“I remember him telling a story about Sinatra showing up late to one of his shows, which distracted the audience. Rickles yells out, “Hey Frank, make yourself feel at home. Hit somebody!”
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NY Post - “When the superstar singer and actor walked into a Miami Beach club in 1957 where Rickles was performing, the comedian greeted the “Chairman of the Board” from the stage: “Make yourself at home Frank. Hit somebody.” Sinatra roared — with laughter.”
The classic Rickles-Sinatra story has been told in several obits about Mr. Warmth. I remember The Chairman of the Board telling it on the Tonight Show back in the 70s—and his appearance was interrupted by none other than Don Rickles.
One evening before he was married, Rickles was having drinks with a woman at a hotel in Las Vegas. Rickles’s companion noticed Sinatra and his entourage sitting in a roped off area. When Don told her he knew Sinatra, she didn’t believe him. So, Rickles excused himself, went over to Sinatra’s table, told him the woman was a big fan and asked if he’d come over and say hello.
About 10 minutes later, after Rickles returned to his table, Sinatra ambled over and said “Hi Don, how the hell are you doing?” Rickles replied (in a loud voice) “Can’t you see I’m with someone, Frank? Beat it.”
The room fell totally silent until Sinatra doubled over in laughter. Few people could get by with that sort of prank on Sinatra. Rickles was in that select group.
Until I read his obituary, I never knew that Rickles was a grad of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where his classmates included Jason Robards and Tom Poston, among others. Rickles turned to comedy because he could never find steady work as an actor.