Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Birthday, Don Rickles

Our greatest living national treasure, Don Rickles, is 85 today.

Mister Muleboy, bellotoot and myself drive up to Atlantic City a couple of times a year to see him. We've all been insulted by him from time to time, but I must modestly confess, of the three of us, I have been hammered the most. I think I exude calm normalcy—the choice of Harold Lloyd as my avatar was carefully considered—and he instinctively knows I won't try to upstage him.


Ah, good times.

It's safe to say, Rickles is not for everybody. But he is for me, and I love the guy. He also has a significant presence in the movies, with Run Silent, Run Deep, Kelly's Heroes, Casino and, of course, as the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story trilogy.

Happy birthday, Don!

5 comments:

Classic Film and TV Cafe said...

And don't forget about Don Rickles' appearances in MUSCLE BEACH PARTY, BIKINI BEACH, and--my fave--BEACH BLANKET BINGO.

Mythical Monkey said...

Now this is a man who knows classic film!

Don Rickles said...

Oh, the Emmy was nothing

THIS I live for





(I think he bought that)

Greg Wilcox said...

Don't forget Don's surprising dramatic performance in X: the Man with the X-Ray Eyes. It's one of those films where a silly idea works thanks to a few believable performances and his brief part is brilliant.

g.

Don Rickles said...

I nailed it in The Rabbit Trap too, you boozed up old fruit. . . .