Don Rickles

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Don Rickles

American comedian and actor

Also known as: Donald Jay Rickles

Written by John M. Cunningham

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 17, 2024 • Article History

Quick Facts

In full:: Donald Jay Rickles

Born:: May 8, 1926, Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, U.S.

Died:: April 6, 2017, Los Angeles, California (aged 90)

Awards And Honors:: Emmy Award

On the Web:: PBS - Don Rickles (Dec. 17, 2024)

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Don Rickles (born May 8, 1926, Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, U.S.—died April 6, 2017, Los Angeles, California) was an American comedian and actor known for a cheerfully belligerent brand of humor that relied heavily on ad-libbed insults and broad cultural stereotypes. Rickles grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, the only child of Jewish parents. At age 18 he enlisted in the navy and served in the Philippines during World War II. After being discharged, he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, graduating in 1948. Unable to find acting work, Rickles told ...(100 of 536 words)

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