Rodney Dangerfield

Raised in the Kew Gardens section of Queens, New York, Rodney Dangerfield grew up in modest circumstances. His parents split when he was young, and his father, who worked in vaudeville, was largely absent. As a teenager he began writing jokes and performing, drawn to the rhythm of stand-up comedy. In the 1940s he worked the Catskills resort circuit and small clubs under the name Jack Roy, but steady success eluded him, and he eventually quit performing to support a family, taking jobs that included selling aluminum siding.

He returned to comedy in the early 1960s, adopting the name Rodney Dangerfield and honing a distinct character: a middle-aged, exasperated man in a suit and tie who tugged at his collar, bugged his eyes, and declared, "I don't get no respect." The persona clicked. He became a frequent guest on The Ed Sullivan Show and Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, and he performed regularly in Las Vegas. In 1969 he opened Dangerfield's, a comedy club on Manhattan's Upper East Side that became a showcase for established and rising comics.

Dangerfield moved into film in the 1980s. He played the brash developer Al Czervik in Caddyshack (1980), a role that introduced him to a new generation of fans, followed by leads in Easy Money (1983) and Back to School (1986), in which he starred as a wealthy businessman enrolling in college alongside his son. He also recorded the novelty song "Rappin' Rodney" and appeared in later films such as Meet Wally Sparks. His style influenced a generation of comedians who admired his relentless joke writing and distinctive delivery.

Dangerfield endured health problems in his final years, including heart surgery, and died in Los Angeles in 2004 from complications following a heart procedure. He was married twice to Joyce Indig and had two children.

Rodney Dangerfield was born on November 22, 1921 in Deer Park, New York, United States. In Cardology (Destiny Cards), November 22, 1921 corresponds to the Jack of Hearts, making the Jack of Hearts his Birth Card.

In numerology, the name adds another layer to the birth-date profile. The letters of a person’s name are used to explore inner motivation, personality, expression, and the qualities they bring into relationships and everyday life. Explore how his original name Jacob Rodney Cohen influences his life and personality.