Believe it or not comedian Don Rickles, the Merchant of Venom, The Caliph of Calumny, and Mister Warmth was once a dedicated student at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

As a movie struck kid in New York City, Don aspired to share the Big Screen with such idols as Clark Gable and James Cagney. He got his wish in his first film in the 1958' with Run Silent Run Deep, wherein Clark Gable topped the cast. Don went onto receive critical praise for his villainous performance in Rat Race in 1960. He has also appeared in Casino, and the revolutionary computer animated features, Toy Story 1 and 2 for Walt Disney Pictures, and the now cult classic Kelly's Heroes.

During a long period between acting assignments, Don decided to do some stand-up comedy at a few local comedy clubs. He began as a traditional stand-up comic, but when annoyed by hecklers, he instinctively insulted the insulters back as a defense mechanism. Audiences laughed harder at his impromptu insults than at his prepared material, and thus the dye was cast for Don's show business future. A small step forward in Don's career occurred in 1957 in a small Hollywood nightclub. One night Frank Sinatra wandered in. Don, still unknown, eyed Frank and said, "I just saw your movie, The Pride and the Passion, and I want to tell you, the cannon was great. And, make yourself at home, Frank. Hit somebody."

Frank doubled up laughing and became one of Don's biggest boosters among Hollywood celebrities. Don soon became the "in" comic among the Hollywood stars, who flocked to his nightclub engagements to become the targets of his "insults."

Although it is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment of his breakthrough, Don believes the ball really started rolling on the night of October 7th, 1965, during his first appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. His freewheeling performance that night became the talk of the show business industry and caused nationwide comment among the press and public.

The next important breakthrough for Don occurred during the summer of 1967. He was signed to appear on The Dean Martin Show and he scored a major success. Immediately following the taping, Don was signed for a second guest shot on the show. Celebrities were invited to sit in the audience to become the targets of Don's "insults." Celebrities he faced that night included Bob Hope, Danny Thomas, Bob Newhart, Earnest Borgnine and Don Adams. Particularly memorable was his remark as Bob Hope walked into the studio and took a seat. It was during the Vietnam War. Don snapped, "What's Bob Hope doing here? Is the war over?"

HBO recently premiered Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project, A film from John Landis celebrating this comedic legend in his own time. John Landis, the director behind Animal House and The Blues Brothers first met Don on a shoot as an 18-year old gofer. Now, decades later, John shows the warm heart behind this famous cantankerous on-stage personality.