Don Rickles Quotes

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Don Rickles

Profession : Comedian

Birth : May 8, 1926

I don't care if the average guy on the street really knows what I'm like, as long as he knows I'm not really a mean, vicious guy. My friends and family know what I'm really like. That's what's important.

Don Rickles

Johnny Carson was a big influence on me - all of those shows I did with him over the years, like, 100 of them, they made a bit of a name for me at the time, so that part of my life was very good.

Don Rickles

It's very sweet to have people say nice things about you, and I always accept that.

Don Rickles

Now when I'm not working, I don't really hang out with the young comics.

Don Rickles

When you do comedy, you can't please the world, although I'd like to think that most of my audiences were on my side.

Don Rickles

I couldn't sell air conditioners on a 98-degree day. When I demonstrated them in a showroom, I pushed the wrong button and blew the circuit.

Don Rickles

Ninety percent of the people who come to see me are my fans.

Don Rickles

My grandchildren just know me now as Mr. Potato Head.

Don Rickles

Every night when I go out on stage, there's always one nagging fear in the back of my mind. I'm always afraid that somewhere out there, there is one person in the audience that I'm not going to offend!

Don Rickles

I say things I get away with, and it becomes a joke.

Don Rickles

My mother was a Jewish General Patton.

Don Rickles

Sinatra had a lot of mood swings, but he was wonderful to my wife Barbara and to me. He made no bones about who he liked and who he loved, and he had this great charisma. When he walked into a room, it stopped. I've only seen that happen with Ronald Reagan.

Don Rickles

Bob Hope was totally regimented. I go in and say a line like, 'Hi Bob' and I'd have to do it five times, and then Bob would take me to the writers to say the line different ways. He wouldn't let me ad-lib.

Don Rickles

Alan King, a comedian I adored, was considered society, and I was considered the Jewish kid from the neighborhood.

Don Rickles

I enjoy mixed audiences, not one particular group. Short, tall, scientists, Jews, gentiles, whatever, as long as they breathe and like to laugh.

Don Rickles

Las Vegas is the boiling pot of entertainment.

Don Rickles

I've been hot, I've been lukewarm, I've been freezing, but I've always been a headliner.

Don Rickles

The young comedians always ask me, 'What's the secret for staying around?' I tell them, 'There is no secret - just stay around. Longevity is the most important thing.'

Don Rickles

I don't walk into a dinner party and say, 'You're an idiot; give me my coat.'

Don Rickles

The highlight of my career was being at the inaugural gala of Ronald Reagan, and I owe that to Mr. Sinatra.

Don Rickles