What do you think?
Rate this book
Don Rickles: Merchant of Venom
Considered the world's greatest insult comic, Don Rickles was a legendary comedy giant, honorary Rat Pack member, and "equal opportunity offender" who defied political correctness, transcended every medium, entertained, influenced and insulted generations of comedians and fans over his six-decade career. Now in the first-ever biography and in-depth portrait of Don Rickles, New York Post television editor and celebrity biographer Michael Seth Starr delivers a hilarious, moving, and long-overdue look at the real man behind the sting.
Riding 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 with future stars Jason Robards, Jr., Don Murray, and Grace Kelly, and intended to become a seriously committed actor. But it was in small nightclubs where Rickles found success, steamrolling hecklers, honing his acerbic put-downs, and teaching the world to love being insulted. Sex, race, religion, nationality, physical appearance, political leanings--nothing and no one was safe from the "Planned Parenthood Poster Boy," as Johnny Carson referred to him.
The Merchant of Venom traces Don Rickles' career from his rise in the 1950s to a late-in-life resurgence thanks to the Toy Story franchise, his role in Martin Scorsese's Casino, and scores of TV appearances from Carson to Seth Meyers. In the intervening decades, Rickles conquered every medium he worked in, including film, television, and on 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, Chris Rock, and Jay Leno, and performed in the shadow of a shocking open secret: he was the nicest man in town.
An in-depth portrait of the personal and singular professional life of Don Rickles, The Merchant of Venom delivers a hilarious, moving, and long-overdue look at the real man behind the sting.
Riding 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 with future stars Jason Robards, Jr., Don Murray, and Grace Kelly, and intended to become a seriously committed actor. But it was in small nightclubs where Rickles found success, steamrolling hecklers, honing his acerbic put-downs, and teaching the world to love being insulted. Sex, race, religion, nationality, physical appearance, political leanings--nothing and no one was safe from the "Planned Parenthood Poster Boy," as Johnny Carson referred to him.
The Merchant of Venom traces Don Rickles' career from his rise in the 1950s to a late-in-life resurgence thanks to the Toy Story franchise, his role in Martin Scorsese's Casino, and scores of TV appearances from Carson to Seth Meyers. In the intervening decades, Rickles conquered every medium he worked in, including film, television, and on 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, Chris Rock, and Jay Leno, and performed in the shadow of a shocking open secret: he was the nicest man in town.
An in-depth portrait of the personal and singular professional life of Don Rickles, The Merchant of Venom delivers a hilarious, moving, and long-overdue look at the real man behind the sting.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published October 25, 2022
241 people are currently reading
3797 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
August 1, 2024
I guess I kind of always liked Don Rickles, but I don’t much recall seeing him on TV years ago except during the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts and on Johnny Carson. Later in his life I remember seeing him on Jimmy Kimmel and being quite entertained when I saw him there.
On to the book – I thought it was thorough covering his parents, grandparents, as well as his evolution into the insult comic we are all familiar with. The book sure seemed to cover every possible aspect of Don Rickles and the people who knew him, worked with him, and those that were his friends as well as the people who didn’t like him at all.
On the negative end – The book was just too darn long. A ton of repetition by the author about a lot of events. Did he really have to say “The Merchant of Venom” as well as half a dozen monikers that were attributed to Don over the years what seemed like a thousand times? And most annoying of all is when the author is discussing something and constantly says “… wait for it…”. That drove me nuts to no end and definitely affected my rating. I almost want to drop it to 2.5 stars.
On to the book – I thought it was thorough covering his parents, grandparents, as well as his evolution into the insult comic we are all familiar with. The book sure seemed to cover every possible aspect of Don Rickles and the people who knew him, worked with him, and those that were his friends as well as the people who didn’t like him at all.
On the negative end – The book was just too darn long. A ton of repetition by the author about a lot of events. Did he really have to say “The Merchant of Venom” as well as half a dozen monikers that were attributed to Don over the years what seemed like a thousand times? And most annoying of all is when the author is discussing something and constantly says “… wait for it…”. That drove me nuts to no end and definitely affected my rating. I almost want to drop it to 2.5 stars.
April 15, 2023
A Show Biz Chronicle of a Classic Comic
My parents were split about Don Rickles. My Dad, who was a kind man himself, laughed out loud at Rickles on TV and my Mom said, "How can anyone find that man funny?" I grew up not quite sure what to make of him. He relentlessly insulted people, which made people like my Dad laugh, while he stalked the stage like some predatory animal and famously perspired so much that the TV lighting shone off the beads of sweat on his head.
I really did want to understand the guy. As a budding writer myself (I wrote my first "novel" in 6th grade), I was so obsessed with standup comics that I bought their LPs, memorized their acts and, at about age 10 or 11 made my parents come sit in the living room and listen to me declaim what I had just memorized. Boy, do I love my parents for their patience!
I never owned one of Rickles' two LPs, "Hello Dummy!" or "Don Rickles Speaks!" That was largely because I didn't understand his style of comedy as a kid. I was fascinated with story telling comics and that makes sense because I wound up as a journalist, writer and editor. Even in writing and journalism courses where I "guest" today, one of the first pieces of advice is: Read the best stuff you can find and keep reading everyday. For comedy, that memorizing-the-LP routine was my best way to follow that advice with standup artists.
I know that's a long-winded introduction, but friends who saw the "Don Rickles" biography on my Goodreads page asked me in person: "Why would anyone write such a biography?" And: "Why would you read it?"
The answer is: I'm still trying to understand the uncomfortable fascination with Rickles that I felt as a kid watching him on TV. I never saw him "live." My parents never frequented any of the clubs or casinos where he appeared. Even when I became an adult, I always had higher-priority people or shows that I wanted to see.
