Comic Rodney Dangerfield Dies in L.A. at Age 82
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=762&e=1&u=/nm/20041006/en_nm/people_dangerfield_dc
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rodney Dangerfield (news), the goggle-eyed comic famed for his self-deprecating one-liners and signature phrase "I can't get no respect," died on Tuesday at age 82, his publicist said.
Dangerfield, who became a pop culture sensation with a string of broad film comedies starting with "Caddyshack" in 1980, died at 1:20 p.m. PDT (4:20 p.m. EDT) at the UCLA Medical Center, where he had undergone heart valve replacement surgery in August, spokesman Kevin Sasaki said in a statement.
Comedian Rodney Dangerfield (news) is joined by his wife Joan during this May 23, 2003 file photo duringan interview on 'Larry King Live' at CNN Studios in Los Angeles. Dangerfield who had a heart valve replaced Aug. 25 died today, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004 at Cedars-Sanai Medical Center in Los Angeles at the age of 82. (AP Photo/CNN, Chris Pizzello)
Rodney Dangerfield's real name was Jacob Cohen. The old Jack Benny Show, on radio, did a skit many years ago, where Jack was having a party and was asking Mary who was coming. Here's roughly how it went:
So, are the Jimmy Stewarts coming?
No, Jack, they're not.
How about the Gary Coopers?
No, they couldn't make it either.
The Gables? The Bogarts? The Traceys?
No, Jack. None of them could come.
Well, who is coming?
Rodney Dangerfield.
This was, of course, long before he had taken the name and started his career as the man who "Don't get no respect."
I saw him live, once, and he was the funniest live comedian I've ever seen. He made Robin Williams look weak. He was funnier than Steve Martin in his prime. Bill Cosby, in his prime, was the only guy I've seen that could touch him.
God Bless, Rodney.