Rodney Dangerfield
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 (66 Appearances)
The Many Faces of Jim Carrey
The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall
The Onion Movie
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
Angels with Angles
Brother Sam: A Tribute to Sam Kinison
Back By Midnight
Rodney Dangerfield: Rodney's Act
Phil of the Future
The Electric Piper
The 4th Tenor
Still Standing
Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy
Little Nicky
My 5 Wives
Caddyshack: The 19th Hole
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
The Godson
Rusty: A Dog's Tale
Casper: A Spirited Beginning
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast
Meet Wally Sparks
Guide to Golf Style and Etiquette
Suddenly Susan
Saturday Night Special
MADtv
The Single Guy
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Casper
Natural Born Killers
A Tribute to Sam Kinison
Muscle Rock Madness
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Ladybugs
Home Improvement
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show
Rover Dangerfield
Where's Rodney?
The Earth Day Special
The Simpsons
An Amazin Era: Revised and Updated
Rodney Dangerfield: Opening Night at Rodney's Place
Moving
Rodney Dangerfield: Nothin' Goes Right
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
An Amazin' Era
Back to School
Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special
Rodney Dangerfield: Exposed!
The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More
Easy Money
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
Late Night with David Letterman
This Is Your Life: 30th Anniversary Special
Caddyshack
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour
Benny & Barney: Las Vegas Undercover
Saturday Night Live
The Projectionist
The Dick Cavett Show
The Dean Martin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Mike Douglas Show
The Ed Sullivan Show