Biography
Legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield's signature line, "I don't get no respect," belied a man and a career revered by friends and fans alike. Having started in stand-up comedy prior to his friend and contemporary Lenny Bruce, Dangerfield temporarily set his dreams aside a decade later only to give it another try at the tender age of 40. After years on the New York club circuit and performances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (CBS, 1948-1971), he …
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Career Milestones
| Began showbiz comeback with a historic appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show"; made the normally stone-faced host laugh | ||
| Married and left comedy at around age 28 | ||
| Worked as a housepainter and aluminum siding salesman in Englewood, NJ; ran own business | ||
1936 | Began writing jokes around age 15 (date approximate) | |
1938 | Began appearing in amateur nights by age 17 (date approximate) | |
1940 | Worked as a singing waiter and comic in Brooklyn by age 19 (date approximate) | |
1941 | Performed standup in nightclubs under pseudonym Jack Roy | |
1971 | Screen acting debut in "The Projectionist", a cult low-budget comedy feature starring Chuck McCann | |
1977 | Opened his own comedy nightclub, Dangerfield's, in NYC; founder and owner | |
1977 | TV-movie debut in pilot "Benny & Barney: Las Vegas Undercover" (NBC) | |
1980 | First starring vehicle, "Caddyshack" | |
1982 | Starred in first comedy special, "The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me" (ABC) | |
1983 | First screenwriting credit for "Easy Money" (also starred) | |
1985 | TV producing debut, executive produced "Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special" for HBO | |
1986 | Starred in hit comedy "Back to School" | |
1988 | Broadway debut, "Rodney Dangerfield on Broadway!" at the Mark Hellinger Theatre | |
1990 | Awarded $725,000 from Caesars Palace by a federal jury after his eyes were burned in a steam bath accident; awarded $225,000 for performances he missed in March 1988; awarded $500,000 for his pain and suffering | |
1991 | Executive produced and hosted "Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show" for the "HBO Comedy Hour" | |
1991 | Feature producing debut, the animated musical feature "Rover Dangerfield"; also provided voice-over for protagonist | |
1991 | Had award cut by a federal judge who ruled that he was only entitled to $50,000 for pain and suffering rather than the $500,000 awarded by the jury | |
1991 | Sued by the entertainment law firm of Lavely and Singer for allegedly not paying his legal bills | |
1995 | Had his application for membership rejected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | |
1995 | Reportedly became the first entertainer to personally own his own website on the World Wide Web | |
1997 | Honored with a tribute at the third US Comedy Arts Festival, held in Aspen, Colorado with HBO as the primary sponsor; a special, "Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast", later aired on HBO | |
1997 | Wrote and starred in the comedy "Meet Wally Sparks", about a TV talk show host | |
2000 | Starred as a polygamist in "My 5 Wives" | |
2001 | Suffered mild heart attack on his 80th birthday | |
2003 | Underwent arterial brain surgery to improve his body's blood flow in preparation for an upcoming heart valve replacement | |
2004 | Went on tour to promote his memoirs "It's Not Easy Bein' Me: A Lifetime of No Respect but Plenty of Sex and Drugs" | |
Awards
1980 | Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording |