Only after Archie Bunker made a name for himself in 1970. Then came Blazing Saddles(73’). Rickles is no trailblazer. Just someone with a loud mouth.
Everyone has an opinion ... yours is circling my bowl (actually looks like an obama doll)
Okay Hockey Puck. Rickles was around long before Archie Bunker, even in movies, maybe in the Borscht Circuit and possibly in the last days of vaudeville before TV took over the comedy circuit. Believe I saw him on the Ed Sullivan Show a number of times. Maybe even a quiz show though that might be later (my TV guides are in the basement).
He, Joey Bishop and Sammie Davis were the Jewish component of the Rat Pack. Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra were part of the Italian contingent. Peter Lawford represented the British. There were a few others. What a funny bunch of coconuts, and we loved all of them.
Many of them, including Rickles, were WW2 veterans long before they became comedians, actors and singers. Dean Martin’s son died while in a plane crash while serving in the Air Force (possibly Air National Guard/Reserve).
Don Rickles is, as the author wrote, a “Mensch” (Yiddish for gentleman). So to all you Hockey Pucks out there, on behalf of Mr. Rickles, have a laugh on him.
Rickles was doing his insult comedy schtick back in the early 50s.
Rickles predated Bunker and Blazing Saddles by years.
Did you miss the '60s?????
Don Rickles had a TV show in the 60s which I watched every week. This was before Archie Bunker.
How old are you?