Don Rickles (1926–2017) was a legendary American comedian and actor known for his unparalleled skill in insult comedy. Born in New York City, Rickles gained fame for his sharp wit, rapid-fire delivery, and fearless roasting of audience members and celebrities alike.

Often referred to as “Mr. Warmth,” Rickles’ comedic style combined playful mockery with a genuine affection for his targets, earning him the respect and admiration of both his peers and audiences. He became a fixture in Las Vegas showrooms and late-night television, captivating audiences with his unscripted, improvisational humor.

Beyond his stand-up career, Rickles appeared in numerous films and television shows, showcasing his comedic talent in both comedic and dramatic roles. His influence on the comedy landscape is undeniable, with his fearless approach to humor and quick wit setting a standard for generations of comedians to come. Don Rickles’ legacy as the ultimate insult comic endures as a testament to his unparalleled comedic genius.

Jonathan Winters Quotes

1. “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it.”
— Jonathan Winters

2. “I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it.”
— Jonathan Winters

3. “I may not be playing with a full deck but I don’t need a full deck. I have four aces.”
— Jonathan Winters

4. “God is in my head, but the devil is in my pants.”
— Jonathan Winters

5. “I have a photographic memory; I just haven’t developed it yet.”
— Jonathan Winters

6. “You’ve got to be an observer. And you’ve got to take time to listen to people, talk, to watch what they do.”
— Jonathan Winters

7. “I know you can be funny without being filthy.”
— Jonathan Winters

8. “Nothing is impossible. Some things are just less likely than others.”
— Jonathan Winters

9. “Throughout my life, I’ve been gratified that I’ve been able to keep the child in me alive and inspire others.”
— Jonathan Winters

10. “I’ve always been proud of being a Marine. I won’t hesitate to defend the Corps.”
— Jonathan Winters

11. “As a kid, I always wanted to be lots of things. I was a Walter Mitty type. I wanted to be in the French Foreign Legion, a detective, a doctor, a test pilot with a scarf, a fisherman who hauled in a tremendous marlin after a 12-hour fight.”
— Jonathan Winters

12. “I don’t do jokes. The characters are my jokes.”
— Jonathan Winters

13. “Now the freaks are on television, the freaks are in the movies. And it’s no longer the sideshow, it’s the whole show. The colorful circus and the clowns and the elephants, for all intents and purposes, are gone, and we’re dealing only with the freaks.”
— Jonathan Winters

14. “I’m from the Delbert Home for the Unusual.”
— Jonathan Winters

15. “I have never pretended to be any kind of super-religious kind of man, but I feel very strongly that you can be funny without being dirty.”
— Jonathan Winters

16. “I’ve done for the most part pretty much what I intended – I ended up doing comedy, writing and painting. I’ve had a ball. And as I get older, I just become an older kid.”
— Jonathan Winters

17. “Something I’ll always remember – when I was a kid, I shook hands with Orville Wright. Forty years later, I shook hands with Neil Armstrong. The guy that invented the airplane and the guy that walked on the moon. In a lifetime, that’s kinda wild when you think about it.”
— Jonathan Winters

18. “When you wear so many hats in society, you never know who you are. That’s the beauty of it. Because once you find out who you are, you’re screwed.”
— Jonathan Winters

19. “I began painting well before I started doing comedy. In fact, when I came out of the war in 1946, I enrolled in art school in Dayton, Ohio. I painted for three years, and then show business took hold.”
— Jonathan Winters

20. “My paintings and comedy have a lot in common. They are both improvisations based on observation.”
— Jonathan Winters

21. “I was always an observer, even as a child. I could be satisfied to sit in a car for 3 hours and just look at the street go by while my mother went shopping.”
— Jonathan Winters

22. “I was talking to a businessman, and I said, Don’t you think most men are little boys? And he said, I’m no little boy! I make seventy-five thousand dollars a year. And I said, Well, the way I look at it – you just have bigger toys.”
— Jonathan Winters

23. “You come into this world, not knowing who you are, and sometimes, if you live long enough, you go out not knowing who you are.”
— Jonathan Winters

24. “I don’t paint every day. I’m not that motivated. I don’t do anything the same every day.”
— Jonathan Winters

25. “Well, the most terrible fear that anybody should have is not war, is not a disease, not cancer or heart problems or food poisoning – it’s a man or a woman without a sense of humor.”
— Jonathan Winters

26. “I find painting a much slower process than comedy, where you can go a mile a minute verbally and hope to God that some of the people out there understand you.”
— Jonathan Winters

27. “Discipline is tough for a guy who is a rebel.”
— Jonathan Winters

28. “My mother had a radio show – a Barbara Walters type of gal and was very successful for about 20-some years on a radio station.”
— Jonathan Winters

29. “Reality, as frightening as it is, is very very funny.”
— Jonathan Winters