Don Rickles, Legendary Comedian, Dead at Age 90
Legendary insult comic Don Rickles, known to his fans as “Mr. Warmth,” has died at the age of 90.
Rickles died of kidney failure in his Los Angeles home on Thursday, our sister site Variety reports. The news was confirmed by his publicist Paul Schrifin.
The comedian is perhaps best known for his frequent appearances on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, which ran on NBC throughout the 1970s and ’80s, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He was also the star of the sitcom CPO Sharkey, which ran from 1976-78, and the short-lived Don Rickles Show in 1972. Additional TV credits included Daddy Dearest and Foul-Ups, Bleeps and Blunders.
In film, Rickles is perhaps best known for voicing Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story trilogy, and he appeared in 1995’s Casino. He also made an unforgettable appearance at President Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985.
Rickles was the subject of his own roast of sorts — One Night Only: An All-Star Comedy Tribute to Don Rickles — which aired on Spike in 2014. Back in March, AARP Studios announced Dinner With Don, a 10-episode unscripted series featuring Rickles dining with famous friends, including Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Jimmy Kimmel, Amy Poehler and Martin Scorsese. A premiere date has not yet been announced.
Rickles most recently appeared on TV as part of the NBC special Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come, back in December. He made his last talk show appearance back in October, when he appeared alongside close friend John Stamos on Jimmy Kimmel Live (embedded below).
VIDEOSJimmy Kimmel Breaks Down in Tears During Touching Tribute to Don Rickles
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