A CLASSIC LATE-NIGHT ENCOUNTER
There was something completely unpredictable about watching Don Rickles sit down for a late-night television interview.
He could turn an ordinary question into a punchline before the host even knew where the conversation was going.
That energy is exactly what made his appearances so memorable.
In this 1987 appearance with David Letterman, Rickles brings the same fast-paced personality that made him one of the most recognizable comedians of his generation.
RICKLES AND LETTERMAN
The chemistry between Don Rickles and David Letterman was particularly entertaining.
Letterman had a famously unusual interview style, while Rickles had no problem taking control of a conversation.
Instead of simply answering questions, Rickles could transform the interview into a performance.
Every pause, expression, interruption, and reaction became part of the comedy.
Their relationship also extended well beyond this particular appearance.
Letterman later recalled meeting Rickles in the 1970s and described him as someone who had a major impact on his life.
At Rickles’ 88th-birthday tribute in 2014, Letterman said Rickles had appeared on his program many times and described their...
