Filed under: Don Rickles, featuredarticle, insult comedian, insult comedy, Vegas comedian
Laugh Yourself Silly with Comedian Don Rickles
Don Rickles may not have invented insult comedy, but he certainly perfected it. While playing in a small, unknown Hollywood nightclub in 1957, the audacious stand-up comic noticed Hollywood legend Frank Sinatra enter the room. 
“I just saw your movie, The Pride and the Passion,” Rickles announced to Sinatra from the stage, “and I want to tell you, the cannon’s acting was great. And, make yourself at home, Frank.
Hit somebody.”
Sinatra reportedly doubled up laughing and became one of Rickles’ biggest boosters among Hollywood celebrities. With Blue Eyes’ support, Rickles soon became the “in” comic among Hollywood stars, who flocked to his nightclub engagements to see what barbed insults he would fling their way. Audiences laughed harder at his impromptu insults than at his prepared material, and Rickles became legendary as the king of insults. And a comedy star was born.
As a star-struck kid in New York City, Rickles dreamed of sharing big screen with such greats as Clark Gable and James Cagney. His wish came true in 1958 when he appeared in Run Silent Run Deep with Gable. Rickles received critical praise for his villainous performance in The Rat Race in 1960. He went on to appear in numerous films and television shows, including Casino, Kelly’s Heroes, Gilligan’s Island, The Andy Griffith Show, Get Smart, Toy Story and Toy Story 2, and most recently, the CBS hit series The Unit. Along the way he earned two Primetime Emmy Awards, including the 2008 HBO special Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project for Best Individual Performance in a Variety or Musical.
This marks Rickles 51st consecutive year as a Las Vegas headliner and his third consecutive year of performances at The Orleans Showroom.
Don Rickles
February 20-21 at 8 p.m.
Orleans Showroom (map it)
4500 West Tropicana Avenue
$74.95, plus tax, through Box Office calling 702.365.7075.
Image courtesy of the Orleans Showroom.
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