Trivia

The epitaph on his tombstone reads "There goes the neighborhood".

Despite being known for playing belligerent losers, he was by all accounts a sensitive and intelligent man and resented being confused with his comedic persona.

Was the first entertainer to own a website (www.rodney.com), which was launched in February 1995.

Went public about his lifelong bout with depression in 1997.

In his 20-4 autobiography "It Ain't Easy Bein' Me", he revealed that he was paid $35,000 to star in Caddyshack (1980), but in doing so he had to give up more than $100,000 in bookings in Las Vegas in order to make the movie.

His trademark white shirt and red tie are on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

According to director Oliver Stone, Dangerfield didn't understand Natural Born Killers (1994) during shooting and didn't understand what Stone was trying to do by shooting such a dark subject as a father molesting his daughter in the style of a 1950s sitcom. As such, he found it very difficult to perform his part. However, Stone was delighted that when the film came out, Dangerfield's performance was hailed as one of the movie's strongest points.

Based his famous "I get no respect" on The Godfather (1972), since he figured that "Vito Corleone" had respect. He also based it on an experience he had at a nightclub. One night, he saw an older, low-level gangster complaining about how young people gave him "no respect, no respect at all" and he never forgot it.

One of the great late bloomers of Hollywood. He was already near 60 when his first big movie, Caddyshack (1980), premiered in 1980.

After he quit show business in 1949 he became an aluminum-siding salesman on Long Island (NY). He was actually quite successful at it, and eventually owned his own home improvement business, which he abandoned when he relaunched his career in the early 1960s.

Made 70 appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962).

Through his HBO shows from Dangerfield's--his New York City comedy club--he introduced Jim Carrey, Roseanne Barr, Louie Anderson, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Rita Rudner, Sam Kinison, Robert Townsend, Bob Saget, and Jeff Foxworthy to TV.

Rodney was appearing on the Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno on November 21, 2001. While Rodney was doing his stand-up act Jay Leno later said that he thought "Rodney seemed a little off, he sweating profusely." He asked the director to call the paramedics. Rodney came over and sat down and finished his appearance, but was greeted back stage by the paramedics. Based on what they saw back stage, the paramedics transported him to the hospital where the next day it was revealed that Rodney had had a mild heart attack.

Died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications following heart valve replacement surgery he had undergone on August 25, 2004. After the surgery he slipped into a "light coma," from which he emerged briefly before his death. He is buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

Although there was Hollywood talk that his dramatic performance in Natural Born Killers (1994) was worthy of a supporting actor Oscar nomination, his application for membership in the Academy was rejected.

On Nov. 22, 2001, he suffered what was called a "mild" heart attack on his 80th birthday.

Wanting to remain near his children, he opened the now-legendary Manhattan comedy club that bears his name.

His final appearance on a TV show was on Still Neighbors (2004), which aired on September 27, 2004, only eight days before his death.

Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 6366 Hollywood Blvd.

After regaining consciousness from his brain surgery, his first request was to watch The Jerry Springer Show (1991).

Twice married to Joyce Indig (1949-62, 1963-70), he suffered a lifelong battle with depression and chronic lack of self-esteem. Comedy, he says, was his fix to escape reality.

One of the few actors to have played both God (in Angels with Angles (2005)) and Lucifer (in Little Nicky (2000).

As a teenager he started in stand-up comedy and changed his name to "Jack Roy". After nine years he quit show business. When he returned in 1962 he wanted to change his name to distance himself from his previous failure. A club owner gave him the name of "Rodney Dangerfield" after Ricky Nelson used the name in an episode of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952). "Jack Roy" remained his legal name for the rest of his life.

His first big break was "The Ed Sullivan Show" (The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)), which he did 16 times.

His wide eyes are due to having Graves disease.

Premiered Meet Wally Sparks (1997) in the small town of Daingerfield, TX. A street there was then named after him.

On April 8, 2003, underwent arterial brain surgery to improve his body's blood flow in preparation for a heart valve replacement.

He had two children by his first wife Joyce Indig: Brian and Melanie.

Was 30 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 2 days older than his last wife, Joan Dangerfield.

Chosen #36 out of the 50 funniest people by "Entertainment Weekly".

His autobiography, "It's Not Easy Bein' Me: A Lifetime of No Respect But Plenty of Sex and Drugs" (ISBN #0066211077) was published on May 25, 2004, five months before he died.

Was hospitalized 24 August 2004 for heart valve-replacement surgery.

At his funeral in 2004, Harry Basil, Michael Bolton, Jim Carrey, Rodney Dangerfield's son Brian Roy, Bob Saget, Adam Sandler, and Rob Schneider served as Dangerfield's pallbearers.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 130-132. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387

He wrote two books a joke book called no respect and his autobiographey titled it ain't easy being me.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 123-124. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.