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Don Rickles has died at the age of 90, Us Weekly confirms. According to a statement from his rep, the legendary comedian-actor passed away at his home in L.A. on Thursday, April 6, from kidney failure. He would have been 91 on May 8.
Don Rickles attends the Friars Foundation Annual Applause Award Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria on June 24, 2013, in New York CityDimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com
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The Queens native got his start in Hollywood when Frank Sinatra saw him perform stand-up at a Hollywood club in 1957. He went on to star in TheDon Rickles Show in 1972 and also appeared on shows such as The Andy Griffith Show, The Bob Hope Show and CPO Sharkey.
More recently, he guest-starred on Hot in Cleveland and voiced Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise. It was announced on October 6 that the fourth film’s release date would be pushed back to 2019.
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Rickles is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara; his daughter Mindy Mann; and two grandchildren. Rickles’ son, Larry, died from respiratory failure due to pneumonia in December 2011. He was 41.
Don Rickles on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.’Gary Null/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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A private funeral service will be held for the late star. His family requests that donations be made to the Larry Rickles Endowment Fund at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Many stars paid tribute to Rickles following the news of his death. “Don Rickles is one of the biggest reasons I am a comic today,” Tim Allen, who voices Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story, told Us in a statement. “I feel bad, mostly for everyone in Heaven who will now learn first hand from the sharpest wits ever, what it’s like to be Rickled.”
“Don Rickles was simply the best,” Seinfeld alum Jason Alexander tweeted. “He created insult comedy &yet every 1 of his targets felt loved and honored. One of a kind. #RIPdonrickles.” Billy Crystal added: “Don Rickles has passed away. A giant loss.”
Read more reactions below:
90 years with Don Rickles weren’t enough. One of the sweetest and most lovely people I had the pleasure of knowing. We miss you already
