'A God died today'

Don Rickles, the king of the insult comics, has died at the age of 90.

He passed away in his Los Angeles home of kidney failure.

Rickles had a 60-year-career, starting in the nightclubs and casinos of the 1950s. He developed his reputation for his quick and fierce wit in putting down hecklers, and eventually the insults replaced his original act. No one was exempt, not even the mobsters who ran the joints – but luckily he made as many laugh as he humiliated and he was allowed to continue.

The New York-born comedian is said to have got his big break when Frank Sinatra and some friends came to see him in 1957. ‘Make yourself at home, Frank,’ he said on spotting the superstar. ‘Hit somebody.’ Sinatra laughed, and the two became firm pals.

Rickles became a regular on late-night talk shows, especially The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, as well as his forte: televised celebrity roasts. He appeared in a number of movies, too, and voiced Mr Potato Head in Disney's Toy Story films.

His fierce jokes earned him the nickname 'the Merchant of Venom' – or the more sarcastic: 'Mr Warmth'.

Among those playing tribute were Mel Brooks, who called him: ‘One of the bravest, funniest, and sweetest guys that ever performed. A dear pal that we will all sorely miss.’

Tom Hanks said: ‘A God died today. Don Rickles, we did not want to ever lose you.’

Talk show host Conan O’Brien said: ‘I was thrilled to interview/be insulted non-stop by the legendary Don Rickles. I will sorely miss this incredibly funny and lovable man.’

And Chris Rock added: ‘He was the love of my life. Don Rickles is funnier right now in death than most comics are in life.’

Rickles described his own act – and longevity – as being ‘the guy at the Christmas party who makes fun of the boss on Friday night and still has his job on Monday morning’. But he insisted that despite his fierce tongue: ‘I’m not really a mean, vicious guy.’

And in a 2012 interview, he said: ‘I can't please the world. When you're standing out there doing comedy, not everybody thinks you're funny. But in my case, I've gained a great deal of respect for my age to still be going.’

He leaves a wife of 52 years, Barbara, a daughter, and two grandchildren.

Published: 7 Apr 2017