Comedian Don Rickles speaks after receiving the Johnny Carson Award during the second annual 2012 Comedy Awards in New York April 28, 2012. (Reuters)
Comedy legend Don Rickles died at age 90 of kidney failure Thursday morning, his rep told Fox News.
"Mr. Warmth," known for his verbal assaults, endeared him to audiences and peers and made him the acknowledged grandmaster of insult comedy.
For more than half a century, the king of insult comedy headlined casinos and nightclubs from Las Vegas to Atlantic City. N.J., and appeared often on late-night TV talk shows.
His fellow Hollywood stars shared their reactions to his death.
My friend, my dad, the funniest biggest hearted of them all. A beautiful husband and father. My heart is broken. Rest In Peace. Don Rickles.
— bob saget (@bobsaget) April 6, 2017
He never was Politically Correct and he never apologized for it. R.I.P. Don Rickles @DonRickles
— Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) April 6, 2017
Don Rickles has passed away.
— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) April 6, 2017
A giant loss.
90 years with Don Rickles weren't enough. One of the sweetest and most lovely people I had the pleasure of knowing. We miss you already
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) April 6, 2017
In lieu of flowers, Don Rickles' family has requested that people drop their pants and fire a rocket. #RIPDonRickles
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 6, 2017
RIP Don Rickles. Legend.
— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) April 6, 2017
RIP Don Rickles, 90.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 6, 2017
One of the funniest men who ever lived. pic.twitter.com/8RvD1hGj2R
RIP Don Rickles An honor to have met you, sir.
— Dean Cain (@RealDeanCain) April 6, 2017
Don Rickles was simply the best. He created insult comedy &yet every 1 of his targets felt loved and honored. One of a kind.#RIPdonrickles
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) April 6, 2017
#RIP Don Rickles! pic.twitter.com/xkRSabFfWX
— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) April 6, 2017
💔💔💔Don Rickles💔💔💔
— Whitney Cummings (@WhitneyCummings) April 6, 2017
Don Rickles created a style of stand up and owned (!!!) it his entire career of 60+ years. It's unparalleled. No, I mean, NO ONE did that.
— Kevin Pollak (@kevinpollak) April 6, 2017
Don Rickles will be remembered as the comedian who broke the rules back before there were "insult" comics. My condolences to his family. RIP pic.twitter.com/tsYpu0h4Nw
— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) April 6, 2017
Don Rickles, you kept us laughing for so many years. We will miss you dearly. Thanks for the zingers. You were one of a kind.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) April 6, 2017
A national treasure is gone. Don Rickles' talent was limitless. To know him was a gift. He kept me laughing during 58-years of friendship. pic.twitter.com/B1IXEa9S4g
— Larry King (@kingsthings) April 6, 2017
Awwww man Rickles is dead. Rest In Peace buddy.
— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) April 6, 2017
Don once begged me for a couple of bucks then told me to twist myself into a pretzel. Ego slayer! Comic Everest! Spank you, Mr Rickles. ;^)
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) April 6, 2017
Aw jeez. Rickles .Sweetest, funniest, legend and mensch. Came to a party at my house gave me a dollar and told me to get a nicer place.#RIP
— Craig Ferguson (@CraigyFerg) April 6, 2017
As I was standing nearby, #DonRickles once whispered in my wife's ear, "What are you doing with a loser like him?" I was honored. #rip #sad
— Kevin Nealon (@kevin_nealon) April 6, 2017
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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