Rodney Dangerfield... - ZEFRANK.COM

LadyCrow · 10-06-2004, 09:21 PM

Comic Rodney Dangerfield dies at 82

By Duane Byrge
Rodney Dangerfield, who forged a comic career out of the self-mocking admission "I don't get no respect," died Tuesday at UCLA Medical Center in Westwood from a stroke and other complications following heart valve replacement surgery in August. He was 82.

Dangerfield had lapsed into a coma following his Aug. 25 surgery but came out of it during the past week, according to his wife, Joan.

"When Rodney emerged, he kissed me, squeezed my hand and smiled for his doctors," Joan Dangerfield said in a statement.

Dangerfield made his mark as a comedian in a variety of ways, from top-selling albums and books to films and TV appearances, particularly his frequent visits to "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" or his famed Manhattan comedy club, Dangerfield's, which helped pave the way for the comedy club explosion of the 1970s and '80s. Dangerfield's trademark white shirt and red tie are on display at the Smithsonian Institution.

Dangerfield also helped launch the careers of many of today's top comics through the series of "Young Comedians" specials he hosted for HBO in the 1980s, which featured such budding stars as Tim Allen, Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne Barr, Jim Carrey, Sam Kinison, Louie Anderson, Jeff Foxworthy, Bob Saget, Rita Rudner and Robert Townsend.

On the big screen, Dangerfield's fame grew with such hit comedy features as 1980's "Caddyshack"; 1983's "Easy Money," which Dangerfield also co-wrote; 1986's "Back to School"; and, more recently, 2000's "Little Nicky," opposite Adam Sandler, and 2002's "The 4th Tenor." In a rare dramatic turn, Dangerfield played an abusive father in Oliver Stone's 1994 film "Natural Born Killers."

Despite his heart problems, Dangerfield stayed in the spotlight in his final years. In June, his autobiography, "It's Not Easy Bein' Me: A Lifetime of No Respect, but Plenty of Sex and Drugs," became a best seller, and he sold the movie rights to Fox Television Studios even before the book was released.

Dangerfield's recent TV appearances included a guest shot on the CBS sitcom "Still Standing," and he has a cameo role in the upcoming 20th Century Fox feature "The Onion." According to Dangerfield's publicist, the comedian recorded an album of love songs that he intended to release on Valentine's Day next year.

Dangerfield gained national popularity in the 1960s with a series of appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "Tonight Show," where he regaled audiences with his "no respect" jokes. With his portly frame, bugged-out eyes and self-deprecating humor, Dangerfield became a national celebrity relatively late in life. He hit it big only after a struggle in the "real world," even serving a stint as an aluminum siding salesman in New Jersey. His career did not take off it any significant way until after age 40, when he re-entered show business following a divorce.

Characteristic of most funnymen, Dangerfield had his dark demons: In 1997, he admitted that he had suffered from chronic depression. Three years later, Dangerfield underwent double bypass heart surgery. On his 80th birthday, in 2001, he suffered a heart attack. In the 1990s, he underwent abdominal surgery.

Dangerfield was born Jacob Cohen on Nov. 11, 1921, in Babylon, N.Y. He began writing jokes at age 15 and changed his name to Jack Roy. He held down a day job as a singing waiter while trying to make a living as a comedian. Dangerfield traveled the comedy circuit for roughly 10 years but quit in exasperation, unable to make a decent living. He latched on to a position as an aluminum siding salesman, traversing the highways and byways of suburban New Jersey.

If nothing else, the venture prepared him for tough audiences. In 1961, he and his wife divorced. Floundering and single, he re-entered comedy with a vengeance in his 40s. He changed his name to Rodney Dangerfield and soon became successful, touring nightclubs and landing TV commercials. He was sufficiently popular to land a spot on CBS' "The Ed Sullivan Show" at a time when that show could launch a comedian to national fame. The dour host even laughed at Dangerfield's routine, a rarity for the characteristically stone-faced Sullivan.

Dangerfield opened his Fifth Avenue nightclub in 1969 and around the same time made his film debut as an irate theater owner in "The Projectionist" (1971). On TV, he appeared on "The Dean Martin Show." His career hit its stride in the '80s with a number of his own TV specials, including "It Ain't Easy Bein' Me," "Exposed" and "Nothin' Goes Right," and his success as a Las Vegas headliner. Dangerfield logged some 70 appearances on "The Tonight Show" during the Carson era and another 28 after Jay Leno took over the program in 1992.

Dangerfield earned a Grammy Award in 1981 for his comedy album "No Respect" and was given a lifetime achievement honor at the 1994 American Comedy Awards.

