Today, actor and comedian Don Rickles, known to audiences as “Mr. Warmth” and to Disney fans as Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story films, passed away. He was 90 years old. As Variety reports, died in his Los Angeles home due to kidney failure.
Beyond the kid-friendly Toy Story films, Rickles was known as a roast comic or insult comic. As a result, he earned the much-cited nickname “Mr. Warmth,” which was also the name of the documentary about his career. His quick wit and biting humor also made him a favorite on late night talk shows and Vegas stages.
Rickles was survived by his wife Barbara, as well as a daughter, son, and two grandchildren.
UPDATE: John Lasseter shared a statement regarding Mr. Rickles:
“Don Rickles was a comic genius, and here at Pixar we were honored to also call him a friend. The wit, personality, and incredible timing he brought to Mr. Potato Head lit up the character and made him an essential part of the Toy Story ensemble. Even though Mr. Potato Head’s facial features fell off in every Toy Story movie, his heart never left him – that was because of Don. We will miss him tremendously. -John Lasseter