I'm giving Michael Seth Starr's biography 4 stars because, I can recognize a solid, veteran journalist when I read one and Starr gives us Rickles' story with context and occasional funny stories from the tiny rooms he played at the start through his years of celebrity. The book feels like an extended magazine profile, which fits perfectly with Starr's career.
Where the book is limited, I think, is that Rickles apparently never provided much personal revelation of what he was feeling and thinking and hoping along the way. Yes, there are some insights Starr picks up from "the record" about Rickles' own occasional reflections. But it's not like Rickles left a trove of letters or a diary or journal. I would have given this 5 stars if somehow Starr had plumbed more of that depth of such a quirky comic.
I do recommend this to others who love "show biz bios," and there are a lot of us. I definitely enjoyed the ride. I'm just saying: This book didn't definitively answer my childhood puzzlement at such a strangely behaving fellow.
My parents were split about Don Rickles. My Dad, who was a kind man himself, laughed out loud at Rickles on TV and my Mom said, "How can anyone find that man funny?" I grew up not quite sure what to make of him. He relentlessly insulted people, which made people like my Dad laugh, while he stalked the stage like some predatory animal and famously perspired so much that the TV lighting shone off the beads of sweat on his head.
I really did want to understand the guy. As a budding writer myself (I wrote my first "novel" in 6th grade), I was so obsessed with standup comics that I bought their LPs, memorized their acts and, at about age 10 or 11 made my parents come sit in the living room and listen to me declaim what I had just memorized. Boy, do I love my parents for their patience!
I never owned one of Rickles' two LPs, "Hello Dummy!" or "Don Rickles Speaks!" That was largely because I didn't understand his style of comedy as a kid. I was fascinated with story telling comics and that makes sense because I wound up as a journalist, writer and editor. Even in writing and journalism courses where I "guest" today, one of the first pieces of advice is: Read the best stuff you can find and keep reading everyday. For comedy, that memorizing-the-LP routine was my best way to follow that advice with standup artists.
I know that's a long-winded introduction, but friends who saw the "Don Rickles" biography on my Goodreads page asked me in person: "Why would anyone write such a biography?" And: "Why would you read it?"
The answer is: I'm still trying to understand the uncomfortable fascination with Rickles that I felt as a kid watching him on TV. I never saw him "live." My parents never frequented any of the clubs or casinos where he appeared. Even when I became an adult, I always had higher-priority people or shows that I wanted to see.
I'm giving Michael Seth Starr's biography 4 stars because, I can recognize a solid, veteran journalist when I read one and Starr gives us Rickles' story with context and occasional funny stories from the tiny rooms he played at the start through his years of celebrity. The book feels like an extended magazine profile, which fits perfectly with Starr's career.
Where the book is limited, I think, is that Rickles apparently never provided much personal revelation of what he was feeling and thinking and hoping along the way. Yes, there are some insights Starr picks up from "the record" about Rickles' own occasional reflections. But it's not like Rickles left a trove of letters or a diary or journal. I would have given this 5 stars if somehow Starr had plumbed more of that depth of such a quirky comic.
I do recommend this to others who love "show biz bios," and there are a lot of us. I definitely enjoyed the ride. I'm just saying: This book didn't definitively answer my childhood puzzlement at such a strangely behaving fellow.
December 11, 2022
Deadly dull telling of Don Rickles' life that is filled with mistakes, repetitiveness, and unprovable assumptions the author makes when he can't find facts. Essentially Starr went through a whole bunch of newspaper clippings and books that refer to Rickles and repackaged others' information under his own name. Instead of editing it to make it interesting, the author goes line-by-line through every minor nightclub appearance Rickles made so that there is nothing really worth reading in the book until well past page 100.
There are also asides in the book which have nothing to do with the Rickles story, such as mentioning that Johnny Carson "was born and raised in Nebraska," despite the fact that Carson was born in Iowa and spent his early years there (not moving to Nebraska until he was 8!). If you can't trust an author with a pretty simple (and well-known) verifiable fact about a famous tangential celebrity, then how can you trust him with anything he writes about the main subject?
This is like a really bad Wikipedia entry that has random facts strewn together with little sense of what is important or what should be left out. Do we really need to know who was sitting at a table at a minor nightclub in Miami in the early 1960s, details that have nothing to add and aren't even part of a story? Or the very sketchy specifics on the women Rickles dated? Meanwhile Starr glosses over some major points that needed more depth, such as the involvement of the Mob in Don's ascent or the fact that Frank Sinatra's love of Rickles might reveal something more onerous about the Mafia ties.
It's just a big mess that could have been handled much better by a decent writer or an editor that pushed for more insightful stories instead of unnecessary third-hand factoids. Rickles would have hated it and spewed his venom at the author for good reason.
There are also asides in the book which have nothing to do with the Rickles story, such as mentioning that Johnny Carson "was born and raised in Nebraska," despite the fact that Carson was born in Iowa and spent his early years there (not moving to Nebraska until he was 8!). If you can't trust an author with a pretty simple (and well-known) verifiable fact about a famous tangential celebrity, then how can you trust him with anything he writes about the main subject?
This is like a really bad Wikipedia entry that has random facts strewn together with little sense of what is important or what should be left out. Do we really need to know who was sitting at a table at a minor nightclub in Miami in the early 1960s, details that have nothing to add and aren't even part of a story? Or the very sketchy specifics on the women Rickles dated? Meanwhile Starr glosses over some major points that needed more depth, such as the involvement of the Mob in Don's ascent or the fact that Frank Sinatra's love of Rickles might reveal something more onerous about the Mafia ties.
It's just a big mess that could have been handled much better by a decent writer or an editor that pushed for more insightful stories instead of unnecessary third-hand factoids. Rickles would have hated it and spewed his venom at the author for good reason.
