“When I got out of high school, I wanted to be an actor but was getting a lot of rejections. I was getting rejected by life. My mother, God rest her soul, told me not to quit.”

Don Rickles was an American comedian and actor known for his sharp, often abrasive humor and signature "You're killin' me, Smoky!" catchphrase. He became famous for his improvisational comedy routines and his work as a comedian on late-night television and in films.