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  1. Home
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  3. Comic Legend Don Rickles' Cause Of Death

Comic Legend Don Rickles' Cause Of Death

Andrés Galarza / November 27, 2024 - 05:00 am

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Pinterest Singer  Frank  Sinatra  hugs  Don  Rickles  backstage  during  his  farewell  performance  at  UCLA
(© IMAGO/Pond5 Images)

Don Rickles

If you were looking for a grandiose, dramatic exit, well, Don Rickles had none of that. Instead, he just quietly slipped away, probably cracking a joke about how the Grim Reaper had come for him because even death couldn’t resist his humor.

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Pinterest EXCLUSIVE: Funny Man Don Rickles is helped to his awaiting car after his show in Los Angeles 131448, EXCLUSIVE: Funny Ma
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Don Rickles

Rickles' career was one of relentless defiance, comedic genius, and an unwavering belief that everyone, no matter their stature, deserved a good-natured roasting. His humor was never cruel—well, mostly not cruel—but instead aimed to break down social barriers and remind us that the best way to laugh at life’s absurdities was to make fun of them, especially when we least expected it.

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Pinterest De l or pour les braves Kelly s Heroes Real Brian G Hutton Don Rickles. COLLECTION CHRISTOPHEL Metro Goldwyn Mayer PUBLI
(© imago images/Prod.DB)

Don Rickles

Rickles made his mark in Hollywood in the 1960s, playing the kind of brash, insulting comic that was both loved and feared. His biggest break came when he found himself on 'The Tonight Show,' where he ruthlessly insulted Johnny Carson, and in turn, became a staple of American late-night television. But Rickles wasn’t just a television regular—he was a star in his own right, appearing in major films alongside everyone from "Captain Hook" (played by Dustin Hoffman) to "The Godfather," where his role as "Johnny Ola" proved that even in mobster movies, humor could find a home.

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Pinterest Don Rickles at John Lasseter's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood, CA 11-1-11
(© IMAGO/Depositphotos)

Don Rickles

And, of course, who could forget his voice work as "Mr. Potato Head" in 'Toy Story'? That role alone solidified his status as a beloved cultural figure, as he became the ultimate comedic figure for both children and adults, proving once and for all that even a toy can have a biting sense of humor.

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Pinterest American  comedian  Don  Rickles,  holds  and  kisses  a  framed  picture  of  his  wife,  as  a  yo
(© IMAGO/Pond5 Images)

Don Rickles

But the essence of Don Rickles wasn’t just about the characters he played or the gigs he landed—it was about the incredible personal charm that allowed him to insult you and make you feel like the luckiest person in the world for it.

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Pinterest Don Rickles, 1992, Photo By Michael Ferguson/PHOTOlink/Courtesy Everett Collection (Don Rickles2285)ASCA032 F4906 PUBLIC
(© IMAGO/Everett Collection)

Don Rickles

Rickles was, in many ways, a comic poet who found beauty in the absurdities of life and a way to elevate them with a punchline. His personal life was as colorful as his stage persona. Married to his wife, Barbara, for over 50 years, Rickles was a devoted family man—albeit one who would probably have joked about how he had her wrapped around his finger, just as he did with everyone else in his orbit.

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Pinterest Don Rickles performs live, Don Rickles performs live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in H
(© IMAGO/Dreamstime)

Don Rickles

But beneath that tough exterior and irreverent humor was a man who cherished his relationships deeply, and his love for his family was a testament to the private side of the comedy legend. In fact, those closest to him often described him as a man with a heart of gold, albeit one that could deliver a zinger at any moment, even in the most sentimental of settings.

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Pinterest Don Rickles at TV Land's Celebration for the 35th Anniversary of THE BOB NEWHART SHOW. The Paley Cen
(© IMAGO/Depositphotos)

Don Rickles

Rickles’ influence on comedy was undeniable, not just because of his skill at insulting people but because of his ability to do it with such warmth and humanity that you’d almost forget you were the target of his jokes. His career paved the way for a new generation of comedians who understood that humor didn’t have to be politically correct to be effective—sometimes, it just had to be funny. His irreverence towards authority, his fearless approach to tackling taboos, and his ability to joke about race, gender, and class—often all in the same sentence—made him a trailblazer in the world of stand-up.

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Pinterest Don Rickles And Bob Newhart 1986 Copyright: xRalphxDominguez/MediaPunchx
(© IMAGO/MediaPunch)

Don Rickles

And as for his personal life? Well, let’s just say Don Rickles wasn’t afraid to dish out the same barbs he took. Friends and fellow comedians recount stories of Rickles teasing his contemporaries with the same relentless humor, always pushing the boundaries of what could be joked about, while never crossing the line into outright meanness. He was the guy who could roast you mercilessly one moment and then pull you aside the next to share an incredibly heartfelt story. It’s that combination of abrasiveness and tenderness that made him the comedic genius he was.

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Pinterest Don Rickles in the press room at the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Nokia Theater, Los Angeles,
(© IMAGO/Depositphotos)

Don Rickles

The beauty of Don Rickles was that he never took himself too seriously, even as he became a cultural institution. He was known for his self-deprecating humor as much as for his ability to roast everyone else. It’s fitting that a man who made an entire career out of finding the humor in the flaws and imperfections of life would leave us the way he did: without fanfare, without tears, but with a final comedic flourish that only Don Rickles could pull off. Even in death, you can imagine him cracking a joke about how he was finally getting some peace and quiet—until the next big show.

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Don Rickles, the comedy legend known for his razor-sharp wit, quick comebacks, and relentless ability to insult anyone in the room—whether they were a celebrity or a complete stranger—passed away in 2017, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be associated with fearless humor.

Comic Legend Don Rickles' Cause Of Death

His cause of death was complications from kidney failure, but let's face it, for someone who spent decades joking about everything under the sun, it was almost poetic that Rickles, who once poked fun at everything from world leaders to his own audience, went out the way he did: on his own terms, with no pretense or fuss.

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