Dangerfield is survived by his wife of 11 years, Joan; two children from a previous marriage, Brian and Melanie; and two grandchildren. Plans for a Los Angeles memorial service will be announced shortly, Dangerfield's publicist said.

***************

RIP Rodney...

LadyCrow · 10-06-2004, 09:43 PM

Oops... I missed rmr's thread.

agentsmith · 10-07-2004, 01:05 AM

easy money fvcking ROCKS

LadyCrow · 10-08-2004, 11:21 PM

I totally forgot that I've seen Easy Money! Good one, and so is Caddyshack for that matter, but Back To School is my favorite. (Which, incidentally, was just on Comedy Central a little while ago.) And I heard a very touching tribute to Rodney yesterday morning on the Howard Stern show.

lapietra · 10-08-2004, 11:41 PM

He was really an old sweetie...
Anyone see him in "Natural Born Killers"? Really brilliant casting... I'm sure it was hard for him to do that role but he did it very well. I wish he could have done more serious roles.

Avalon · 10-09-2004, 01:44 AM

Now that all is said and done..Rodney is still THE MAN

RIP Mr. Dangerfield.

trisherina · 10-09-2004, 02:10 AM

No one could have possibly done that role better in Natural Born Killers. It was quite the risk to take.

sparticle · 10-09-2004, 03:19 AM

You just get this feeling, reading about him, that he was "real". Like he was the kind of guy who was nice to people even when no one was looking. Somebody, I think it was zenbabe, said they actually saw him one time and he said "How ya doin'?" You can just see him doing that.

Bless him. He brought happiness to a lot of people.

10-06-2004, 09:21 PM	#1
LadyCrow WhY sO SiRiUs? Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ta uoy erehw Posts: 1,120	Rodney Dangerfield... Comic Rodney Dangerfield dies at 82 By Duane Byrge Rodney Dangerfield, who forged a comic career out of the self-mocking admission "I don't get no respect," died Tuesday at UCLA Medical Center in Westwood from a stroke and other complications following heart valve replacement surgery in August. He was 82. Dangerfield had lapsed into a coma following his Aug. 25 surgery but came out of it during the past week, according to his wife, Joan. "When Rodney emerged, he kissed me, squeezed my hand and smiled for his doctors," Joan Dangerfield said in a statement. Dangerfield made his mark as a comedian in a variety of ways, from top-selling albums and books to films and TV appearances, particularly his frequent visits to "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" or his famed Manhattan comedy club, Dangerfield's, which helped pave the way for the comedy club explosion of the 1970s and '80s. Dangerfield's trademark white shirt and red tie are on display at the Smithsonian Institution. Dangerfield also helped launch the careers of many of today's top comics through the series of "Young Comedians" specials he hosted for HBO in the 1980s, which featured such budding stars as Tim Allen, Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne Barr, Jim Carrey, Sam Kinison, Louie Anderson, Jeff Foxworthy, Bob Saget, Rita Rudner and Robert Townsend. On the big screen, Dangerfield's fame grew with such hit comedy features as 1980's "Caddyshack"; 1983's "Easy Money," which Dangerfield also co-wrote; 1986's "Back to School"; and, more recently, 2000's "Little Nicky," opposite Adam Sandler, and 2002's "The 4th Tenor." In a rare dramatic turn, Dangerfield played an abusive father in Oliver Stone's 1994 film "Natural Born Killers." Despite his heart problems, Dangerfield stayed in the spotlight in his final years. In June, his autobiography, "It's Not Easy Bein' Me: A Lifetime of No Respect, but Plenty of Sex and Drugs," became a best seller, and he sold the movie rights to Fox Television Studios even before the book was released. Dangerfield's recent TV appearances included a guest shot on the CBS sitcom "Still Standing," and he has a cameo role in the upcoming 20th Century Fox feature "The Onion." According to Dangerfield's publicist, the comedian recorded an album of love songs that he intended to release on Valentine's Day next year. Dangerfield gained national popularity in the 1960s with a series of appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "Tonight Show," where he regaled audiences with his "no respect" jokes. With his portly frame, bugged-out eyes and self-deprecating humor, Dangerfield became a national celebrity relatively late in life. He hit it big only after a struggle in the "real world," even serving a stint as an aluminum siding salesman in New Jersey. His career did not take off it any significant way until after age 40, when he re-entered show business following a divorce. Characteristic of most funnymen, Dangerfield had his dark demons: In 1997, he admitted that he had suffered from chronic depression. Three years later, Dangerfield underwent double bypass heart surgery. On his 80th birthday, in 2001, he suffered a heart attack. In the 1990s, he underwent abdominal surgery. Dangerfield was born Jacob Cohen on Nov. 11, 1921, in Babylon, N.Y. He began writing jokes at age 15 and changed his name to Jack Roy. He held down a day job as a singing waiter while trying to make a living as a comedian. Dangerfield traveled the comedy circuit for roughly 10 years but quit in exasperation, unable to make a decent living. He latched on to a position as an aluminum siding salesman, traversing the highways and byways of suburban New Jersey. If nothing else, the venture prepared him for tough audiences. In 1961, he and his wife divorced. Floundering and single, he re-entered comedy with a vengeance in his 40s. He changed his name to Rodney Dangerfield and soon became successful, touring nightclubs and landing TV commercials. He was sufficiently popular to land a spot on CBS' "The Ed Sullivan Show" at a time when that show could launch a comedian to national fame. The dour host even laughed at Dangerfield's routine, a rarity for the characteristically stone-faced Sullivan. Dangerfield opened his Fifth Avenue nightclub in 1969 and around the same time made his film debut as an irate theater owner in "The Projectionist" (1971). On TV, he appeared on "The Dean Martin Show." His career hit its stride in the '80s with a number of his own TV specials, including "It Ain't Easy Bein' Me," "Exposed" and "Nothin' Goes Right," and his success as a Las Vegas headliner. Dangerfield logged some 70 appearances on "The Tonight Show" during the Carson era and another 28 after Jay Leno took over the program in 1992. Dangerfield earned a Grammy Award in 1981 for his comedy album "No Respect" and was given a lifetime achievement honor at the 1994 American Comedy Awards. Dangerfield is survived by his wife of 11 years, Joan; two children from a previous marriage, Brian and Melanie; and two grandchildren. Plans for a Los Angeles memorial service will be announced shortly, Dangerfield's publicist said. ************* RIP Rodney... __________________ "If there is a bedrock principle of the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable." -- Justice William J. Brennan (1906-1997) U. S. Supreme Court Justice Source: Texas vs. Johnson, 1989 ********** Illegitimi non carborundum... ************ Whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you... stranger. - Heath Ledger

