Remembering Don Rickles and Mr Potato Head
Legendary comedian Don Rickles passed away on April 6 at the age of 90 from kidney failure. Rickles was one of the last remaining members of Old Hollywood and his passing is particularly sad because he was such a beloved figure to so many in the entertainment industry as well as his fans. Dubbed "Mr. Warmth" and "The Merchant of Venom" because of his seemingly caustic humor, Rickles made an impression on Frank Sinatra in the 1950s, which led to a career boost that led to countless stand up gigs, nightclub appearances, acting roles, and his most famous contribution - roasting people on the classic Dean Martin Roasts in the 1970s and 1980s. Those appearances were my first exposure to Rickles and made me a life long fan. In recent years, the comedian attracted a new generation of fans as Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story films, a perfect role for the sarcastic funny man. Rest in Peace.
Coincidentally, the real Mr, Potato Head, aged 65, died the same day as Rickles after being accidentally julienned by a large Ginsu knife. Better known as Pot Head to his friends, Mr. Potato Head captured the toy world by storm in the 1950s with his flexibility and removable parts (he credited Yoga) and his likeness was mass produced for the past sixty plus years. His career also included a mayoral run in Idaho and he became the official Spokespud for the Great American Smokeout in 1987. In addition, Mr. Potato Head hit the big screen in the 1995 classic animated film Toy Story and was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2000. Even though Mr. Potato Head is gone, his likeness will continue to be leveraged for many generations to come. Rest in Pieces..
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