October 28, 2022
Don Rickles was a shy, self-conscious, and easily embarrassed boy, with a talent for making people laugh. His incredible career, which spanned sixty-plus years, made him the world’s most famous “insult comic,” where no one from average men and women to presidents and the biggest A-list celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Milton Berle (Don’s idol) were safe from his barbs. “Some stars returned to the firing line five or six times, hoping for that very public badge of honor: a tongue-lashing from Rickles, the more vicious the better so their fans could read about how they laughed at the zingers thrown their way (even if they were boiling inside).” (Kindle location 739 of 5344) “He made fun of everyone—everyone, no matter what their income, social status, religion, ethnicity, color, gender ... it was all fair game.” (Kindle location 777 of 5344) His biggest secret, however, was that Don was beloved, a loving and generous husband, family man, mama’s boy, and was best known by everyone who was acquainted with him as “the nicest guy in the world.” After a two-year stint in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Cyrene (making his shipmates laugh), Seaman First Class Rickles was honorably discharged upon the decommissioning of his motor torpedo boat tender. He returned home to his parents in Jackson Heights, Queens in need of a job. He tried and failed at many, including his father’s insurance business, and was accepted into the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts with the hope of becoming a serious actor. He had “all of ambition but none of the luck when it came to landing a part.” (Kindle location 325 of 5344) While working as a busboy in The Hollywood Hills Hotel, Rickles was called to entertain on their stage when the scheduled talent was a no-show. In March of 1952, he finally saw his name “in an ad for the Lamplighter in Rhode Island.” (Kindle location 374 of 5344) He was billed as, “Don Rickles, Madman of Comedy.” He found comedic success at the many nightclubs in which he performed, with such nicknames as “The Insultin’ Sultan” and “Merchant of Venom” among others. (His good friend Johnny Carson called him the “Planned Parenthood Poster Boy,” and Don’s favorite nickname, “Mr. Warmth.”)“…Don was not a joke-teller. His humor was observational, in an aggressive kind of way…The balding comedian…crossed so many lines in his act that no one could possibly take him seriously. If they did, Don would soften them up at the end of the act, launching into a spiel about he was really a nice guy who loved everyone, that his caustic observations and put-downs of Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, Asians, fat people, homely people (the list goes on) were just part of the act and can’t we just all get along and laugh at ourselves? …Don said. ‘I never intend making a speech about brotherhood or preaching about it when I start the night’s work, but I can’t help it. There is always someone who just refuses to believe that other people are entitled to the same respect that they get.’” (Kindle locations 572-585 of 5344) Of course, like every controversial performer, Rickles had his detractors, but …[T]he vociferous Rickles bashers were in the minority.” (Kindle location 739 of 5344) Michael Seth Starr’s comprehensive, unvarnished biography covers Rickles’s early life through the rise of his 1950’s early career, through his television and movie career, including his late-in-life Toy Story voice-overs as Mr. Potato Head, and celebrity improv interview specials “Dinner With Don.” It concludes with his and his beloved best friend and wife’s death, in 1997 and 2001, respectively.
I have a confession to make. I absolutely love curmudgeons. You know who I mean—those crusty-exteriored people who have marshmallow inside, the people who are rough and gruff, but melt when you touch their hearts. My father, my childhood idol, was the original curmudgeon in my life, and because of that, when I first saw Don Rickles as a child, I loved him immediately. Underneath his on-stage persona, I could see the loving human inside, the barbs a result of possible low self-esteem (which I am very familiar with as well), and the feeling of, well, if I can make someone laugh with me, they’re not laughing at me. I found a kindred spirit in him. I found myself making people laugh, a lot, actually, and my sense of humor was the type that I somehow found humor even in my poor health and horrible diagnoses, which I made fun of often as a way to deal with my reality. “I have my own theory on humor,” Don said in one of the many profiles of him published during this frenetic time in his career. “‘It’s very simple—there’s humor in everything, even the most sacred things. Even in the midst of the most profound grief, there is always something funny that happens. This is the saving grace of the human animal. …You take truths and exaggerate them for laughs. But you must never really sting anyone. You must always know where to draw the line…I have a sixth sense. I know where the fine line is,’ he explained. “‘I, being a sensitive person, am careful not to come on too strong.’” (Kindle locations 2291 & 2304 of 5344) I couldn’t agree more. I understood Don Rickles and he understood me—he was my spirit animal. By poking fun at everyone, he essentially made fun of no one. I truly enjoyed this biography, and was so interested to read the details of Rickles’s life of which I was previously unaware, including his ups and downs as a showman, his family life, his famous friends, and his many hardships, such as the tragic death of his cherished son Larry just shy of his 41st birthday, and Don’s battle with necrotizing fasciitis, the “flesh-eating bacteria.” He handled tragedy as well as he handled comedy, with humor, grace and class, always with Barbara at his side and standing with him, his beloved wife and best friend. Through thick and thin, “there was a gentleness to his harshness, if that makes sense. Because you realize that he is not going for the throat, he is going for the funny bone. And that was the key.” (Kindle location 4906 of 5344) May Mr. Warmth rest in peace forever.
Id like to thank NetGalley, Michael Seth Starr, and Citadel Press/Kensington Publishing Company for the ability to read and review this ARC.
