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The first-ever biography of legendary comic Rodney Dangerfield, whose rise to fame from anxious failure to America’s most loveable, disrespected schlub was the most improbable in the history of American comedy.
Rodney Dangerfield’s fidgety delivery, self-deprecating humor, and catchphrase, “I don’t get no respect,” made him a comedy icon in nightclubs, on television, and in movies. But Rodney’s long road to stardom was as rocky as his real life. Born Jacob Cohen in 1921 to a coldhearted mother and absentee father, anxiety-prone Jacob found escape from reality by writing and performing jokes. It led to ten years going nowhere on the “toilets” of the club circuit. What followed was marriage, fatherhood, selling aluminum siding, and depression, self-doubt, and debt. That’s when he decided to give comedy one last shot . . .
Back in the clubs and thanks to a fortuitous prime time set on
Rodney mined his insecurities, personal and professional setbacks, and dismal childhood into comedy gold on the
An honest, moving, and funny portrait of the real Rodney Dangerfield,
About the author
Michael Seth Starr covered television at the New York Post as a reporter, columnist, critic, and editor for over 28 years. He has written a filmography of Peter Sellers and biographies of Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles, Bob Newhart, Art Carney, Joey Bishop, Bobby Darin, Raymond Burr, William Shatner, Redd Foxx, and Ringo Starr. He has made frequent appearances on television including The Today Show, Access Hollywood, Good Morning America, The Early Show, Larry King Live, Extra, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Inside Edition, Entertainment Tonight, and Tavis Smiley. He lives in New Jersey and can be found online at MichaelSethStarr.com.
