Donald Jay "Don" Rickles (born May 8, 1926) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. A frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Show with David Letterman, he has also acted in comedic and dramatic roles, but is best known as an insult comic.

Biography

Rickles married Barbara Sklar, a native of Philadelphia on March 14, 1965, and had two children: a daughter, Mindy, and a son, producer Larry Rickles (1970–2011). According to Rickles' memoir, his grandchildren, Ethan and Harrison Mann, are much more impressed by his role as "Mr. Potato Head" than by any of his other achievements. Although a lifelong Democrat, he performed at the inaugurations of Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush with his friend Frank Sinatra. Rickles considers comedian Bob Newhart to be his best friend, an unusual partnership since Newhart's low-key, hesitant, self-effacing comic persona is almost completely the opposite of Rickles' high energy, rapid-fire act. Rickles and Newhart appeared together on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on January 24, 2005, the Monday following Johnny Carson's death, reminiscing about their many guest appearances on Carson's show, which included footage of the "cigarette box incident". The two also appeared together on the television sitcom Newhart, and for previous episodes of The Tonight Show where Newhart or Rickles were guest-hosts. Rickles, Newhart, and their wives often vacation together.

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