I have a confession to make. I absolutely love curmudgeons. You know who I mean—those crusty-exteriored people who have marshmallow inside, the people who are rough and gruff, but melt when you touch their hearts. My father, my childhood idol, was the original curmudgeon in my life, and because of that, when I first saw Don Rickles as a child, I loved him immediately. Underneath his on-stage persona, I could see the loving human inside, the barbs a result of possible low self-esteem (which I am very familiar with as well), and the feeling of, well, if I can make someone laugh with me, they’re not laughing at me. I found a kindred spirit in him. I found myself making people laugh, a lot, actually, and my sense of humor was the type that I somehow found humor even in my poor health and horrible diagnoses, which I made fun of often as a way to deal with my reality. “I have my own theory on humor,” Don said in one of the many profiles of him published during this frenetic time in his career. “‘It’s very simple—there’s humor in everything, even the most sacred things. Even in the midst of the most profound grief, there is always something funny that happens. This is the saving grace of the human animal. …You take truths and exaggerate them for laughs. But you must never really sting anyone. You must always know where to draw the line…I have a sixth sense. I know where the fine line is,’ he explained. “‘I, being a sensitive person, am careful not to come on too strong.’” (Kindle locations 2291 & 2304 of 5344) I couldn’t agree more. I understood Don Rickles and he understood me—he was my spirit animal. By poking fun at everyone, he essentially made fun of no one. I truly enjoyed this biography, and was so interested to read the details of Rickles’s life of which I was previously unaware, including his ups and downs as a showman, his family life, his famous friends, and his many hardships, such as the tragic death of his cherished son Larry just shy of his 41st birthday, and Don’s battle with necrotizing fasciitis, the “flesh-eating bacteria.” He handled tragedy as well as he handled comedy, with humor, grace and class, always with Barbara at his side and standing with him, his beloved wife and best friend. Through thick and thin, “there was a gentleness to his harshness, if that makes sense. Because you realize that he is not going for the throat, he is going for the funny bone. And that was the key.” (Kindle location 4906 of 5344) May Mr. Warmth rest in peace forever.
Id like to thank NetGalley, Michael Seth Starr, and Citadel Press/Kensington Publishing Company for the ability to read and review this ARC.
November 28, 2022
You would never know that the shy unassuming only child would grow up to be the great come back artist Don Rickles. Born in the Bronx and raised by loving parents he became famous at a time where men were known for womanizing and being socially and politically incorrect was a career move. Don Rickles was the best and time and time again until his death he was the man with the comebacks no matter how politically incorrect would cause you to laugh until you cried. He was a fair politically incorrect distributor and no one was safe from his toast and He always told them with a smile that let the target know it was all in good fun. I loved Don Rickles and never thought to read his autobiography but I am certainly glad I did and think the author did a wonderful job covering his life in the highlights of a career anyone would be proud of. I received this book from NetGalleyShelf in the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.
October 25, 2022
Don Rickels legendary career lasted over 60 years. He was a comic, husband and father. His no-holds bar comedy addressed things that should have offended everyone. He was friends with Johnny Carson, Bob Newhart and Frank Sinatra.
I enjoyed this audio. It was an in depth look at his life. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but he was a sweetheart in life, which I found fascinating considering his comedy insulted everyone and they laughed while he offended them.
I enjoyed this audio. It was an in depth look at his life. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but he was a sweetheart in life, which I found fascinating considering his comedy insulted everyone and they laughed while he offended them.
March 29, 2023
It is literally a giant boring IMDB page in book format with some gossip sprinkled in. Repetitive, boring, and frankly sounded like it was written based on google searches.
August 1, 2022
I'm a huge Rickles fan and saw him live 5 or 6 times. I loved seeing a book of him was coming ad tickled to get access via NetGalley.com. I got to it as quick as i could. I was mighty disappointed in the results. Especially after reading the somewhat quirky, yet very good, autobiography of animator Don Bluth, that far outshines this book.
There is information included in this volume of Don Rickles that is not otherwise easy to acquire. Making this worthy for that included. Trouble is that there is far more inclusion of critiques than anything else in the book. There are also startling errors I hope are fixed before publication. This book is more a birds eye view of Don Rickles than anything intimate.
The first fifth of the book is best as the early days of Rickles is documented and he makes his way through Jackson Heights, WWII and begins performing. After that the book has far too many Media reviews of whatever can be and had been reviewed. Trouble with views is the limited perspective. The author rarely points that out as he's clearly relying on the entries to fill his book. The book would've been far stronger with 2/3rds less reviews. There are so many, the author could've just created a book of Rickles reviews, the last two words would've made a the title.
Otherwise the author chronicles Rickles rungs of the entertainment ladder. Pretty standard stuff and written well enough. there's missing an overall objective perspective of what is going on in entertainment swaying Rickles options. Instead the view is through the prism of the author's claim is Rickles great need to perform and, especially, to make a mark in film and TV. That is a misstep. That and odd author exclamations, such as "Ouch!". Instead, how about filling in omissions.
The omissions bugged me. I've always heard of the closeness of Rickles and Newhart and the background of that I hope to learn in the volume. Instead there is really only one very brief mention of a Rickles & Newhart trip late in the book. With that absent, what else was missing? Why? If the author couldn't get learn about the claimed yearly travels, why not mention that?
Something else is the reviews chosen are pretty harsh of Rickles. Especially as the book continues. The writing of Starr also gets harsher and harsher to the point I have to wonder if Starr was just filling a contractual obligation and really didn't care much for Rickles.
The constant error of Rickles birthday really caught me. How on earth does anyone create a book and constantly states the wrong date? Especially as the author marks the date connecting to events in Rickles' life. Was it the date stated or Rickles' birthday? There are only a few other errors I noticed. However that has to make me question all other information in the book.
There are also language errors. One is '...like a caged tiger ready to uncoil." How did that get as far as this??? There are also many entire sentences repeated over and over again. Hopefully editors can pare these.
As I earlier wrote, the writing is initially fine. As the book continues there is a feeling of being rushed. That and the coarseness of the later writing and piling in reviewer filler gave me the impression the author was sick of the whole subject of Rickles and just wanted to get it done with.
The Florida parts: I knew all about the Murray Franklin tale. I was surprised all author Starr included of so much involving the State of Florida. Of course, with glaring errors, i'm not sure what is true.
Hope all is fixed before publication.
I've only seen the digital version. Seems to me the print version would work far better if asides, like the Rickels horses stories, were boxed and set away from the rest of the actual body of the book. Same with the reviews.
The bibliography bugged me as so much was taken from 'Rickles Book' that is presented in Starr's book with mostly criticism. The many, many newspaper and magazine reviews referenced really tells the lacking of the overall book.
