Being one of the most popular entertainers in the world, leave it to you to sum him up as telling someone to get cancer.
Shouldn't common sense give you pause and reflect on judging someone based on today's society, technology and tastes?
He was friends with many of the major figures of the second half of the 20th century, from presidents to other legendary entertainers. A self-made man, he comes from what is today one of the most crime infested cities in the U.S. He was an actor, director, philanthropist (raising 2 billion), inventor and comedian. He's the final chapter of his generation. 
He may not have been your cup of tea, being an American and an unsophisticated type of comedian, but those are not the man's only contribution for the post-war years and beyond.