Jimmy Kimmel gets choked up telling hilarious Don Rickles stories
The comedian is probably best known for his dry delivery and Matt Damon insults, but he showed a different side of himself Thursday night.
Jimmy Kimmel is probably best known for his dry delivery and Matt Damon insults, but he showed a different side of himself Thursday night when he got extremely emotional during his late-night show's monologue. He turned his opener into a tribute for his friend Don Rickles, the insult comedian who died Thursday at 90. Kimmel apologized to the studio audience for giving them something other than the usual joke-heavy intro.
"Well, I'm not good with this sort of thing, and I'm sorry, especially to those of you who came here to see the show in person, because that's probably not what you came for," he said, barely able to speak through tears. "But we lost someone that we and I love very much today."
The monologue was especially memorable because Kimmel shared some very funny stories about Rickles. It turns out that the host and Rickles became close after the older comedian finally agreed — after much pestering — to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2006.
Kimmel read a sampling of the 27 letters Rickles mailed him over the years, which the late-show host had saved. Rickles used to overnight the notes, so each one cost about $20 to send.
"He spent over $500 on postage alone for these," Kimmel said, sounding incredulous.
Some of the letters:
"Dear Jimmy, Thanks so much for inviting me into your home for dinner. But, to be honest, we would have preferred a three-month trip to Venice, Italy."
"Dear Jimmy, thanks so much for the beautiful frame of you and I. Who needs Sinatra? Your picture of us together is much more important. Please don't show this note to anyone because it could cause harm to me and my family."
"Dear Jimmy, we watched your Academy Awards show. Barbara loved every bit of it, but here's what I thought: You were on camera too much. All in all it was okay. We love you, so don't worry."
Kimmel is just one of many stars who have been sharing hysterical, sweet memories of the late comedian, who was best known for his biting cut-downs, which belied what a sweet guy he could be.
Kimmel's staff also put together a reel of Rickles's appearances on the show, during which he called Kimmel a "dumbbell," told the host he ought to get a nose job and offered, during his eighth appearance, to "drop my pants and fire a rocket."
"I know it sounds crazy to say he was too young," Kimmel said of the nonagenarian. "But he was, because he was youthful and so funny and sharp and generous."