Don Rickles passed away from kidney failure yesterday at the age of 90 at his Los Angeles home, his publicist Paul Shefrin announced in a statement last night. Rickles, the "king of insult comedy", was an icon to many inside the comedy world and outside of it and has sparked an outpouring or grief Stateside that is rarely seen.
Of all the tributes, it was Jimmy Kimmel who was the most emotional and committed the most time to remembering Rickles, a friend and mentor to Kimmel, on his show last night and of all of the eulogies for him, we think Kimmel's will be the one that you should listen to.
Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers also made tributes to Rickles at the top of their shows, saluting the man who no doubt shaped their careers.
RIP Don Rickles. pic.twitter.com/dOk3ycHgao
— Late Night (@LateNightSeth) April 7, 2017
Other celebrities and friends of Rickles paid tribute to the comedian and actor on Twitter, most remembering him with a smile and a joke as is apt.
A God died today. Don Rickles, we did not want to ever lose you. Never. Hanx.
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) April 6, 2017
My friend, my dad, the funniest biggest hearted of them all. A beautiful husband and father. My heart is broken. Rest In Peace. Don Rickles.
— bob saget (@bobsaget) April 6, 2017
The world just got a lot less funny and just when we needed it the most. I will treasure our friendship forever sweet Don. #RIPDonRickles pic.twitter.com/SGw5YF5GdK
— John Stamos (@JohnStamos) April 6, 2017
90 years with Don Rickles weren't enough. One of the sweetest and most lovely people I had the pleasure of knowing. We miss you already
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) April 6, 2017
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) April 6, 2017
RIP Don Rickles. One of the funniest people that ever lived, you dumb schmuck.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) April 6, 2017
Don Rickles has passed away.
A giant loss.— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) April 6, 2017
RIP to this sweet and lovely man pic.twitter.com/j8mseq1aSY
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) April 6, 2017
RIP Mr Warmth, Don Rickles. I've gone down a YouTube rabbit hole many times watching his old chat show appearances & roasts. So very funny.
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) April 6, 2017
I was honored to b publicly humiliated by this comedy titan a few times! I saw him give an impromptu wedding toast last yr & he killed! https://t.co/eiUUrhG8Ll
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) April 6, 2017
Don once begged me for a couple of bucks then told me to twist myself into a pretzel. Ego slayer! Comic Everest! Spank you, Mr Rickles. ;^)
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) April 6, 2017
Awwww man Rickles is dead. Rest In Peace buddy.
— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) April 6, 2017
In lieu of flowers, Don Rickles' family has requested that people drop their pants and fire a rocket. #RIPDonRickles
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 6, 2017
Rickles is gone. He was the best, you hockey pucks. RIP
— marc maron (@marcmaron) April 6, 2017
A national treasure is gone. Don Rickles' talent was limitless. To know him was a gift. He kept me laughing during 58-years of friendship. pic.twitter.com/B1IXEa9S4g
— Larry King (@kingsthings) April 6, 2017
Being skewered by Don Rickles was side-splitting funny.
A gentle soul with rapid fire wit. xoB pic.twitter.com/yl2mnT32Zz— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) April 6, 2017
The friendship The advice. The laughs. The toasts. The dinners. I Love you, Don. @DonRickles #DonRickles #LoopGroup pic.twitter.com/GqJmFSW3mD
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) April 6, 2017
Rest In Peace Don Rickles. It was my pleasure to get to know him a little bit about 15 years ago. What a hilarious, generous and lovely guy.
— Hank Azaria (@HankAzaria) April 6, 2017
What a hero. ðŸ'?ðŸ?¾ðŸ¤™ðŸ?¾ https://t.co/bYQmr9GtbX
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 6, 2017
Don Rickles saw me in the audience. Had me stand up. Everyone applauded. Then he eviscerated me. I was honored.
— Jeff Daniels (@Jeff_Daniels) April 6, 2017
Don Rickles was one the absolute greats. I feel lucky for the times I was ever in his orbit, my thoughts are with his family today x
— James Corden (@JKCorden) April 6, 2017
Stunned/saddened to hear Don Rickles passed away this morning. Just saw him again in LA recently--sharply funny onstage, sweet offstage.
— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) April 6, 2017
Those were the days, my friend @DonRickles We thought they'd never end. We loved you so.
— Dick Van Dyke (@iammrvandy) April 6, 2017
One of my favorite notes I got from Don Rickles: pic.twitter.com/bE2Zf6zbbW
— Lee Unkrich (@leeunkrich) April 6, 2017
RIP The Don.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 6, 2017
He was the love of my life . Don Rickles is funnier right now in death than most comics are in life. pic.twitter.com/jcWIhdJsgX
— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) April 6, 2017
I was thrilled to interview/be insulted non-stop by the legendary Don Rickles. I will sorely miss this incredibly funny and lovable man.
— Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) April 6, 2017
#RIP @DonRickles you will be horribly missed. But God will be so honored when you call him a Hockey Puck pic.twitter.com/kulixjkwTP
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) April 6, 2017
Don Rickles. One of the bravest, funniest, and sweetest guys that ever performed. A dear pal that we will all sorely miss.
— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) April 6, 2017