Based upon this preview version:
I don't recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.
There is information included in this volume of Don Rickles that is not otherwise easy to acquire. Making this worthy for that included. Trouble is that there is far more inclusion of critiques than anything else in the book. There are also startling errors I hope are fixed before publication. This book is more a birds eye view of Don Rickles than anything intimate.
The first fifth of the book is best as the early days of Rickles is documented and he makes his way through Jackson Heights, WWII and begins performing. After that the book has far too many Media reviews of whatever can be and had been reviewed. Trouble with views is the limited perspective. The author rarely points that out as he's clearly relying on the entries to fill his book. The book would've been far stronger with 2/3rds less reviews. There are so many, the author could've just created a book of Rickles reviews, the last two words would've made a the title.
Otherwise the author chronicles Rickles rungs of the entertainment ladder. Pretty standard stuff and written well enough. there's missing an overall objective perspective of what is going on in entertainment swaying Rickles options. Instead the view is through the prism of the author's claim is Rickles great need to perform and, especially, to make a mark in film and TV. That is a misstep. That and odd author exclamations, such as "Ouch!". Instead, how about filling in omissions.
The omissions bugged me. I've always heard of the closeness of Rickles and Newhart and the background of that I hope to learn in the volume. Instead there is really only one very brief mention of a Rickles & Newhart trip late in the book. With that absent, what else was missing? Why? If the author couldn't get learn about the claimed yearly travels, why not mention that?
Something else is the reviews chosen are pretty harsh of Rickles. Especially as the book continues. The writing of Starr also gets harsher and harsher to the point I have to wonder if Starr was just filling a contractual obligation and really didn't care much for Rickles.
The constant error of Rickles birthday really caught me. How on earth does anyone create a book and constantly states the wrong date? Especially as the author marks the date connecting to events in Rickles' life. Was it the date stated or Rickles' birthday? There are only a few other errors I noticed. However that has to make me question all other information in the book.
There are also language errors. One is '...like a caged tiger ready to uncoil." How did that get as far as this??? There are also many entire sentences repeated over and over again. Hopefully editors can pare these.
As I earlier wrote, the writing is initially fine. As the book continues there is a feeling of being rushed. That and the coarseness of the later writing and piling in reviewer filler gave me the impression the author was sick of the whole subject of Rickles and just wanted to get it done with.
The Florida parts: I knew all about the Murray Franklin tale. I was surprised all author Starr included of so much involving the State of Florida. Of course, with glaring errors, i'm not sure what is true.
Hope all is fixed before publication.
I've only seen the digital version. Seems to me the print version would work far better if asides, like the Rickels horses stories, were boxed and set away from the rest of the actual body of the book. Same with the reviews.
The bibliography bugged me as so much was taken from 'Rickles Book' that is presented in Starr's book with mostly criticism. The many, many newspaper and magazine reviews referenced really tells the lacking of the overall book.
Based upon this preview version:
I don't recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.
December 27, 2022
Don Rickles: The Merchant of Venom by Starr
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
I had grown up with Don Rickles on TV. I had seen him on numerous talk shows and Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, always calling someone a “hockey puck”. I also remember the TV show “CPO Sharkey”, with the very tall Peter Isacksen. His height and Rickles lack of height made for a funny sight gag. I always liked Rickles, and his brand of brash, insult humor.
Although I liked Rickles the comic performer, I didn’t care for Starr’s book. It started out fine, talking about Rickles’ childhood in Queens and serving in the Navy during World War 2. Rickles went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts to study acting. But after a while, it seemed to me to be one lengthy resume. The book lists Rickles’ credits for TV talk shows, films he appeared in, and nightclub dates. This book made me recall all the times I had seen Don Rickles in a situation comedy (like “The Munsters”) where he always seemed to play Don Rickles. I didn’t know how much Rickles worked, how much money he had made (I had no idea of the salaries involved with Las Vegas headliners), and that he was so wealthy he had a Rolls Royce. But of Rickles’ personal life, I learned little.
Plus, there were many discussions of incidents not germane to Rickles’ life. And sometimes I got confused on who the author was referring to. For example, Starr describes the plans for a situation comedy show to star Rickles as an advertising executive. He lists possible actresses to play his wife: Louise Sorel, Vicky Carr, Janis Hansen, and Marilyn Michaels. The next paragraph starts, “I remember I had a terrible cold sore on my lip…”, she recalled.” Which she is being referred to here? On the next page, I learned that Marilyn Michaels had said the lengthy quote. It goes on about Michael’s relationship with Joe Scandore, Rickles’ manager, but this aside has nothing about Rickles in it.
There were some other things that I felt were left out. For example, Rickles had a valet named Harry Goins, who I guess was with him throughout his life. But there are maybe three sentences on Goins in the entire book.
This book was not great, but it wasn’t terrible. There are a few funny moments in it, but overall I would wait until a more definitive biography of Don Rickles is written.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
I had grown up with Don Rickles on TV. I had seen him on numerous talk shows and Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, always calling someone a “hockey puck”. I also remember the TV show “CPO Sharkey”, with the very tall Peter Isacksen. His height and Rickles lack of height made for a funny sight gag. I always liked Rickles, and his brand of brash, insult humor.
Although I liked Rickles the comic performer, I didn’t care for Starr’s book. It started out fine, talking about Rickles’ childhood in Queens and serving in the Navy during World War 2. Rickles went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts to study acting. But after a while, it seemed to me to be one lengthy resume. The book lists Rickles’ credits for TV talk shows, films he appeared in, and nightclub dates. This book made me recall all the times I had seen Don Rickles in a situation comedy (like “The Munsters”) where he always seemed to play Don Rickles. I didn’t know how much Rickles worked, how much money he had made (I had no idea of the salaries involved with Las Vegas headliners), and that he was so wealthy he had a Rolls Royce. But of Rickles’ personal life, I learned little.
