Rodney Dangerfield
Biography
Jack Roy (born Jacob Rodney Cohen; November 22, 1921 – October 5, 2004), better known by the pseudonym Rodney Dangerfield, was an American stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer. He was known for his self-deprecating one-liner humor, his catchphrase "I don't get no respect!" and his monologues on that theme.
He began his career working as a stand-up comic at the Fantasy Lounge in New York City. His act grew in popularity as he became a mainstay on late-night talk shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s, eventually developing into a headlining act on the Las Vegas casino circuit. His catchphrase "I don't get no respect!" came from an attempt to improve one of his stand-up jokes. "I played hide and seek; they wouldn't even look for me." He thought the joke would be stronger if it used the format: "I was so ..." beginning ("I was so poor," "He was so ugly," "She was so stupid," etc.).[clarification needed] He tried "I get no respect," and got a much better response from the audience; it became a permanent feature of his act and comedic persona.
He appeared in a few bit parts in films, such as The Projectionist, throughout the 1970s, but his breakout film role came in 1980 as a boorish nouveau riche golfer in the ensemble comedy Caddyshack, which was followed by two additional successful films in which he starred: 1983's Easy Money and 1986's Back to School. Additional film work kept him busy through the rest of his life, mostly in comedies, but with a rare dramatic role in 1994's Natural Born Killers as an abusive father.
Movies 49
Casper
as Rodney Dangerfield
1995
Natural Born Killers
as Mallory's Dad
1994
The Killing
as Onlooker (uncredited)
1956
Little Nicky
as Lucifer
2000
Caddyshack
as Al Czervik
1980
Back to School
as Thornton Melon
1986
Casper: A Spirited Beginning
as Mayor Hunt
1997
The Onion Movie
as Rodney Dangerfield
2008
Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy
as Self (archive footage)
2001
Easy Money
as Monty Capuletti
1983
The Earth Day Special
as Vinny Boombatz
1990
Ladybugs
as Chester Lee
1992
Rover Dangerfield
as Rover (voice)
1991
Meet Wally Sparks
as Wally Sparks
1997
Caddyshack: The 19th Hole
as Al Czervik (archive footage)
1999
The Godson
as The Rodfather
1998
Moving
as Loan Broker (uncredited)
1988
The Many Faces of Jim Carrey
as Self (Archive Footage)
2023
The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall
as Self (archive footage)
2013
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
as Self / Various
1982
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
as Self
1986
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show
as Self
1991
Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special
as host
1985
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
as Self
1999
Rusty: A Dog's Tale
as Bandit the Rabbit (voice)
1998
Adam Sandler Goes to Hell
as Self
2001
Rodney Dangerfield: Opening Night at Rodney's Place
as Self
1989
My 5 Wives
as Monte Peterson
2000
The Electric Piper
as Rat-A-Tat-Tat (voice)
2003
The Projectionist
as Renaldi / The Bat
1970
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast
as Self
1997
An Amazin' Era
as Self
1986
The 4th Tenor
as Lupo
2002
Command Performance: The Stars Salute the President
as Self
1981
Benny & Barney: Las Vegas Undercover
as Manager
1977
Back By Midnight
as Jake Puloski
2005
Rodney Dangerfield: Exposed!
as Himself
1985
Angels with Angles
as God
2005
Rodney Dangerfield: Nothin' Goes Right
as Self
1988
The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More
as Self / Various
1983
A Tribute to Sam Kinison
as Self - Host
1993
An Amazin Era: Revised and Updated
as Self
1989
Guide to Golf Style and Etiquette
as Himself
1996
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
2006
Brother Sam: A Tribute to Sam Kinison
as Himself
2005
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
1977
Muscle Rock Madness
as Self
1992
This Is Your Life: 30th Anniversary Special
as Self
1981
Rodney Dangerfield: Rodney's Act
as Himself
2004TV Shows 21
The Simpsons
as Larry Burns (voice)
1989
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
1962
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Host
1975
Saturday Night Live
as Self (uncredited)
1975
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
1961
Late Night with David Letterman
as Self - Guest
1982
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self
1962
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
The Dick Cavett Show
as Self - Guest
1968
Home Improvement
as Rodney Dangerfield
1991
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
1948
Still Standing
as Ed Bailey
2002
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
as Rodney (voice)
1995
The Dean Martin Show
1965
Phil of the Future
2004
Suddenly Susan
as Artie
1996
The Single Guy
as Rodney Dangerfield
1995
MADtv
as Self - Host
1995
Saturday Night Special
1996
Where's Rodney?
as Self
1990