Don Rickles Awarded with Friars Club Lifetime Achievement Award, Tonight

Legendary actor/comedian Don Rickles will be honored with the Friars Club's Lifetime Achievement Award for Comedy at a star-studded awards gala which will be held on Monday, June 24, 2013 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Among those scheduled to participate in honoring Rickles through their songs or words will be Bob Costas, Tony Danza, Kathy Griffin, Diana Krall, John Mayer, Bob Newhart, Regis Philbin, Joan Rivers and Bob Saget.

One of the most respected talents inentertainment, Rickles, known affectionately as "Mr. Warmth," got his start in the night clubs. In 1958, Rickles made his film debut in Run Silent Run Deep and afterward, starred in films like X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes, The Rat Race, Enter Laughing, Kelly's Heroes, and Casino. He is well known to younger generations for his work most recently in the Toy Story franchise as the voice of the grouchy Mr. Potato Head character. In 1973, Rickles became a regular on Dean Martin's celebrity roasts, appearing frequently for the next decade, and paying tribute to friends like Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and even served as Roastmaster for Dean Martin himself. Rickles became an in-demand guest star not only for TV sitcoms, but also dramatic series. He starred in a number of network series, including C.P.O Sharkey. After memorable appearances starting in the 1960s with Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show," to this day, Rickles continues to be a much sought after guest on the talk show circuit frequently appearing on the "Late Show with David Letterman," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Jimmy Kimmel Live," and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson."

"I am so pleased that the Friars are honoring me. They have a wonderful picture of me on their Wall of Honor and, being a lifetime member, I'm very flattered, even though some of the members use it for target practice. I know this will be a special night and one that I'll always remember," says Rickles.

In 2000, Rickles was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2008, he earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for hisappearance in the documentary, Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project, which also won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. Last year, Rickles received the "Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence" at the annual Comedy Awards. A prolific entertainer, Rickles also had two best-selling comedy albums and two books which also made the best-seller charts.

"This will be an incredible night that will live forever in Friars Club history. We are so proud to be presenting this unique honor to Don Rickles, whose humanitarianendeavors mirror his accomplishments in entertainment," said Friars Foundation Chairman, Ambassador Joseph Zappala. "The Friars Foundation is honored to bestow our prestigious award upon such a major force in show business and a legend in comedy."

Previous Friars Foundation Award recipients include Natalie Cole, Tom Cruise, Tom Jones, Alan King and Les Moonves.

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