Plus, there were many discussions of incidents not germane to Rickles’ life. And sometimes I got confused on who the author was referring to. For example, Starr describes the plans for a situation comedy show to star Rickles as an advertising executive. He lists possible actresses to play his wife: Louise Sorel, Vicky Carr, Janis Hansen, and Marilyn Michaels. The next paragraph starts, “I remember I had a terrible cold sore on my lip…”, she recalled.” Which she is being referred to here? On the next page, I learned that Marilyn Michaels had said the lengthy quote. It goes on about Michael’s relationship with Joe Scandore, Rickles’ manager, but this aside has nothing about Rickles in it.
There were some other things that I felt were left out. For example, Rickles had a valet named Harry Goins, who I guess was with him throughout his life. But there are maybe three sentences on Goins in the entire book.
This book was not great, but it wasn’t terrible. There are a few funny moments in it, but overall I would wait until a more definitive biography of Don Rickles is written.
December 13, 2022
Well researched & written in an entertaining way.
November 16, 2024
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway contest in exchange for an honest review.
Don Rickles was born May 8, 1926, in the New York City borough of Queens and the only child of Max and Etta. Max Rickles (born Ryklansky) immigrated from Kovno, Russia, and Yettie Feldman New York City native were married June 24th, 1924.
Don was a quiet, shy boy who attended Newton High School and played basketball on the junior varsity team. In addition, he was elected president of the school's Dramatic Society.
In 1944, Don graduated from Newton and immediately enlisted in the United States Navy. After serving two years, Don was given an honorable discharge and returned home to Queens.
Don decided to join his father in the insurance business while waiting for his big break in showbusiness. Even though he studied and passed his insurance test, he was not a natural born salesperson like his father.
Later that year, Don applied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the first and finest acting school in America. Don obtained an audition and was successfully accepted into this prestigious institution and graduated two years later with an associate degree.
Don auditioned for numerous acting roles with no luck and decided to try his hand at comedy. The first joint he worked at was The Top Hat in New Jersey. Unfortunately, when his corny jokes and celebrity impressions bombed, he then started to insult the audience.
Soon after this point, I stopped reading because the author did a lot of name dropping of actors, nightclubs, and venues that were unfamiliar to me. In conclusion, the beginning of the book was chock full of interesting information about Don Rickles, but after ~50 pages, the book started reading like a textbook.
Don Rickles was born May 8, 1926, in the New York City borough of Queens and the only child of Max and Etta. Max Rickles (born Ryklansky) immigrated from Kovno, Russia, and Yettie Feldman New York City native were married June 24th, 1924.
Don was a quiet, shy boy who attended Newton High School and played basketball on the junior varsity team. In addition, he was elected president of the school's Dramatic Society.
In 1944, Don graduated from Newton and immediately enlisted in the United States Navy. After serving two years, Don was given an honorable discharge and returned home to Queens.
Don decided to join his father in the insurance business while waiting for his big break in showbusiness. Even though he studied and passed his insurance test, he was not a natural born salesperson like his father.
Later that year, Don applied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the first and finest acting school in America. Don obtained an audition and was successfully accepted into this prestigious institution and graduated two years later with an associate degree.
Don auditioned for numerous acting roles with no luck and decided to try his hand at comedy. The first joint he worked at was The Top Hat in New Jersey. Unfortunately, when his corny jokes and celebrity impressions bombed, he then started to insult the audience.
Soon after this point, I stopped reading because the author did a lot of name dropping of actors, nightclubs, and venues that were unfamiliar to me. In conclusion, the beginning of the book was chock full of interesting information about Don Rickles, but after ~50 pages, the book started reading like a textbook.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2024
A note by note recounting of Rickles’ rise to fame. As much material as it has to work with, it could have been funnier or it could have been deeper, but it does neither. Still, it’s diligently researched and for fans of Rickles - I’m one - it’s worth delving in. To Ed Sullivan he said “talking to you is like watching a casket warp.”
October 20, 2022
I enjoyed this look back at one of the greatest comedians of the modern era. Since I only got to see part of Mr. Rickles' career, it was interesting seeing what he had to go through to earn his status as the greatest insult comic of all time. While there was the obligatory name dropping involved in this type of project, it was interspersed with enough storytelling that it didn't feel overwhelming or distracting.
As far as the audiobook, I have always liked Johnny Heller as a narrator. However, Mr. Heller did mispronounce several celebrity's names - Chevy Chase, Gavin MacLeod, and McLean Stevenson. Since I listened to an ARC audiobook, hopefully it will be corrected before the final version is released.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
As far as the audiobook, I have always liked Johnny Heller as a narrator. However, Mr. Heller did mispronounce several celebrity's names - Chevy Chase, Gavin MacLeod, and McLean Stevenson. Since I listened to an ARC audiobook, hopefully it will be corrected before the final version is released.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2024
Mr. Warmth, The Merchant of Venom, The Insultin' Sultan, Don Rickles was known by many names in his over 65 years in entertainment This is a profile of his career and life.
The Good: I always found him funny when I would see him on TV when I was a kid. I wish I would have had the chance to see him live before he passed away. The author breaks down his long career, including his long friendships with guys like Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson etc. Married to his wife for 52 years before his passing, he was humble and caring off stage.
The Bad: This book is pretty boring TBH, it goes more into his TV failures in the 70's (4 failed sitcoms) and some of the negative things his contemporaries said about him. There is only one small chapter about hid role in Casino and as the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise.
Way more boring than funny.
D
The Good: I always found him funny when I would see him on TV when I was a kid. I wish I would have had the chance to see him live before he passed away. The author breaks down his long career, including his long friendships with guys like Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson etc. Married to his wife for 52 years before his passing, he was humble and caring off stage.