10-06-2004, 09:43 PM	#2
LadyCrow WhY sO SiRiUs? Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ta uoy erehw Posts: 1,120	Oops... I missed rmr's thread. __________________ "If there is a bedrock principle of the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable." -- Justice William J. Brennan (1906-1997) U. S. Supreme Court Justice Source: Texas vs. Johnson, 1989 ************ Illegitimi non carborundum... ************ Whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you... stranger. - Heath Ledger

10-07-2004, 01:05 AM	#3
agentsmith rap geisha Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: . Posts: 5,588	easy money fvcking ROCKS __________________ ----------- "Genesis: First, I'd like to say reality is invisible to the naked eye. You and me both know that life is a real bitch. Doing your best, you say? That's not good enough."

10-08-2004, 11:21 PM	#4
LadyCrow WhY sO SiRiUs? Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ta uoy erehw Posts: 1,120	I totally forgot that I've seen Easy Money! Good one, and so is Caddyshack for that matter, but Back To School is my favorite. (Which, incidentally, was just on Comedy Central a little while ago.) And I heard a very touching tribute to Rodney yesterday morning on the Howard Stern show. __________________ "If there is a bedrock principle of the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable." -- Justice William J. Brennan (1906-1997) U. S. Supreme Court Justice Source: Texas vs. Johnson, 1989 ************ Illegitimi non carborundum... ************ Whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you... stranger. - Heath Ledger

10-08-2004, 11:41 PM	#5
lapietra half baked Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: just ducky Posts: 12,078	He was really an old sweetie... Anyone see him in "Natural Born Killers"? Really brilliant casting... I'm sure it was hard for him to do that role but he did it very well. I wish he could have done more serious roles. __________________ “As long as the world is turning and spinning, we're gonna be dizzy and we're gonna make mistakes.” ~ Mel Brooks

10-09-2004, 01:44 AM	#6
Avalon Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: A much better place Posts: 5,931	Now that all is said and done..Rodney is still THE MAN RIP Mr. Dangerfield. __________________ I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it. Groucho Marx

10-09-2004, 02:10 AM	#7
trisherina meretricious dilettante Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 11,068	No one could have possibly done that role better in Natural Born Killers. It was quite the risk to take. __________________ Because how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. -- Annie Dillard

10-09-2004, 03:19 AM	#8
sparticle Conspiracy Theorist Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cleveland, oh Posts: 4,702	You just get this feeling, reading about him, that he was "real". Like he was the kind of guy who was nice to people even when no one was looking. Somebody, I think it was zenbabe, said they actually saw him one time and he said "How ya doin'?" You can just see him doing that. Bless him. He brought happiness to a lot of people. __________________ There are few situations in life which wind up with you saying to yourself: "Gee, I wish I'd had worse manners there." -- trisherina

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: