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Classic Video Shows Don Rickles Roasting Frank Sinatra And Johnny Carson

Jan 28, 2020

When Don Rickles passed away in 2017, condolences and remembrances came from comedians from all over the world. Although he was mostly known by younger people as the voice of the Mr. Potato Head on the "Toy Story" film franchise, Rickles' career dated back to years right after World War II, where he served as a sailor aboard a supply ship that serviced torpedo boats and destroyers. Rickles planned to be a dramatic actor but was only able to find small parts on television shows that did not pay much, so he started making a living as a comedian, something he did not realize he was born for.

It was during the 1950s that Rickles became good friends with the legendary singer Frank Sinatra, whom he met at a comedy club, and promptly started insulting him in very clever ways. Sinatra simply loved Rickles and the way he would handle hecklers in the audience, and this friendship resulted in a lot of work for the comedian, who had the energy to perform for hours and days on end.

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If there is something that Rickles is thoroughly remembered for was his quick wit and the ability of making anyone laugh. When it came to roasting someone, Rickles was an equal opportunity comedian; everyone was fair game, and he was very skilled at toeing the line without actually crossing it. His insults were always funny and never acrimonious.

In 1976, Rickles appeared as a surprise guest on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. As a master comedian, Carson could not get enough of Rickles, and he ended up appearing more than 100 times on the nightly show, and he often did so as an unannounced guest who would just show up and start insulting other guests, Carson, the audience, and even the production crew. In 2020, many people are still watching a video of the time Frank Sinatra was on the Tonight Show and his good friend suddenly appeared to roast him on national television.

The fact that Rickles is still resonating as a comedian three years after he passed away is a testament to his keen sense of comedy. He comes from a long line of Jewish-American comedians such as Milton Berle, Mel Brooks, and Rodney Dangerfield, who mastered the art of making fun out of roasting and self deprecation. If you like your comedy classic, fast, and clever, let your friends know about this video so they can laugh for about five minutes.