THE MAN WHO WASN'T AFRAID OF ANYONE
Don Rickles had a comedy style that could completely change the atmosphere of a room.
He could walk onto a stage surrounded by some of the biggest celebrities in America and immediately start looking for his next target.
It did not matter how famous someone was.
It did not matter how important they were.
If Don Rickles saw an opportunity for a joke, he took it.
That fearless attitude became one of the defining characteristics of his career.
HOLLYWOOD WAS HIS PLAYGROUND
Rickles spent decades surrounded by actors, singers, television hosts, comedians, and entertainers.
Instead of treating celebrities with excessive respect, he did the opposite.
He made fun of them.
He teased them.
He exaggerated their weaknesses.
And he turned their celebrity status into the setup for another punchline.
That was the secret behind his appeal.
The bigger the celebrity, the more entertaining the target could become.
NOBODY WAS SAFE AROUND DON
Rickles became famous for his insult-comedy style.
His jokes could be sharp, unexpected, and deliberately outrageous.
But there was an important part of his personality that made the comedy work.
Rickles often roasted people he...