The Bad: This book is pretty boring TBH, it goes more into his TV failures in the 70's (4 failed sitcoms) and some of the negative things his contemporaries said about him. There is only one small chapter about hid role in Casino and as the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise.
Way more boring than funny.
D
July 24, 2022
I received an ARC of, Don Rickles, by Michael Seth Starr. Don Rickles was a hard worker, the infamous insult comedienne. His jokes were not always funny, but he kept them coming. Working in Vegas to having his own show, Don has done it all, his way.
February 5, 2023
Wish it had more amusing stories rather than just a who’s who. Was more of a chronological timeline.
July 30, 2023
decent overview, but seems to be written with mostly just access to lists of places he performed and dates; not as much information about the real life or personality of Don as I had hoped.
August 28, 2022
I didn't enjoy this biography of comedian Don Rickles at all. I would have been interested in reading an explanation from this author as to why he decided to write this book. Maybe that would have helped me understand why it is constructed the way it is. From the beginning of Rickles' career there are minutely described appearances by him in clubs trying for his big break. Years and years of his work at clubs with what seemed like daily (or rather, nightly) appearances on stage filling page after page after page. Rickles quickly zeroed in on being an insult comedian and practiced his act every chance he got with the author doing his darndest to include each and every insult. Once Rickles began appearing at larger, more important venues the author included any well-known person in the audience and how Rickles managed to add material about that person to his act. It is quite obvious that people were mostly delighted to have Rickles single them out for shredding, but it quickly became too much for me since that is virtually all that was being included in the book. So, this book follows the path Rickles took with regard to the clubs he played and the famous people in attendance and the barbs thrown at them by the Merchant of Venom. Scattered throughout are attempts by Rickles to become a Hollywood movie star with, again, lists of practically everybody appearing in the movie and previews of the plot which went on much longer than necessary. And speaking of previews and reviews, one after another of the reviews of the Rickles performances were included here until it seemed as if I had read every item appearing in a newspaper about Don Rickles.
There was just too much stuff about the Don Rickles career but too little about Don Rickles. The author kept saying that Don Rickles was a different man than the one who appeared on stage in his act but there was precious little to show that sentiment was true. This was the most boring biography I've ever read, and I still have no idea for why the author wanted to write it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an e-galley of this book.
There was just too much stuff about the Don Rickles career but too little about Don Rickles. The author kept saying that Don Rickles was a different man than the one who appeared on stage in his act but there was precious little to show that sentiment was true. This was the most boring biography I've ever read, and I still have no idea for why the author wanted to write it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an e-galley of this book.
July 20, 2022
Don Rickles: The Merchant of Venom comes out on October 25, 2022. Kensignton Books provided an early galley for review.
As I was growing up in the 70's, Rickles was an ever-present staple on talk shows and variety shows that I watched. He could also be seen as a guest star on countless sitcoms from the 60's that were being shown in the ever-growing market of syndication. As such, I always knew who he was - a short, balding, loudmouth character. What I enjoyed about this biography from Michael Seth Starr is that I got to know a lot more about the man behind the mouth.
From his humble beginnings through his slow rise to fame in the stand-up clubs of the 50's and 60's, this one reads like a veritable who's who of old Hollywood. So many names brought back fond memories. I was surprised to see who among the famous counted themselves as his friends and who also were not fans of his approach to being the harsh mirror to humanity.
His act clearly was not for everyone. His tongue was sharp, his barbs were cutting and, in many cases, very derogatory to women and minorities. His act never could survive in modern times. However, he was an equal opportunity offender. Celebrity or regular person - it did not matter. Go to a Rickles show and be prepared to be a possible target. What I appreciate is that his act was not scripted; it was pure improv. Sure, he had some go to insults he'd use again and again - if they got laughs. It just goes to show how smart and able he was as a comedian.
The book does go into incredible detail about his career. Each year is mapped out with appearances, show runs and more. At times, it almost seems too detailed. The author also tends to repeat some facts and Rickle's put-downs. Then again, if Don could reuse, why not his most recent biographer? Still, for fans every detail is critical.
Overall, this will be an interesting read for folks who are into the history of entertainment of the 20th century.
As I was growing up in the 70's, Rickles was an ever-present staple on talk shows and variety shows that I watched. He could also be seen as a guest star on countless sitcoms from the 60's that were being shown in the ever-growing market of syndication. As such, I always knew who he was - a short, balding, loudmouth character. What I enjoyed about this biography from Michael Seth Starr is that I got to know a lot more about the man behind the mouth.
From his humble beginnings through his slow rise to fame in the stand-up clubs of the 50's and 60's, this one reads like a veritable who's who of old Hollywood. So many names brought back fond memories. I was surprised to see who among the famous counted themselves as his friends and who also were not fans of his approach to being the harsh mirror to humanity.
His act clearly was not for everyone. His tongue was sharp, his barbs were cutting and, in many cases, very derogatory to women and minorities. His act never could survive in modern times. However, he was an equal opportunity offender. Celebrity or regular person - it did not matter. Go to a Rickles show and be prepared to be a possible target. What I appreciate is that his act was not scripted; it was pure improv. Sure, he had some go to insults he'd use again and again - if they got laughs. It just goes to show how smart and able he was as a comedian.
The book does go into incredible detail about his career. Each year is mapped out with appearances, show runs and more. At times, it almost seems too detailed. The author also tends to repeat some facts and Rickle's put-downs. Then again, if Don could reuse, why not his most recent biographer? Still, for fans every detail is critical.
Overall, this will be an interesting read for folks who are into the history of entertainment of the 20th century.
