Earlier today, we reportedly the sad news that Hollywood has lost another legend, with comedianDon Ricklespassing away at the age of 90. His publicist confirmed that the iconic insult comic passed in his Los Angeles home, from kidney failure. As word of his passing spread, Hollywood icons left and right paid tribute to the late comedian through social media, to honor this late legend.
While most sent out their tributes throughTwitter, others released lengthier tributes elsewhere. Rolling Stone caught up withGilbert Gottfried, who summed up the thelate comedian’s legacy with a heartfelt statement that explained why Rickles will go down in history as one of the best comedians ever. Here’s whatGilbert Gottfriedhad to say.
“Don Rickleswas never politically correct, and he would never apologize for any of it. He was totally unapologetic about his comedy. So I admired that and looked at him as a hero in that way. And as someone, like myself, who’s done so many roasts, I really admiredRicklesat the roasts. There are so many things he said at those over the years that made me laugh. I remember one Rickles quote where he said whenever he goes onstage, he has a nagging fear that he’s not going to offend anybody. I never thought he crossed the line. He made a joke at the American Film Institute’s tribute toShirley MacLaine, “I don’t want to insult President Obama. He’s a friend of mine. He was over at the house last night, but then his mop broke,” and they cut it out of the broadcast, because nowadays that’s way too racist. And yet, I couldn’t help but thinking, Obama himself probably would have laughed at that. And I heard one timeDon Rickleswas sitting in a restaurant andMorgan Freemanwalked by, andRicklesyelled out, “Hey Morgan, get back to the kitchen.” I don’t know if Morgan laughed at that, but he probably laughed. And everybody else was scared to say anything aroundFrank Sinatra, and he was constantly insulting Sinatra and Sinatra would laugh. When I think of Rickles, I remember one time there was some event honoringClint Eastwood, andRickleswent over toEastwood’s wife and said, “Cheer up, honey. You’ll be coming into a lot of money soon.” AndCharles Bronsonwas in the audience, and he goes, “Charlie, make yourself at home. Shoot somebody.” I was at home when I found out today that he had died. A friend of mine, who is an equalDon Ricklesfanatic called me, and he told me. Rickles wasn’t a young man, but it was still shocking that he died. ‘Til the very end, he was still sharp when he’d go out on TV or perform anywhere. He’s one of those people who remained great. Even when, physically, he looked very weak, he was still totally sharp and totally funny. He wasn’t one of those performers that people applauded because they were still alive; he was one of those people he applauded and laughed because he was just so funny all the time. His legacy to me will always be that he didn’t care who he insulted, he didn’t care who he offended. If it got a laugh, it was great.”
Our report from earlier today revealed that funeral services will be private, and that donations can be made in the late comedian’s name to his son’s organization, the Larry Rickles Endowment Fund at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.Don Ricklesgot his start in the entertainment business by performing as a stand-up comedian for several years. While he was generally perceived as a traditional stand-up comic, an encounter withFrank Sinatraduring a 1957 show turned his career around. When the comedian noticed thatFrank Sinatrawas watching his show,Don Ricklestold the legendary performer, “Make yourself at home, Frank. Hit somebody.” WhileSinatranormally did not take kindly to such heckling, he roared with laughter. A year later, the late actor made his feature film debut in the 1958 classicRun Silent, Run Deep, alongsideClark Gable,Burt LancasterandJack Warden. In 1959, he also signed on for his first Las Vegas appearance, performing his newly-perfected brand of insult comedy at the Hotel Sahara, which lead to gigs at Vegas mainstays such as the Riviera, the Golden Nugget, the Desert Inn and the Sahara. Here’s whatDon Rickles’ longtime friendBob Newharthad to say aboutDon Rickles' passing.
“He was called ‘The Merchant of Venom,’ but in truth, he was one of the kindest, caring and most sensitive human beings we have ever known. We are devastated and our world will never be the same. We were totally unprepared for this.”
He became a regular guest onThe Tonight Show, becoming one ofJohnny Carson’s most frequent guests, and more recently, he would often appear on CBS’Late Show with David Letterman, before the talk show host retired in 2015. His brand of insult comedy found the perfect home with theDean Martin Celebrity RoastsTV specials which aired throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, where he would skewer celebrities such asFrank Sinatra,Ronald Reagan,Bob Hope,Lucille Ball,Kirk Douglas,Sammy Davis Jr.andMr. T. While he never ascended to “leading man” status on the big screen, thebeloved comedianappeared in a slew of movies and TV shows while perfecting his comedy routines, such asRat Race, a number ofFrankie AvalonandAnnette Funicellobeach movies entitledMuscle Beach Party,Bikini BeachandBeach Blanket BingoandKelly’s Heroes. Here’s what comedianRobert Klein, who appears withDon RicklesinMarshall Fine’s documentaryRobert Klein Still Can’t Stop His Leg, currently airing on Starz, had to say aboutDon Rickles' passing in a statement.
“Don Rickleswas a brilliant improvisational comedian as well as an excellent actor. What many people do not realize is that for someone so widely known as an insult comedian, Don Rickles was also, genuinely, a very kind man.”
Among his other film credits was a role in the 1995 classicCasino, where he starred alongsideRobert De Niro,Joe PesciandSharon Stone, withMartin Scorseseat the helm.Martin Scorsesealso released a statement after learning ofDon Rickles' passing. Here’s what the filmmaker had to say.
“Don Rickleswas a giant, a legend…and I can hear his voice now, skewering me for being so lofty. I had the honor of working with him on my picture Casino.He was a professional. He kept me doubled over with laughter every day on the set, yet he was a complete pro. We became friends over the years and I had the honor of being roasted by him more than once, sometimes when I didn’t expect it. He just started showing up at places and insulting me. Experiencing Don, and tuning into his mind, I witnessed the evolution of his comedy. It was like listening to a great jazz musician wail. Nobody else did what he did. He made comedy into an art form. And like all geniuses, comic or otherwise, he’s irreplaceable. He was much loved. I’m really missing this man.”
Younger fans will most likely knowDon Ricklesbest for voicing Mr. Potato Head in Pixar’sToy Story. He would go on to reprise that role in 1999’sToy Story 2, 2010’sToy Story 3and short films such asToy Story Midway Mania,Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation,Toy Story Toons: Small Fry,Toy Story Toons: Partysaurus Rex,Toy Story of TerrorandToy Story That Time Forgot. He was currently working on the upcoming theatrical sequelToy Story 4, which is slated for release in 2019. The actor and comedian issurvived byhis wife Virginia, his daughter Mindy and his grandchildren Ethan and Harrison. Take a look at the social media tributes toDon Ricklesthat have started pouring in today.
