Zip's Mighty Blog

R.I.P. - Rodney Dangerfield

Rodney Dangerfield, world-renowned comedian and movie star, died yesterday (Oct. 5) at 1:20 p.m. He had fallen into a coma after undergoing heart valve replacement surgery on August 25 at the University of California Medical Center in Las Angeles. Last week, however, he had awoken from the coma and showed signs of improvement. Unfortunately, his heart was still not strong enough to keep going. He was 82.

Rodney was a comedy god. His signature phrase, "I get no respect!", still echoes through every household in this country. His performances in films like Caddyshack and Back to School are the stuff of legends. There is not a single comedian who has worked over the past 30 years that has not been influenced by him in some way...many of which even got their start thanks to him. Rodney introduced the world to comedians like Tim Allen, Roseanne Barr, Jim Carrey, Jeff Foxworthy, Sam Kinison, Bob Saget, Jerry Seinfeld, Rita Rudner, Robert Townsend...the list goes on.

Personally, he is the reason I wanted to be a performer. It all started with Caddyshack. Here's this goofy, bug-eyed fat guy that's only in the movie for about 20 minutes, and he blows everyone else off the screen. His timing, his delivery, his facial expressions...they can't be topped. I saw him, and I said to myself, "Self", I said..."If this guy can make it, so can you!" It was the final line of the movie that would begin my idolitry of this man. He has the last line in the movie, and when he said it...tears were streaming down my face. Don't remember it? Click here to listen.

Read more about his life here, or visit his website - www.rodney.com

Posted by Zip at October 6, 2004 11:48 AM