Don Rickles R.I.P.

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Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
236,697
The High Seas
He was one of my Send a Personal Letter guys. He sent me an autographed photo. I did think his humor could get mean, but I agree with him on one thing, and he said it every single time he performed: If we can't laugh at ourselves, we are doomed. Paraphrasing that.

RIP Don and thank you for writing me back.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
don_rickles_01.jpg
....Don was another entertainer labeled a "legend"....but in his case, the tag was appropriate....no-one, no thing was safe from his rapier put-downs, and I admire a man that creative "on the spot"-and also, one who was as 180 degrees opposite of his public persona, in his personal life....rest well ya shmuck!....
 

Charms7

Just Happy To Be Here
Sep 6, 2007
4,751
6,535
72
Katy, TX *USA
don_rickles_01.jpg
....Don was another entertainer labeled a "legend"....but in his case, the tag was appropriate....no-one, no thing was safe from his rapier put-downs, and I admire a man that creative "on the spot"-and also, one who was as 180 degrees opposite of his public persona, in his personal life....rest well ya shmuck!....
Don Rickles you'll never be, GNTLGNT.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
Sweet Jesus! I just read an old interview two days ago with him in one of those old Playboy's I picked up over the weekend that had an old Michael Crichton story in it. While sometimes he might have come across as 'mean', there's no denying that he was a talented man. He was the only comedian that could flip sh*t at Frank Sinatra and get away with it. R.I.P.
 

Tery

Say hello to my fishy buddy
Moderator
Apr 12, 2006
15,304
44,712
Bremerton, Washington, United States
Growing up in Las Vegas, Rickles was a constant. He was a brilliant wit but left that persona on the stage. IRL, he was a kind and generous man who gave back to the community quietly. My late Father-in-Law knew him well and couldn't sing his praises loud enough. Today, another piece of my childhood is gone. Rest well, you beloved hockey puck. :down:
 

AnnaMarie

Well-Known Member
Feb 16, 2012
7,068
29,564
Other
don_rickles_01.jpg
....Don was another entertainer labeled a "legend"....but in his case, the tag was appropriate....no-one, no thing was safe from his rapier put-downs, and I admire a man that creative "on the spot"-and also, one who was as 180 degrees opposite of his public persona, in his personal life....rest well ya shmuck!....

That's what I always heard about him. That IRL he was the most caring person.
 

mjs9153

Peripherally known member..
Nov 21, 2014
3,494
22,165
He was like one of your beloved uncles that zinged you in front of the family,but would slip you a five and want to know how you were doing when no one was watching..people who think he was just about insults don't get the humor..RIP Don,thanks for all the laughs..
 

Tery

Say hello to my fishy buddy
Moderator
Apr 12, 2006
15,304
44,712
Bremerton, Washington, United States
Here's a story from my husband. It shows how Rickles was:

"So,I’m all of 7 maybe 8, 64 or 65, and mom goes down to see the show on a Friday and brings me along. I believe dad was working the Sahara at the time. The lineup was Dean Martin singing, Don and Bob Newhart comics. Because I wasn’t allowed in the lounge I was either backstage on a stool or in the lighting booth. During the show Don really went for it on a couple in the front row, and the woman was in tears after. Don, as always, had Dad get the couple and bring them back stage.
So there I am in the dressing room with Dean, Don, and Bob. Three of the funniest men ever to have lived. And in comes dad with a very upset couple. Don had perfected the art of the apology. First he tells them that they were such good sports and he loves it when they play along as part of his act. This throws them a little off, and he immediately follows with the comp of their room and meals for the next day, finally he and Bob kill them with comedy. They were crying with laughter in five minutes. And as a parting gift she gets a kiss on the cheek from Dean.
This happened all the time."