Legendary Comedian Don Rickles Dies at Age 90; Rip Taylor & More React

Variety reports that legendary comedian Don Rickles, best known for his abrasive, insulting brand of humor, has passed away at the age of 90. His longtime publicist, Paul Shefrin, confirmed that Rickles died Thursday morning at his home in Los Angeles from kidney failure. He would have turned 91 on May 8th.

Today, Rickles' friends and fellow comedians reacted to the news of his passing:

"A Legend is gone and there will never be anyone like him again" - Rip Taylor

"He was an original, with a unique flair for comedy that was all his own. He will be missed."- Carol Channing

"Another one who played mean on stage, but was a sweetheart in person. He has left us for Hockey-puck heaven ... Rest in piece Schmuck." - Alison Arngrim

"I only met him once, but I thought he was the nicest sweetest souls in comedy." - Geri Jewell

"I had the privilege of working with Don several times during my Big Band days. I found him to be a gentleman and lovely lovely man, completely different from his on stage persona. I always looked forward to working with him. He will be greatly missed"- Toni Tennille

"I have wonderful memories of Don joining us on Gilligan's Island. Sherwood Schwartz made it a four day shoot - He didnt want him for five, because he didnt think we could last that long. My favorite memory however is even more nostalgic. My father gave him his first job at the Thunderbird lounge in Las Vegas." - Dawn Wells

"Having done 24 Dean Martin roasts, I know without a doubt that Don Rickles was the greatest comedian of all time. There were few, if any, that were quicker than Don. He didnt think of the next line, he would use, he was already thinking of the line after that. There were many times on the roast that I literally fell out of my chair laughing. In private life, Don was a very nice man. There will never be another man like him." - Rich Little

"One of my dearest friends is gone. What a talent! He was remarkable and one of our favorites to work with on The Dick Van Dyke Show. I have known him since her came to CA. IIl willl miss him something terrible." - Rose Marie

In 1958, Rickles made his film debut in a serious part in Run Silent, Run Deep with Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. Throughout the 1960s, he often appeared on television in sitcoms and dramatic series. Rickles guest-starred in Get Smart as Sid, an old war buddy of Max who comes to stay with him. In an episode of the 1960s drama series Run for Your Life, Rickles played a distressed comedian whose act culminates when he strangles a patron while imploring the patron to "Laugh!" Rickles took a dramatic turn in the low-budget Roger Corman film X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes as a carnival barker out to exploit the title character (played by Ray Milland).

Rickles appeared in the popular Beach Party film series. He recalled in his 2007 memoir that at a White House dinner, Barbara Bush teased him about his decision to appear in those films.[15] Rickles' agent, Jack Gilardi, was married to Annette Funicello when Rickles was cast in the Beach Party films. He subsequently began appearing more frequently on television talk shows, first appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1965.

He became a frequent guest and guest host, appearing more than 100 times on The Tonight Show during Carson's era. An early Carson-Rickles Tonight highlight occurred in 1968 when, while two Japanese women treated Carson to a bath and massage by foot, Rickles walked onto the set.[16] Rickles also made frequent appearances on The Dean Martin Show and became a fixture on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast specials.

In 1968, Rickles released a live comedy album, Hello, Dummy!, which reached #54 on The Billboard 200 album chart. The same year he starred in his own variety show on ABC, The Don Rickles Show, with comedy writer Pat McCormick as his sidekick. The show lasted one season. During the 1960s, Rickles made guest appearances on The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Munsters, The Addams Family, The Mothers-in-Law, Gilligan's Island, Get Smart, The Andy Griffith Show and I Dream of Jeannie.

In 1970, Rickles had a notable role as Crapgame in Kelly's Heroes, sharing the marquee poster with co-stars Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland and Carroll O'Connor. In 1972, he starred in The Don Rickles Show, which lasted for 13 episodes. He also starred in a series of television specials. In his memoir, Rickles acknowledged a scripted sitcom was not well-suited to his ad-lib style of performing.

Starting in 1973, Rickles became a popular comedian appearing on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast specials. In 1976-1978, he starred in C.P.O. Sharkey, which lasted two seasons. The series is primarily remembered for the cigarette box incident when Johnny Carson did an impromptu surprise visit during an episode's taping because he was "incensed" Rickles broke his cigarette box while he chatted with Bob Newhart (who was sitting in for Carson as the guest host of The Tonight Show) on the previous night's show. The incident was often replayed in Tonight Show retrospectives and was considered a highlight of the 1970s era of the series.

In the early 1980s, Rickles began performing with Steve Lawrence in concerts in Las Vegas. In 1983, the duo co-hosted Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders, an imitation of TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes. In 1985, when Frank Sinatra was asked to perform at Ronald Reagan's Second Inaugural Ball, he stipulated he would not perform unless Rickles was allowed to perform with him. Rickles considers this performance the highlight of his career. In 1990, he appeared in the second season of Tales from the Crypt in the episode "The Ventriloquist's Dummy". In 1992, he was cast in Innocent Blood, directed by John Landis. In his memoir, Rickles wrote that he recalled that Landis was once a "Production Assistant" to Brian G. Hutton during the filming of Kelly's Heroes. During the filming of Innocent Blood, Rickles would kid Landis by ordering him to get coffee or to run other errands befitting his one-time "gofer" status. In 1993, Rickles starred in another short-lived sitcom Daddy Dearest, with Richard Lewis. In 1995, he played Billy Sherbert in Casino, and voiced Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story (1995) and reprised his role in Toy Story 2 (1999). Rickles starred in one of his most popular, and critically acclaimed, comedic roles as George Wilson in 1998's Dennis the Menace Strikes Again. In 1998, he portrayed a film theater manager in Dirty Work and voiced Cornwall, one of the heads of a two-headed dragon, in Quest for Camelot.

Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project, a documentary about Rickles directed by John Landis, made its debut on HBO on December 2, 2007. Rickles won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. Rickles reprised his role of Mr. Potato Head for Toy Story Midway Mania! attraction at Disney California Adventure Park, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Toy Story 3.

Rickles also played the late husband of Elka (Betty White) on the TV Land original comedy Hot in Cleveland- a "surprise" because his character was thought to be dead. On May 28, 2014, Rickles was honored by Spike TV's "One Night Only: An All-Star Comedy Tribute to Don Rickles". At 90, he is still a frequent guest on late night talk shows, including Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, among other late night shows. On May 11, 2015, Rickles appeared as a guest on one of the final episodes of The Late Show with David Letterman. He also made a cameo in the show Grandfathered.

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