Rodney Dangerfield

Birthday: 22 November 1921, Deer Park, Long Island, New York, USA

Birth Name: Jacob Cohen

Height: 178 cm

Rodney Dangerfield was born Jacob Cohen on November 22, 1921 in Deer Park, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. He was the son of Dorothy "Dotty" (Teitelbaum) and Phillip Cohen, who performed in vaudeville under the name Phil Roy. His father was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents, and his mother was a Hungarian Jewish immigrant. Rodney began writing jokes at the age of fifteen, and started performing before he was 20. He took his act to the road for ten years, his stage name was "Jack Roy". While working as a struggling comedian, Rodney Dangerfield worked as a singing waiter. His first run at comedy was to no avail. Rodney Dangerfield married Joyce Indig, in 1949 and had two children: Brian and Melanie. During the 1950s, Rodney was an aluminum siding salesman, living in New Jersey. The comedian made another attempt at stand-up comedy, this time as Rodney Dangerfield. In 1961, Rodney divorced from his wife. When he appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (Toast of the Town (1948)), Rodney Dangerfield made Ed Sullivan laugh. Few people ever provoked any kind of reaction out of the legendary Ed Sullivan. Dangerfield had the image of a lovable disgruntled everyman type that became a hit all across nightclubs in the 1960s. Dangerfield also made many appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) and The Dean Martin Show (1965) in the 1970s. Rodney Dangerfield snatched a minor supporting part in the movie, The Projectionist (1971), in 1971. By the mid 1970s, he had cemented his image as a comedian constantly tugging at his red tie, always proclaiming he gets no respect. His big break came with many appearances on Saturday Night Live (1975), bringing himself to a much wider audience and proving hysterical on many occasions. In 1980, Dangerfield became a cornerstone of American comedy with the classic Caddyshack (1980). Here, he played "Al Czervik", a rich golfer who was a basically nice guy who was extremely outspoken and very obnoxious. His character was often unhappy with the rich snobbery he was around, and he takes on the rich people that are so snobby to him. The average guy that his character portrayed was an instant hit, and a formula that Dangerfield often stuck with. Also, in 1980, Rodney came out with a popular comedy album, "Rappin Rodney". The album earned Dangerfield a Grammy for best comedy album. The next movie on Rodney's agenda was Easy Money (1983), a comedy that showed him as an insulting working class person who suddenly becomes a millionaire. The movie was also a big hit. Dangerfield became very sparse in his roles on TV and film about this time. The year 1986 saw the comedy, Back to School (1986), his biggest film to date. The comedy was one of the first to gross over 100 million. In 1994, Dangerfield starred in his first dramatic role in the successful Oliver Stone film, Natural Born Killers (1994). He played an abusive father who drove one of the killers crazy. His part was critically-acclaimed. In 1995, Dangerfield entered the world of cyberspace, becoming the first entertainer to have a website on the world-wide web. In 1997, he starred in Meet Wally Sparks (1997), a political and talk show satire which was poorly received. In 2000, Dangerfield starred as "the Devil" in Little Nicky (2000). The movie was potentially a huge hit, but was a failure by most accounts. Dangerfield took a very small part, but was top-billed in the direct-to-video The Godson (1998), and starred in the direct-to-video My 5 Wives (2000). But it has not been all smooth sailing for this comedian. In 1997, he admitted to a lifelong bout with depression and, on his 80th birthday, had a mild heart attack. He has major fans from all kinds of people from all different backgrounds. Dangerfield had made a record 70 appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962), and had discovered many struggling comedians, including Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, Roseanne Barr, Robert Townsend, Sam Kinison and Tim Allen. The comedian owned a legendary nightclub in Manhattan called "Dangerfield's". In the 1990s, he made highly-publicized appearances on The Simpsons (1989), In Living Color (1990), Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995), Home Improvement (1991), Suddenly Susan (1996), among others. In 1993, he married Joan Dangerfield (aka Joan Child), a woman thirty years younger than him, and a Mormon. He died on October 5, 2004, after falling into a coma following heart surgery. Hide

If it weren't for pickpockets, I'd have no sex life at all. If it weren't for pickpockets, I'd have no sex life at all.

When I get in an elevator, the operator takes one look and says, "Basement?" When I get in an elevator, the operator takes one look and says, "Basement?"

[on 8/24/04, before entering a Los Angeles hospital for heart valve replacement surgery] If things g Show more [on 8/24/04, before entering a Los Angeles hospital for heart valve replacement surgery] If things go right, I'll be there about a week, and if things don't go right, I'll be there about an hour and a half. Hide

My cousin's gay. He went to London only to find out that Big Ben is a clock. My cousin's gay. He went to London only to find out that Big Ben is a clock.

