Rodney Dangerfield
Acting • Born 1921-11-22 – Died 2004-10-05
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.
Filmography
68 credits
Natural Born Killers
Movie • 1994
Mallory's Dad
Rover Dangerfield
Movie • 1991
Rover (voice)
Caddyshack
Movie • 1980
Al Czervik
Casper
Movie • 1995
Rodney Dangerfield (uncredited)
Little Nicky
Movie • 2000
Lucifer
Meet Wally Sparks
Movie • 1997
Wally Sparks
The Projectionist
Movie • 1970
Renaldi / The Bat
The 4th Tenor
Movie • 2002
Lupo
Back to School
Movie • 1986
Thornton Melon
My 5 Wives
Movie • 2000
Monte Peterson
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
Movie • 1982
Self / Various
The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More
Movie • 1983
Self / Various
The Godson
Movie • 1998
The Rodfather
Back By Midnight
Movie • 2005
Jake Puloski
Easy Money
Movie • 1983
Monty Capuletti
Brother Sam: A Tribute to Sam Kinison
Movie • 2005
Himself
Ladybugs
Movie • 1992
Chester Lee
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show
Movie • 1991
Self
Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy
Movie • 2001
Self (archive footage)
Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special
Movie • 1985
host
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
Movie • 1999
Self
Rusty: A Dog's Tale
Movie • 1998
Bandit the Rabbit (voice)
Rodney Dangerfield: Exposed!
Movie • 1985
Himself
Rodney Dangerfield: Nothin' Goes Right
Movie • 1988
Self
Rodney Dangerfield: Opening Night at Rodney's Place
Movie • 1989
Self
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
Movie • 1986
Self
Guide to Golf Style and Etiquette
Movie • 1996
Himself
The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall
Movie • 2013
Self (archive footage)
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
Movie • 1977
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast
Movie • 1997
Self
Benny & Barney: Las Vegas Undercover
Movie • 1977
Manager
Casper: A Spirited Beginning
Movie • 1997
Johnny Hunt
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
Movie • 2006
The Onion Movie
Movie • 2008
Rodney Dangerfield
Angels with Angles
Movie • 2005
God
The Earth Day Special
Movie • 1990
Dr. Vinny Boombatz
The Electric Piper
Movie • 2003
Rat-A-Tat-Tat (voice)
Caddyshack: The 19th Hole
Movie • 1999
Al Czervik (archive footage)
A Tribute to Sam Kinison
Movie • 1993
Self - Host
Moving
Movie • 1988
Loan Broker (uncredited)
Rodney Dangerfield: Rodney's Act
Movie • 2004
Himself
This Is Your Life: 30th Anniversary Special
Movie • 1981
Self
An Amazin Era: Revised and Updated
Movie • 1989
Self
The Many Faces of Jim Carrey
Movie • 2023
Self (Archive Footage)
An Amazin' Era
Movie • 1986
Self
Muscle Rock Madness
Movie • 1992
Self
The Simpsons
TV • 1989
Larry Burns (voice)
Phil of the Future
TV • 2004
Home Improvement
TV • 1991
Rodney Dangerfield
The Single Guy
TV • 1995
Rodney Dangerfield
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TV • 1992
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self
MADtv
TV • 1995
Self - Host
Saturday Night Special
TV • 1996
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
Where's Rodney?
TV • 1990
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV • 1948
Self
The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour
TV • 1977
Suddenly Susan
TV • 1996
Artie
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
The Dean Martin Show
TV • 1965
The Dick Cavett Show
TV • 1968
Self - Guest
Still Standing
TV • 2002
Ed Bailey
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
TV • 1995
Rodney (voice)
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self (uncredited)
Late Night with David Letterman
TV • 1982
Self - Guest