One of the most established names in Hollywood and Las Vegas - internationally renowned comedian, actor and entertainer Don Rickles - has signed for a sixth consecutive year at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Rickles will make two weekend appearances at The Orleans in 2013: April 13-14 and September 28-29.
Rickles will be headlining in the Entertainment Capital of the World for the 54th consecutive year, an all-time Las Vegas record.
"We've had the honor of working with Don for more than a decade, and over that time he has truly become a part of the Boyd Gaming family," said
Terry Jenkins, Boyd Gaming Corporate Director of Entertainment. "Don is a true Las Vegas legend, and he's consistently sold out every engagement he's done with Boyd Gaming. We're thrilled to have him back at The Orleans in 2013, and look forward to continued success together."
Rickles is enthusiastic about the opportunity to continue performing in the 827-seat Showroom, an intimate venue that allows entertainers to connect with their audiences.
"When I first came to Las Vegas, there were just a few hotels with no guests, and bellboys looking for work," Rickles said. "Now, 54 years later, things are different. I live like a king in the penthouse at The Orleans, but there's one problem... the elevator only goes to the floor below, so I have to shimmy up a cable to get to my room! Seriously, though, I'm thrilled by my new contract at The Orleans."
Tickets to the April 13-14 performances are now on sale. For further information call
702.365.7075, or visit
www.orleanscasino.com.
Having earned the nicknames "The Merchant of Venom" and "Mr. Warmth," (the latter coined affectionately by
Johnny Carson), Rickles' style of comedy is never mean-spirited and all part of his act. It has been said that being "zinged" by Rickles is like "wearing a badge of honor."
Rickles took his first step toward national fame in 1957, when Rickles spotted
Frank Sinatra in the audience at a nightclub in Miami Beach. The still-unknown Rickles eyed Sinatra and said, "I just saw your movie, 'The Pride and the Passion,' and I want to tell you, the cannon was great. Make yourself at home, Frank. Hit somebody." Sinatra, whose pet name for Rickles was "bullet-head," enjoyed Rickles so much that he returned to see him when he was performing in Los Angeles, and encouraged other celebrities to see his act. Rickles soon became the "in" comic among Hollywood stars, who flocked to see him to become a target of his insults. Sinatra's continuing support helped Rickles become a popular performer in Las Vegas, where he first started in 1959, and has been a headliner ever since.
Shortly after being discovered by Sinatra, Rickles made his acting debut in 1958's "Run Silent Run Deep." The movie was a hit, launching Rickles towards a celebrated career as a movie, television and theater actor. His still-growing television and film resume includes roles in "Casino," "Kelly's Heroes," "The Rat Race," all three "Toy Story" films, HBO's "Tales From the Crypt," and Bravo's "My Life on the D-List" with
Kathy Griffin. In 2011, he made a surprise appearance in a "cliff-hanger" episode as the "thought to be dead" husband of
Betty White's character on the TV Land comedy "Hot In Cleveland." Later in the year, he returned to the show for the "payoff." He recently appeared on Showtime's new series "Inside Comedy," where fellow comedian
David Steinberg interviewed him. In 2000, Rickles received one of the highest honors in the entertainment business, when he received a star on the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Rickles has received two Primetime Emmy Awards, including Best Individual Performance in a Variety or Musical for the 2008 HBO special "Mr. Warmth: The
Don Rickles Project." In 2009, cable network TV Land honored Rickles with the "Legend Award." Rickles' best-selling memoir "Rickles' Book" was released in 2007, and was followed up with the 2008 title "Rickles' Letters."
In spring 2012, Rickles joined David Letterman as the only performers to receive the prestigious "
Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence" at The Comedy Awards, aired on Comedy Central. The award was presented to Rickles by
Jon Stewart and
Robert DeNiro.
In addition to recurring dates in Las Vegas at The Orleans, Rickles continues to be a popular performer in venues throughout the country.
