Don Rickles “Mr Warmth” King of Political Incorrectness and Caustic Humor Dies at 90

Legendary insult comic Don Rickles dies at 90.

Don Rickles, age 90, died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles from kidney failure, according to his publicist Paul Shefrin.

Rickles continued to headline lounges and concert halls in his 80s, and age didn’t seem to slow him down or mellow his humor.

Don Rickles has some critiques, and a few backhanded compliments for Jimmy before their interview gets started.

In 2015 on Jimmy Kimmel, Don Rickles recalls the time Donald Trump tried to sell him a condo and talks about working with Lil Wayne.

Rickles delighted audiences at sold-out Vegas showrooms, on late-night TV, and at star-studded Hollywood roasts.

At spotlit shows in Las Vegas, and to the strains of a bullfight trumpet fanfare, the curtain would rise and the spotlight would point to center stage. Rickles would unexpectedly burst through a side door and immediately began harassing his audience with insults as he made his way to the stage with roars of laughter.

Don Rickles stand up lines …

“Sit up,” he said to a man in the audience. “Who picks out your clothes, Ray Charles?” or “Who picks your clothes – Stevie Wonder?”

“Is that your wife?” he would ask grimacing.

“Look at the old broad,” he said. “I’m workin’ a home here!”

Well into the era of political correctness, Rickles didn’t hold back while jabbing beyond fat shaming, or while poking fun at ethnicities.

“Italians are fantastic people, really. They can work you over in an alley while singing an opera.”

“No matter where you go in this world, you will always find a Jew sitting in the beach chair next to you.”

“Asians are nice people, but they burn a lot of shirts.”

Frank Sinatra is surprised when Don Rickles suddenly appears in one of the funniest moments on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” in 1976. In this Frank Sinatra interview, Johnny asks Frank some personal questions and Rickles has a hilarious conversation with Sinatra.

Rickles’ Big Break with Frank Sinatra
Don Rickles was working in a small club in Miami Beach in the 1950s when Frank Sinatra came in with his entourage.

“Make yourself comfortable, Frank — hit somebody,” courageious Rickles said. Sinatra paused, and then broke into laughter.

Without missing a beat, Rickles turned up the heat. “Frank, believe me, I’m telling you this as a friend: Your voice is gone.”

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Don Rickles and Jay Leno trades jabs after Rickles arrives with his trademark bullfight trumpet fanfare.

Don Rickles and John Stamos recall the first time they met and Jimmy shows pictures of John and his then girlfriend Paula Abdul with Don and Frank Sinatra.