[asked who makes him laugh] My wife, during sex. [asked who makes him laugh] My wife, during sex.

My mother never breast-fed me. She told me she liked me better as a friend. My mother never breast-fed me. She told me she liked me better as a friend.

I don't get no respect, no respect at all! I don't get no respect, no respect at all!

My psychiatrist told me I was crazy, and I said I wanted a second opinion. He said, 'Okay, you're ug Show more My psychiatrist told me I was crazy, and I said I wanted a second opinion. He said, 'Okay, you're ugly too.' Hide

I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous: everyone hasn't met m Show more I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous: everyone hasn't met me yet. Hide

To give you an idea how well I was doing at the time I quit [he had given up on show business in 194 Show more To give you an idea how well I was doing at the time I quit [he had given up on show business in 1949], I was the only one who knew I quit. Hide

[in a 1986 interview, explaining the origin of his "no respect" routine] I had this joke: "I played Show more [in a 1986 interview, explaining the origin of his "no respect" routine] I had this joke: "I played hide and seek; they wouldn't even look for me". To make it work better, you look for something to put in front of it: "I was so poor, I was so dumb", so this, so that. I thought, "Now what fits that joke?" Well, "No one liked me" was all right. But then I thought, "A more profound thing would be, 'I get no respect!' ". Hide

My dog learned how to beg by watching me through the bedroom door. My dog learned how to beg by watching me through the bedroom door.

What a kid I've got. I told him about the birds and the bees, and he told me about the butcher and m Show more What a kid I've got. I told him about the birds and the bees, and he told me about the butcher and my wife. Hide

I'm very lucky. Years ago they had images, like W.C. Fields, Laurel and Hardy, Groucho Marx. But tod Show more I'm very lucky. Years ago they had images, like W.C. Fields, Laurel and Hardy, Groucho Marx. But today, I think I'm the only one around with an image. And that image is something everyone identified with. They all feel life treated 'em wrong and they got no respect. Hide

I drink too much. The last time I gave a urine sample it had an olive in it. I drink too much. The last time I gave a urine sample it had an olive in it.

My wife was afraid of the dark. Then she saw me naked, and now she's afraid of the light. My wife was afraid of the dark. Then she saw me naked, and now she's afraid of the light.

I told my doctor that when I woke up in the morning I couldn't stand looking at myself in the mirror Show more I told my doctor that when I woke up in the morning I couldn't stand looking at myself in the mirror. He said, "At least we know your vision is perfect." Hide

When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them. When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them.

At my age, making love is like trying to shoot pool with a rope. At my age, making love is like trying to shoot pool with a rope.

I feel sorry for short people, you know. When it rains, they're the last to know. I feel sorry for short people, you know. When it rains, they're the last to know.

It's lonely on the top when there's no one on the bottom. It's lonely on the top when there's no one on the bottom.

My wife and I were happy for 20 years. Then we met. My wife and I were happy for 20 years. Then we met.

My wife was afraid of the dark, saw me naked, now she's afraid of the light! My wife was afraid of the dark, saw me naked, now she's afraid of the light!

I looked up my family tree and found three dogs using it. I looked up my family tree and found three dogs using it.

I was ugly, very ugly. When I was born, the doctor smacked my mother. I was ugly, very ugly. When I was born, the doctor smacked my mother.

I was an ugly child. I got lost on the beach. I asked a cop if he could find my parents. He said, 'I Show more I was an ugly child. I got lost on the beach. I asked a cop if he could find my parents. He said, 'I don't know. There's lots of places for them to hide'. Hide

Last week my house was on fire. My wife told the kids, 'Be quiet, you'll wake up Daddy'. Last week my house was on fire. My wife told the kids, 'Be quiet, you'll wake up Daddy'.

Comedy is a camouflage for depression. Comedy is a camouflage for depression.

I'm taking Viagra and drinking prune juice. I don't know if I'm coming or going. I'm taking Viagra and drinking prune juice. I don't know if I'm coming or going.

I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio. I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.

I found there was only one way to look thin: hang out with fat people. I found there was only one way to look thin: hang out with fat people.

Rodney Dangerfield's FILMOGRAPHY

All as Actor (144) as Creator (2)

Back To School

Easy Money

Rodney Dangerfield'S roles

Thornton Melon

Larry Burns

Lucifer

Monty Capuletti

Himself, Himself - Host, Various

Al Czervik