Comedian/Voice Actor Don Rickles passes at 90 years young

The man Jimmy Kimmel called "the world's greatest talk show guest," Don Rickles, passed on April 6, 2017, a month before his 91st birthday. The cause of death was kidney failure. Don Rickles was a longtime stand-up comedy legend when he assumed the voice of Mr. Potato Head for Pixar's breakout hit, Toy Story, a role he would reprise for the subsequent movie sequels and features for television. Famous as "Mr. Warmth" and "The Merchant of Venom," Mr. Rickles used his impeccably snarly timing and phrasing to perfection to bring life to the moodiest of the toys in Andy's toychest. But true to form, Rickles gave voice to the characteristics that made Mr. Potato Head a stand-up guy—he was as loyal as he was grouchy, and as brave as he was impatient. And, especially true to form, he was utterly devoted to the Missus. Mr. Rickles never retired and worked with the same energy and wit in his eighties as he had throughout his 50+ year career (he was slated to voice again in the projected Toy Story 4). Toy Story director John Lasseter made the following statement on the day of Rickles' passing:
“Don Rickles was a comic genius, and here at Pixar we were honored to also call him a friend. The wit, personality, and incredible timing he brought to Mr. Potato Head lit up the character and made him an essential part of the Toy Story ensemble. Even though Mr. Potato Head’s facial features fell off in every Toy Story movie his heart never left him — that was because of Don. We will miss him tremendously.”

Rickles said that he especially loved watching his grandchildren enjoy the Toy Story movies. He appears here in 1968, in his element, as TV's premier "insult comic," alongside actor Lorne Greene of Bonanza.

"Give Lorne a minute—he's busy scraping the manure off his shoes."