I

f you hear the words "hockey puck" and think of ice hockey -- then you're a hockey fan. If you're a comedy fan, however, the visage of "Mr. Warmth" himself, Don Rickles, the world's most beloved insult comic, will pop into your head, even if no one's quite sure how or why "hockey puck" came to be a put-down. What we do know is that Rickles has a unique gift for generating riotous laughs by making fun of his audience's weight, height, gender/sexuality, economic status, looks and ethnicity without actually hurting any feelings – or suffering any broken bones. The trick is actually no trick. Rickles is not some natural-born verbal bully who figured out a way to get paid for what he was already doing for free. The road that took him from shy child (with a beloved but dominating mother) to a true artist of the put-down was long and hard, and it pretty clearly conceals a heart full of mush. How else can you explain the near universal fondness for a man who, dubbed "the Merchant of Venom," teases everyone from short-tempered show business legends to actual royalty, all of whom are proud to be skillfully dissed?

Born May 8, 1926, Rickles left his wartime service in the U.S. Navy in 1946 and headed not for the nightclubs of the Borsht Belt, but straight for the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Art. Serious about the craft of acting, genetics determined that the bullet-headed Rickles would never be a leading man, and years of mostly fruitless effort proved that the path to a career as a character actor was going to be long. Comedy seemed to be a quicker, if no less difficult, path. Over the years, Rickles discovered that traditional gags didn't really work for him, but "working the audience" did.

His democratically fearless way with the insult paid off famously when he spotted Frank Sinatra (pretty much the world's biggest star during the late '50s) enter his club. Sinatra was the Russell Crowe of his day. But Rickles knew that his formidable mother was a good friend with the superstar singer's mother, so the all-but-unknown comic shrewdly gave Sinatra the Rickles treatment: "Make yourself at home, Frank. Hit somebody!" Fortunately for everyone, Sinatra laughed and became his most powerful fan, recruiting notables to pay for the privilege of being insulted by the prematurely balding wisecracker.

Don Rickles Don Rickles

Rickles' fame grew steadily until he became a true household name, lovingly insulting targets that included England's Princess Margaret, and generating huge laughs with numerous appearances on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, on countless variety shows, and -- far more lucratively -- in Las Vegas. In a much more modest way, his hard-earned acting chops were also paying off. His long film résumé includes compelling work in the 1958 submarine favorite "Run Silent, Run Deep" and two '60s cult classics, the war/heist comedy "Kelly's Heroes," and Roger Corman's science fiction/horror tale, "X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes." It's clear there was more to Rickles than just comparing people to sporting goods.

Still, it's true that Rickles hasn't always gotten his due respect. Believe it or not, being an unofficial court jester to the Rat Pack was the antithesis of cool with younger audiences during the late '60s and on into the '80s. It didn't help that he had terrible luck when it came to headlining his own television shows. Two variety shows failed. Eventually, the Bilko-esque military comedy, "C.P.O. Sharkey," managed to hang on for two seasons at the late-'70s dawn of the punk rock era, but that was as good as it got. The network TV success enjoyed by his very close friend, ultra-low-key Bob Newhart, simply wasn't in the cards for the overtly abrasive Rickles.

Nevertheless, Rickles continued to shine as a hugely popular live performer. In 1985, Republican-convert Frank Sinatra showed his support again by insisting Rickles be included on the bill at President Ronald Reagan's second inauguration. A lifelong Democrat, Rickles considers his performance at the event a career highlight. He and the Chairman again appeared together at the inauguration of George H.W. Bush in 1989.

Since then, Rickles, a two-time grandfather whose one and only marriage has lasted well into its fourth decade, has never stopped working live. He continues to exercise his vastly underrated skills as an actor, including featured roles in Martin Scorsese's "Casino" and as the voice of Mr. Potato Head in both "Toy Story" films as well as the upcoming sequel. Gradually, that long-delayed respect has started to be paid.

In 2007, film director John Landis ("Animal House," "The Blues Brothers"), who had worked as a very young P.A. on "Kelly's Heroes," cemented his old friend's status with an outstanding biographical documentary masquerading as a television special. "Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project" emphasizes the humanity and simple human decency of its subject alongside his superhuman comedy chops when working with a live audience. The result was an Emmy for Rickles, and the chance to continue doing even more of what the world loves him for -- telling us we're all a bunch of jerks and making us feel great in the process.

Don Rickles Videos

Cracking up David Letterman

Cracking up David Letterman…and Denzel Washington

Walking in on Johnny, Ed and Sinatra

Sammy Davis, Jr. gets it

Rickles vs. a roomful of celebs (Dean Martin variety special)

Rickles vs. a roomful of celebs, Part II

Rickles destroys mustachioed James Caan, Michael Caine and Elliot Gould

Stealing the (notoriously bad) show at the 2008 Emmys

Rickles vs. "The View"

"I'm a Nice Guy!" Rickles sings and dances, with the help of an assortment of '70s celebrities

More...

Essential Albums

Although Rickles emerged during the heyday of the comedy album, it's a little surprising that he recorded only a pair of albums (not counting an un-televised, raunchy Friar's Club roast from 1968 released decades later). On the other hand, considering Rickles' interactive approach, perhaps his comedy is best appreciated in a medium where the reactions of his delighted victims can actually be seen. In any case, serious Rickles fans will certainly want to hear both 1968's successful Hello Dummy! and 1969's Don Rickles Speaks! And, while it's not an album, we wholeheartedly recommend the DVD of his John Landis-directed docu-comedy, "Mr. Warmth." You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you still won't learn why "hockey puck!" is such an insult.

Comedy Discography

Hello Dummy! (1968)

The Don Rickles Friar Club Roast (1968)

Don Rickles Speaks! (1969)

TV Series

"The Don Rickles Show" (1968)

"The Don Rickles Show" (1971-72)

"C.P.O. Sharkey" (1977-78)

"Foul-Ups, Bleeps and Blunders" (1983-84)

"Daddy Dearest" (1992-93)

Books

"Rickles Letters" (2008)

"Don Rickles' Book: A Memoir" (2008)

Movies

"Run Silent, Run Deep" (1958)

"The Rabbit Trap" (1959)

"The Rat Race" (1960)

"X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes" (1963)

"Muscle Beach Party" (1964)

"Bikini Beach" (1964)

"Pajama Party" (1964)

"Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965)

"Enter Laughing" (1967)

"The Money Jungle" (1968)

"Where It's At" (1969)

"Kelly's Heroes" (1970)

"The Love Machine" (1971)

"Keaton's Cop" (1988)

"Innocent Blood" (1992)

"Casino" (1995)

"Toy Story" (1995)

"Off the Menu: The Last Days
of Chasen's
" (1997)

"Quest for Camelot" (1998)

"Dirty Work" (1998)

"Dennis the Menace Strikes Again" (1998)

"Toy Story 2" (1999)

"Goodnight, We Love You" (2004)

"The J-K Conspiracy" (2004)

"The Aristocrats" (2005)

"The Last Laugh" (2006)

"Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project" (2007)

"Toy Story 3" (2010)

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Famous Last Words

If I were to insult people and mean it, that wouldn't be funny.

Who picks your clothes -- Stevie Wonder?

Re: Frank Sinatra:
When you enter a room, you have to kiss his ring. I don't mind, but he has it in his back pocket.

Eddie Fisher married to Elizabeth Taylor is like me trying to wash the Empire State Building with a bar of soap.

Hey, Dave (Letterman), I'm having an Oscar party this year. I hope you won't be working that night.

I have two grown children and two grandchildren…and one in the Philippines.

Why did they stand…was it a Jewish holiday?