7 Apr 2017

Comedian Don Rickles dies, aged 90

6:46 am on 7 April 2017

Don Rickles, the master insult comic who created laughs with ridicule and sarcasm in a decades-long career, has died aged 90.

Don Rickles

Don Rickles in 2007 Photo: AFP

He died on Thursday at his Los Angeles home from kidney failure, his publicist said.

Rickles - who said he developed his brand of humorous mockery because he was no good at telling traditional jokes - had recently postponed some performances.

His death was confirmed by his spokesman, Paul Shefrin, who said Rickles is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara, as well as their daughter, Mindy Mann, and two grandchildren. He would have turned 91 next month.

The New York-born Rickles had an intense, often-ad libbed, rapid-fire delivery and a wide, impish grin. He delighted nightclub audiences, Hollywood royalty and politicians by hurling invective at them, all in good fun.

Encountering Frank Sinatra for the first time during a stand-up act in 1957, Rickles greeted the mercurial singer as Sinatra walked in with a retinue of tough guys by saying, "Make yourself at home, Frank - hit somebody."

Luckily for Rickles, the line amused Sinatra, who became one of his biggest boosters and took to calling the short, bald Rickles "Bullethead."

Performing decades later at the second inaugural gala of US President Ronald Reagan, Rickles did not hesitate to zing the commander-in-chief, asking, "Is this too fast for you, Ronnie?"

But the most frequent targets of the "Merchant of Venom" were the fans who packed his performances for a chance to be belittled as a "dummy," a "hockey puck" or worse. Celebrities often showed up just for the honor of being mocked by Rickles, and no minority or ethnic group was immune to a Rickles tongue-lashing.

- Reuters