Don Rickles

Donald Jay Rickles, or as the world widely knows him, Don Rickles, was born on May 8, 1926, in Queens, New York City. Known primarily for his stingingly sharp insult comedy, Rickles made a notable impact on the comedy circuit — a talent that complemented his acting career, with roles ranging from dramatic films such as Run Silent, Run Deep to lending his voice to Mr. Potato Head in Pixar’s successful Toy Story franchise. His journey in the showbiz industry spans well over six decades, starting in 1950 up to 2017. Aside from acting and stand-up comedy, Rickles also dabbled in television and wrote books. He was venerated by fellow comedians during an event at the Apollo Theater, an honor that was graced by the biggest names in comedy and broadcasted on Spike TV.

Living a fascinating life even off-stage, Don was born into a Jewish family. His father was an immigrant from Lithuania and his mother, a New Yorker with Austrian lineage. Rickles served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, after which he sought to build an acting career. Parallely, he was trying his hand at comedy in various clubs across New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. Hecklers in these clubs paved the way for the birth of his distinct style, as the audience was more amused by how he handled hecklers than his actual material. His marriage to Barbara Sklar in 1965 was the start of a love story that lasted until his death. They had two children.