible on TV and in
motion pictures. His film list includes "Casino," "Toy Story 1” and
its sequel, "Quest for Camelot," "Dirty Work” and more. Don has
starred in live stage productions and, along the way, has had two
best-selling comedy albums. I suggest that you RUN out and buy his
latest book, “Rickles' Book,” which is on the New York Times
bestseller list. I was lucky enough to have him sign my book after
the show, while he was eating dinner (at Vic & Anthony’s
Steakhouse). Catch one of his book signings with a meet and greet,
and have him sign your book for you! Go online and check it out!
Don Rickles was born in New York City on May 8, 1926. As a child,
Don was painfully shy and took inspiration from the way his father,
Max, (who was in the clothing and insurance business) endeared
himself to people through humor. Eventually, school plays led to
work as a radio announcer and later nightclub engagements, where he
worked initially as a joke-slinging stand-up comic. To his surprise,
he discovered that audiences totally responded to the off-the-cuff
insults he fired back at hecklers, and gradually, he turned this
shtick into HIS ACT.
Rickles served in the United States
Navy during World War II (which he also talks about, IN A FUNNY WAY,
in his show) and was honorably discharged in 1946. He then returned
to his stand-up career and studied drama at the American Academy of
Dramatic Arts. He went on to make his film debut opposite Burt
Lancaster and Clark Gable in the military drama “Run Silent, Run
Deep” in 1958.
Later, Frank Sinatra caught his act at a small
Hollywood nightclub, and Rickles (and what chutzpah he had, I might
add) didn’t even spare SINATRA any of his trademark insults. Sinatra
found his routine hilarious and quickly helped to spread word about
his act. Rickles gives his beloved mother, Etta, complete credit for
the Sinatra meeting, as his mother arranged this with Sinatra’s
mother. Even though he refers to his mom as a Jewish Patton, it is
clear that he is crazy about her. He even ends his show thanking
her! With the help of Sinatra, Rickles booked his first Las Vegas
date two years later at the Sahara.
In 1965, Rickles booked
his first appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”
(NBC, 1962-1992); he would subsequently return 99 more times. He
then followed this with a string of guest shots on “The Dean Martin
Show” (NBC, 1965-1974), during which producers invited a host of
celebrity guests to sit in the audience and take the full brunt of
Rickles’ attacks. Rickles also enjoyed success in the world of
comedy records with his 1968 live debut, “Hello, Dummy!” He followed
this with “Don Rickles Speaks,” a few years later.
Rickles
also performed at the White House in 1984 and slung a few of his
notorious zingers at the Reagan Administration with typical fervor.
(NOW THIS I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO WATCH!)
In 2000, Rickles received his well-deserved star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame! He continued to work on numerous films and television
projects, ranging from “The Wool Cap” (2004), which earned him more
critical acclaim, to the hilarious documentary “The Aristocrats”
(2005). Even though he was one of the oldest comics in the cast, he
more than hysterically fit in against the younger comics like Bob
Saget, Whoopi Goldberg and Sarah Silverman.
Back in Vegas, Rickles made people SICK… with laughter. Ya, know,
after a while with him, it gets hard to breathe. For over an hour,
Rickles kept the jokes coming. He did take a moment to support the
troops, though. How cool is that!
If you ever have the opportunity to see this wild man in person,
I suggest that you do. You will laugh long after you leave the
theater. Rickles is a unique, one-of-a-kind comedienne who is
funnier than ever. He is a gift to us, a gift to laughter, and a
kind human being. However, Don Rickles will forever be remembered
as, “The Merchant of Venom,” “The Master of Insults” and “Mr.
Warmth.”
Don Rickles, we love you!
PHOTO IDS
1. Don Rickles