Don Rickles

Born: 8th May 1926
Where: New York

Don graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

After serving in the US Navy in WWII, Don built his career slowly, working as a stand-up comic in night-clubs all over the USA.

His big break came in 1965 with Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show. The next important breakthrough for him occurred during the summer of 1967, when he was signed to appear on The Dean Martin Show.

For the next 25 years, he appeared in many TV variety specials (Bob Hope, George Burns, Dean Martin, Jack Benny and several of his own), and was a guest on such series as The Twilight Zone, F Troop and Get Smart.

He made several tries at his own series, but his shows all failed. The first, Kibbe Hates Finch, never got beyond its pilot.

Don's film career took time to build. His first screen role was a dramatic one, in the Clark Gable movie Run Silent, Run Deep.

More active on TV than in films, with several failed series and numerous talk and variety show appearances, he got his first big movie role in years in Innocent Blood.

In 1995, Don enjoyed some very good roles, including Toy Story, as the voice of Mr. Potato Head, and Martin Scorsese's Casino, as a casino manager.