Don Rickles

**Donald Jay** "**Don**" **Rickles** (May 8, 1926 – April 6, 2017) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, voice actor and author, best known for his role as Mr. Potato Head in _Toy Story_, _Toy Story 2_, and _Toy Story 3_. He was also known for being an on _The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson_, and in _The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts_.

## Early life

Rickles was born in Queens, New York on May 8, 1926 to Max Rickles, who immigrated to the United States in 1902, and to Etta (née Feldman), who was from New York City. Rickles' parents were of Jewish ancestry. Rickles was educated at American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

## Career

Rickles' career began in 1958 in _Run, Silent, Run Deep_. Since then Rickles has appeared in movies such as _Casino_, _Toy Story_, _Toy Story 2_, _Denice the Menace Strikes Again_, _Toy Story 3_, _Zookeeper_, _Toy Story 3_, and _Small Fry_.

### Influences and influenced

Rickles' primary influence was Milton Berle. Rickles and Berle appeared in _The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts_. Rickles influenced Jay Leno, David Letterman, Dana Snyder, Howard Stern, Russell Peters, Dave Attell, Lisa Lampanelli, Jerry Seinfeld, Norm Macdonald, and Larry the Cable Guy.

## Personal life

Rickles married Barbara Sklar in 1965. They have two children; Larry Rickles (who died in 2011), and Mindy. Rickles also has 2 grandchildren who enjoy his role of Mr. Potato Head more than any other role Rickles ever had. Rickles currently lived in Los Angeles, California. He was a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party.

### Death

Rickles died on April 6, 2017 of kidney failure in his home in Beverly Hills, California at the age of 90.

## Some movies he was in

- _The Rat Race_ (1960)
- _Pajama Party_ (1964)
- _Kelly's Heroes_ (1970)
- _Innocent Blood_ (1992)
- _Toy Story_ (1995) ... Mr. Potato Head (voice)
- _Dirty Work_ (1998)
- _Quest for Camelot_ (1998) ... Cornwall (voice)
- _Dennis the Menace Strikes Again_ (1998)
- _Toy Story 2_ (1999) ... Mr. Potato Head (voice)
- _Looney Tunes: Back in Action_ (2003) ... Cornwall (voice)
- _Night of the Country_ (2004)
- _The Last Laugh_ (2006) (documentary)
- _Toy Story 3_ (2010) ... Mr. Potato Head (voice)
- _Zookeeper_ (2011)
- _Small Fry_ (2011) (short movie) ... Mr. Potato Head (voice)
- _Toy Story 4_ (2019) ... Mr. Potato Head (voice)
- _Woody's Roundup: The Movie_ (2019) ... Mr. Potato Head (voice)

## Books

- _Rickles' Book: A Memoir by Don Rickles and David Ritz_ (2007)
- _Rickles' Letters by Don Rickles and David Ritz_ (2008)

## Discography

- _Hello Dummy!_ (1968)
- _Don Rickles Speaks!_ (1969)

## Other websites

- Official website

## Infobox (comedian)

- **name**: Don Rickles
- **image**: Don Rickles 1.jpg
- **caption**: Rickles in 2010
- **birth name**: Donald Jay Rickles
- **birth place**: Queens, New York, United States, U.S.
- **death place**: Beverly Hills, California, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
- **medium**: Stand-up comedy, Stand-up, movie, television
- **nationality**: United States, American
- **active**: 1943–2017
- **genre**: Improvisational comedy, observational comedy, musical comedy, insult comedy
- **subject**: United States culture, Racism, Self-deprecation, Everyday life, Religion, Current events
- **influences**: Milton Berle
- **influenced**: Jay Leno, David Letterman, Howard Stern, Russell Peters, Dave Attell, Lisa Lampanelli Jerry Seinfeld, Norm Macdonald, Larry the Cable Guy
- **spouse**: Barbara Sklar (1965–2017; his death)
- **notable work**: _Hello Dummy!_
Q M 1/C Ruby in _Run Silent, Run Deep_
Sgt. Crapgame in _Kelly's Heroes_
Billy Sherbert in _Casino (movie), Casino_
Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story (franchise), _Toy Story_ franchise