Don Rickles: The Merchant of Venom

The first comprehensive biography of the legendary comedy giant who transcended every medium, defied political correctness, and inspired, entertained, and insulted generations. This in-depth portrait of the singular professional life of Don Rickles is a hilarious, moving, and long-overdue look at the real man behind the sting.

Having ridden a wave of success that lasted more than sixty years, Don Rickles is best known as the “insult” comic who skewered presidents, royalty, celebrities, and friends and fans alike. But there was more to “Mr. Warmth” than a devilish ear-to-ear grin and lightning-fast put-downs.

Rickles was a loving husband, an adoring father who suffered a devastating loss, and a loyal friend to the likes of Bob Newhart and Frank Sinatra. Don was also a young student at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and intended to become a serious actor. But it was in small nightclubs where he found success, steamrolling hecklers, honing his acerbic put-downs, and teaching the world to love being insulted.

Don Rickles, The Merchant of Venom traces his career from his rise in the 1950s to a late-in-life resurgence thanks to the Toy Story franchise, his role in Scorsese’s Casino, and scores of TV appearances from Carson to Seth Meyers. In the intervening decades, Rickles conquered every medium, including the stage, where the Vegas legend was still performing at the age of eighty-five. In his highly memorable career, he was idolized by a generation of younger comedians including Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, and many others. And all along, Rickles performed in the shadow of a shocking open secret: he was the nicest man in town.