August 1, 2022
I received an e-ARC version of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
“Don Rickles: The Merchant of Venom” is a biography of Don Rickles, a comedian, by Michael Seth Starr. I was not - and still am not - a fan of Rickles’s sense of humor, but I find the “golden age of comedy” an extremely interesting timeframe. So many of the comics who were popular when I was a kid would be “canceled” so quickly in today’s culture. So, if you don’t know who Rickles was, keep in mind that he was an equal opportunity basher - no one (and seemingly nothing) was off limits. Overall, I found this an interesting book - comparing Rickles’s rise to fame to those of Mel Brooks, Jack Benny, and George Burns it’s rather interesting how much all had in common but also how much their careers differed. Mr. Starr goes into extreme details at times mentioning and, where available, describing canceled pilots and projects Mr. Rickles’ filmed or was was considered. A real fan of Rickles might enjoy this, but it didn’t always read well for me. I applaud Mr. Starr’s research and organization. This book has a lot of detail about Mr. Rickles - on and off the stage and screen.
“Don Rickles: The Merchant of Venom” is a biography of Don Rickles, a comedian, by Michael Seth Starr. I was not - and still am not - a fan of Rickles’s sense of humor, but I find the “golden age of comedy” an extremely interesting timeframe. So many of the comics who were popular when I was a kid would be “canceled” so quickly in today’s culture. So, if you don’t know who Rickles was, keep in mind that he was an equal opportunity basher - no one (and seemingly nothing) was off limits. Overall, I found this an interesting book - comparing Rickles’s rise to fame to those of Mel Brooks, Jack Benny, and George Burns it’s rather interesting how much all had in common but also how much their careers differed. Mr. Starr goes into extreme details at times mentioning and, where available, describing canceled pilots and projects Mr. Rickles’ filmed or was was considered. A real fan of Rickles might enjoy this, but it didn’t always read well for me. I applaud Mr. Starr’s research and organization. This book has a lot of detail about Mr. Rickles - on and off the stage and screen.
April 19, 2024
This wasn't as good as I was hoping for.
Mainly an accounting, year by year, of the famed insult comedian's career, it is fine for what it is. Included are interviews and praises from other comedians (except for the few who didn't like his humor, like Groucho Marx and Shecky Greene) and a look at his TV and movie career - what little of it there was.
But what would have been good was an examination of insult humor and exactly why Rickles chose that. Also, a closer look at the pushback he encountered over the years.
Instead, most of this book feels perfunctory, glossing over his nightclub dates and loves and friends (not going very deeply into his close friendship with Bob Newhart).
He was, down deep, a mama's boy, a nice guy, and an enigma.
Mainly an accounting, year by year, of the famed insult comedian's career, it is fine for what it is. Included are interviews and praises from other comedians (except for the few who didn't like his humor, like Groucho Marx and Shecky Greene) and a look at his TV and movie career - what little of it there was.
But what would have been good was an examination of insult humor and exactly why Rickles chose that. Also, a closer look at the pushback he encountered over the years.
Instead, most of this book feels perfunctory, glossing over his nightclub dates and loves and friends (not going very deeply into his close friendship with Bob Newhart).
He was, down deep, a mama's boy, a nice guy, and an enigma.
November 22, 2024
I wish I could give half stars for this one. The book is better than a three, but not quite a four. The biggest drawback was the constant name-dropping from start to finish. Still, it’s an interesting biography of a one-of-a-kind comedian who went from 1950s dive nightclubs to the Rat Pack and Vegas glory of the '60s and '70s. He was a lion of late-night television and will live forever as Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story franchise. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a "rags to riches" true story, name-dropping and all. He was an original.
December 25, 2022
A Who's Who crossed with running history of the entertainment industry from the 1950s to the 1990s. We also see his humble beginnings, climb to fame, and painful times along the way. The narrator's raspy voice recounts various highlights of the great comic's life and connections to history along the way. Biographies aren't my usual wheelhouse, but this one sucked me in with all the connections this veteran had to the rest of the entertainment world.
February 28, 2025
I am a huge Rickles fan and had the pleasure of seeing his act in person when I was about 16 years old. This book was fun to the extent that it captured part of what made him a genius but for the most part I felt the book lacked much depth. For a couple of chapters it felt like it was just reporting on all his appearances with little substance. Nevertheless spending any time in the aura of Mr. Warmth is time well spent
July 26, 2022
What a terrific and insightful look at a truly good man and comic. Although his style was misunderstood and not appreciated by some, he was a great comic. His career spanned over 60 years and he never gave up even when things went against him. His life was truly inspirational.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 29, 2023
Interesting and informative
I picked up this book because I wanted to learn more about Don Rickles as a person. There's definitely a multitude of information about who he knew and who helped him throughout the years, but not a whole lot of information about Don himself. Overall I did enjoy reading this book.
I picked up this book because I wanted to learn more about Don Rickles as a person. There's definitely a multitude of information about who he knew and who helped him throughout the years, but not a whole lot of information about Don himself. Overall I did enjoy reading this book.
July 12, 2023
Thorough and enjoyable bio
A fair and detailed biography of a comic legend. Rickles was a lifelong favorite of mine, so I found this book particularly fascinating. Audiences (myself included) knew his insults were all in fun, so he got away with some hilarious stuff. Highly recommended for fellow fans and for anyone interested in the history of popular comedy.
A fair and detailed biography of a comic legend. Rickles was a lifelong favorite of mine, so I found this book particularly fascinating. Audiences (myself included) knew his insults were all in fun, so he got away with some hilarious stuff. Highly recommended for fellow fans and for anyone interested in the history of popular comedy.
February 16, 2023
I read this on two long flights to Reno and was entertained by it. A very thorough bio and somewhat sad in that Rickles always wanted to be a legit actor but made his name as a standup insult comic. Enjoyed the backstage stories about Rickles and the Rat Pack members.
January 11, 2025
Graciously received a free copy from first reads.
This book is mostly a list of celebrities I've never heard of that Don Rickles insulted during his "comedy" acts. Would have rather read a book about his mom or wife.
This book is mostly a list of celebrities I've never heard of that Don Rickles insulted during his "comedy" acts. Would have rather read a book about his mom or wife.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews