2008 Woodie Awards
The death of a Legend
Rodney Dangerfield passes on, but will never be forgotten.
Justin Lyman
Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: Features
" I don't get no respect." That was the signature line of one of the most respected comedians in the world, Rodney Dangerfield. The mere mention of the name brings a quick quip to ones brain such as "When I was born, I was so ugly the doctor slapped my mother."
That was his style. He was not going to pull any punches and was going to get his message across in any way possible.
Rodney Dangerfield passed away Tuesday, October 5, 2004 at 1:20 p.m. He entered the hospital in late August for heart valve surgery. Upon entering, he said, "If things go right, I'll be here about a week and if things don't go right, I'll be here about an hour and a half."
Dangerfield first broke into entertainment over 50 years ago as a standup comedian and a singing waiter. However, his first attempt was unsuccessful. This, nevertheless, did not faze him. He did give up on comedy for a short while but was encouraged to go back into the business he loved.
He was bolstered his second time around with many appearances on late-night television shows including over 70 appearances on the "Tonight Show" and the "Dean Martin Show".
His first break into movies occurred in a low budget movie, The Projectionist. He played a figment of the imagination of the main character, who is bent on saving the world in his own head.
His movie characters were almost always typecast as the loveable loser. Whether you were watching Caddyshack or Little Nicky, you always knew that he was just trying to get by in a world that didn't want him.
His biggest hit movie would have to be Back to School, in which he played Thorton Melon, a self made millionaire that had to convince his son to stay in college by actually buying his way into the school. This was his first movie to break the $100 million barrier.
Despite his success in the movie industry, the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences rejected his application for membership in 1995. Roddy McDowell of the Actors' Branch of the Recording Arts and Sciences explained, somewhat plainly, "that he [Dangerfield] did not play enough of the kinds of roles that allow a performer to demonstrate the mastery of his craft."
That was his style. He was not going to pull any punches and was going to get his message across in any way possible.
Rodney Dangerfield passed away Tuesday, October 5, 2004 at 1:20 p.m. He entered the hospital in late August for heart valve surgery. Upon entering, he said, "If things go right, I'll be here about a week and if things don't go right, I'll be here about an hour and a half."
Dangerfield first broke into entertainment over 50 years ago as a standup comedian and a singing waiter. However, his first attempt was unsuccessful. This, nevertheless, did not faze him. He did give up on comedy for a short while but was encouraged to go back into the business he loved.
He was bolstered his second time around with many appearances on late-night television shows including over 70 appearances on the "Tonight Show" and the "Dean Martin Show".
His first break into movies occurred in a low budget movie, The Projectionist. He played a figment of the imagination of the main character, who is bent on saving the world in his own head.
His movie characters were almost always typecast as the loveable loser. Whether you were watching Caddyshack or Little Nicky, you always knew that he was just trying to get by in a world that didn't want him.
His biggest hit movie would have to be Back to School, in which he played Thorton Melon, a self made millionaire that had to convince his son to stay in college by actually buying his way into the school. This was his first movie to break the $100 million barrier.
Despite his success in the movie industry, the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences rejected his application for membership in 1995. Roddy McDowell of the Actors' Branch of the Recording Arts and Sciences explained, somewhat plainly, "that he [Dangerfield] did not play enough of the kinds of roles that allow a performer to demonstrate the mastery of his craft."
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