When
I was a kid back in the 1970s, Don Rickles was a frequent presence on TV,
ranging from Bob Hope specials, Dean Martin celebrity roasts and appearances on
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Rickles was a dangerous man to have on TV
with his machine gun delivery of barbs and insults. While Don may have been dangetous, he
wasn’t a threat. For all the zingers he slung, he never seemed to operate from
a place of hate or disrespect. By all
accounts, beneath the tough, blustery exterior, Don Rickles was a warm and
caring individual.
Which
may explain why comic book legend Jack Kirby included Don Rickles in issues of
his run on DC’s Jimmy Olsen comic. Outwardly, Jack had a tough guy demeanor but
at heart, he was a sweetheart per everyone who knew the man. And the same could
be said for Don Rickles.
I
zinged Don on Twitter once. A few years back, Don posted a photo on Twitter, a
picture of him on a TV special from the 1960s. Behind him were some beautiful
showgirls, you know, the ones that are 85% legs. Anyway, I posted a comment: “Don,
you are a national treasure but I gotta say: you’re blocking my view of the
girls, you hockey puck!”
I
would like to say that Don liked that Tweet or re-Tweeted it. Alas, no he disdn’t.
But he didn’t unfollow me or have me blocked so I like to think he liked
it.
At
90 years old, Don was still working, his mind as sharp and fast with a clever
quip as ever. It’s nice to know that one can live a long life and go out while
still good at what brings you joy. Rest in peace, Don Rickles, you hockey puck!
You will be missed.
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