Don Rickles (1926–2017) was a comedian and actor. Born in Queens, New York, he rose to fame in the 1960s with his sharp wit and fearless brand of humor. Rickles became a fixture on late-night television, a beloved guest of Johnny Carson and David Letterman, and a regular performer in Las Vegas. Beyond stand-up, he enjoyed a successful acting career, appearing in films such as Kelly’s Heroes and Casino, and voicing Mr. Potato Head in Pixar’s Toy Story franchise.
David Ritz is a songwriter who has collaborated with stars like Janet Jackson and Marvin Gaye, as well as a renowned ghostwriter who has authored more than fifty books for some of the biggest stars in music: Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Lenny Kravitz, Joe Perry, Smokey Robinson, Don Rickles, and Willie Nelson, to name a few. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Essence, People, Art Connoisseur, and elsewhere. He lives in Los Angeles with Roberta, his wife of nearly fifty years.