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Comedian Don Rickles Headlines at The Orleans Showroom This Weekend

By: Sep. 28, 2013
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Returning to Las Vegas for a record-smashing 54th consecutive year, internationally renowned comedian, actor and entertainer Don Rickles will return to The Orleans Showroom tonight and tomorrow, September 28 and 29.

Teaming up with Rickles will be well-known singer and actor Robert Davi, who will open both evenings with a selection of songs by the legendary Frank Sinatra.

Having earned the nicknames "The Merchant of Venom" and "Mr. Warmth," (the latter coined affectionately by Johnny Carson), Rickles' style of comedy is never mean-spirited and all part of his act. It has been said that being "zinged" by Rickles is like "wearing a badge of honor."

Rickles took his first step toward national fame in 1957, when Rickles spotted Frank Sinatra in the audience at a nightclub in Miami Beach. The still-unknown Rickles eyed Sinatra and said, "I just saw your movie, 'The Pride and the Passion,' and I want to tell you, the cannon was great. Make yourself at home, Frank. Hit somebody." Sinatra, whose pet name for Rickles was "bullet-head," enjoyed Rickles so much that he returned to see him when he was performing in Los Angeles, and encouraged other celebrities to see his act. Rickles soon became the "in" comic among Hollywood stars, who flocked to see him to become a target of his insults. Sinatra's continuing support helped Rickles become a popular performer in Las Vegas, where he first started in 1959, and has been a headliner ever since.

Shortly after being discovered by Sinatra, Rickles made his acting debut in 1958's "Run Silent Run Deep." The movie was a hit, launching Rickles towards a celebrated career as a movie, television and theater actor. His still-growing television and film resume includes roles in "Casino," "Kelly's Heroes," "The Rat Race," all three "Toy Story" films, HBO's "Tales From the Crypt," and Bravo's "My Life on the D-List" with Kathy Griffin. In 2011, he made a surprise appearance in a "cliff-hanger" episode as the "thought to be dead" husband of Betty White's character on the TV Land comedy "Hot In Cleveland." Later in the year, he returned to the show for the "payoff." He recently appeared on Showtime's new series "Inside Comedy," where fellow comedian David Steinberg interviewed him. In 2000, Rickles received one of the highest honors in the entertainment business, when he received a star on the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Rickles has received two Primetime Emmy Awards, including Best Individual Performance in a Variety or Musical for the 2008 HBO special "Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project." In 2009, cable network TV Land honored Rickles with the "Legend Award." Rickles' best-selling memoir "Rickles' Book" was released in 2007, and was followed up with the 2008 title "Rickles' Letters."

In spring 2012, Rickles joined David Letterman as the only performers to receive the prestigious "Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence" at The Comedy Awards, aired on Comedy Central. The award was presented to Rickles by Jon Stewart and Robert DeNiro. And this June, Rickles was honored with the Friars Club's Lifetime Achievement Award for Comedy at a star-studded awards gala at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Among those participating in honoring Don through their songs or words were Lewis Black, Louis C.K., Natalie Cole, Bob Costas, Tony Danza, Robert DeNiro, Kathy Griffin, Diana Krall, John Mayer, Bob Newhart, Regis Philbin, Joan Rivers, Bob Saget and John Stamos.

In addition to recurring dates in Las Vegas at The Orleans, Rickles continues to be a popular performer in venues throughout the country.

Opening for Mr. Rickles is entertainer Robert Davi - a recognizable and applauded entertainer who has appeared in more than 100 film and television roles. Davi was handpicked by Frank Sinatra to play Mickey Sinardos in the 1977 NBC television drama "Contract on Cherry Street." Since then Davi has appeared in many hit films including "License to Kill" as Bond villain Franz Sanchez, "Die Hard," "Showgirls," "The Goonies," along with well-known television series' such as "Profiler," "Stargate: Atlantis" and "Criminal Minds."

Davi recorded the album "Davi Sings Sinatra, On The Road To Romance" and worked with music legends: producer Phil Ramone and mixing engineer Al Schmitt. About "Davi Sings Sinatra" Quincy Jones said, "He (Davi) absolutely touched me down to my soul and brought back the essence and soul of 'Ol Blue Eyes himself." And USA Today raved, "Listening to it, you just know Sinatra would have smiled, given Davi a light tap on the cheek, and said, 'Nice job, kid'."

Showtime each evening is 8 p.m. Tickets are available starting from $79.95, plus tax and convenience fees, and can be purchased at any Boyd Gaming Box Office, by calling 702.365.7075, or visiting www.orleanscasino.com.



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