Rodney Dangerfield was born Jacob Rodney Cohen on 22 November 1921, in Babylon, New York USA, to Jewish parents of Hungarian descent. He was a stand-up comedian, actor, producer and writer, known for his famous line “I don’t get no respect”. He was also known for his roles in the 1980s comedies “Caddyshack” and “Back to School”. Rodney passed away on 5 October 2004.
So just how wealthy was Rodney Dangerfield? The most recent sources state that the legendary comedian had earned a net worth over $10 million. His fortune had been established during his long career as a successful comedian, actor, producer and writer, as well as a repeat guest on many famed shows.
Rodney Dangerfield Net Worth $10 Million
Dangerfield’s father, vaudevillian comic and juggler Phil Roy, abandoned his family after Dangerfield was born. The family moved to Queens where Dangerfield attended Richmond Hill High School. Going through a rough financial situation, he helped his family by taking several jobs such as selling ice cream and newspapers and delivering groceries. At the age of 15 he started to write jokes, and soon began performing as an amateur at various comedy clubs under the name Jack Roy. After his matriculation in 1939, he went on with his comedian career. However, he struggled financially as comedy didn’t bring in enough money, and eventually he started to work as a truck driver and a singing waiter. In 1951 he gave up comedy, started a family, and became an aluminium siding salesman.
After a difficult time suffering from depression, divorce and debts, Dangerfield decided to go back to show business under the name Rodney Dangerfield. In 1967 the comedian appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show”, which was his breakthrough. Several other shows followed, and Dangerfield found success, plus his net worth started to rise. Dangerfield was known for his phrase “I don’t get no respect”, on which he performed a number of monologues and which became his signature in the following years. He soon opened his own comedy club, “Dangerfield’s” in Manhattan, that welcomed then unknown comedians such as Adam Wrangler, Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Carrey.
At the same time, Dangerfield pursued an acting career, his movie debut being the 1971 “The Projectionists”. Comedy “Caddyshack” followed in 1980, where Dangerfield played a rich golfer Al Czervik. The movie was a hit and Dangerfield’s role was highly praised, earning the actor a significant amount too.
The same year Dangerfield released his comedy album “No Respect”, which earned him a Grammy Award. In 1983 he released another album entitled “Rappin’ Rodney”, a rap parody containing the single of the same name, which became an instant hit. Both albums boosted Dangerfield’s net worth.
Dangerfield’s movie career led him to appear in the 1983 comedy “Easy Money”, playing a common man who suddenly becomes a millionaire. His next movie was the 1986 comedy “Back to School”, playing a rich father who goes to college to encourage his student son. The movie was a great hit, grossing over $100 million and earning the actor a considerable fortune. Dangerfield then took a different role, that of an abusive father in the 1994 movie “Natural Born Killers”, another performance that was highly praised. In all three mentioned movies, Dangerfield served as a screenwriter.
During the 90s, Dangerfield appeared in an episode of “The Simpsons”, and in 2000 he played Lucifer in the movie “Little Nicky”.
In 2004 Dangerfield published his autobiography entitled “It’s Not Easy Bein’ Me: A Lifetime of No Respect but Plenty of Sex and Drugs”, portaying his rise as well as a lifetimes use of marijuana.
The same year he suffered a stroke that led to coma, and eventually to death. Prior to his death, Dangerfield suffered from heart problems and underwent several surgeries, which didn’t prevent him going on with his performances. He was 82 years old at the time he died.
Speaking of Dangerfield’s private life, he was married three times. He married Joyve Indig in 1949, with whom he had two children. After a rough time in their marriage, the couple divorced in 1961. To give it another try, they remarried in 1963 but finally divorced in 1970. He later married Joan Child in 1993, and the couple remained together until Dangerfield’s death.
I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous: everyone hasn't met me yet.
3
What a kid I've got. I told him about the birds and the bees, and he told me about the butcher and my wife.
4
I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.
5
My cousin's gay. He went to London only to find out that Big Ben is a clock.
6
When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them.
7
My wife was afraid of the dark. Then she saw me naked, and now she's afraid of the light.
8
I'm taking Viagra and drinking prune juice. I don't know if I'm coming or going.
9
I looked up my family tree and found three dogs using it.
10
My psychiatrist told me I was crazy, and I said I wanted a second opinion. He said, 'Okay, you're ugly too.'
11
I drink too much. The last time I gave a urine sample it had an olive in it.
12
I found there was only one way to look thin: hang out with fat people.
13
Comedy is a camouflage for depression.
14
When I get in an elevator, the operator takes one look and says, "Basement?"
15
At my age, making love is like trying to shoot pool with a rope.
16
My mother never breast-fed me. She told me she liked me better as a friend.
17
I was ugly, very ugly. When I was born, the doctor smacked my mother.
18
Last week my house was on fire. My wife told the kids, 'Be quiet, you'll wake up Daddy'.
19
I was an ugly child. I got lost on the beach. I asked a cop if he could find my parents. He said, 'I don't know. There's lots of places for them to hide'.
20
My dog learned how to beg by watching me through the bedroom door.
21
If it weren't for pickpockets, I'd have no sex life at all.
22
To give you an idea how well I was doing at the time I quit [he had given up on show business in 1949], I was the only one who knew I quit.
23
I told my doctor that when I woke up in the morning I couldn't stand looking at myself in the mirror. He said, "At least we know your vision is perfect."
24
[in a 1986 interview, explaining the origin of his "no respect" routine] I had this joke: "I played hide and seek; they wouldn't even look for me". To make it work better, you look for something to put in front of it: "I was so poor, I was so dumb", so this, so that. I thought, "Now what fits that joke?" Well, "No one liked me" was all right. But then I thought, "A more profound thing would be, 'I get no respect!' ".
25
[on 8/24/04, before entering a Los Angeles hospital for heart valve replacement surgery] If things go right, I'll be there about a week, and if things don't go right, I'll be there about an hour and a half.
26
My wife and I were happy for 20 years. Then we met.
27
I'm very lucky. Years ago they had images, like W.C. Fields, Laurel and Hardy, Groucho Marx. But today, I think I'm the only one around with an image. And that image is something everyone identified with. They all feel life treated 'em wrong and they got no respect.
28
I feel sorry for short people, you know. When it rains, they're the last to know.
29
My wife was afraid of the dark, saw me naked, now she's afraid of the light!
30
It's lonely on the top when there's no one on the bottom.
31
I don't get no respect, no respect at all!
#
Fact
1
He wanted to publish his own autobiography before he died. It ain't easy being me was released on may 25 2004 and he died less than 5 months later on October 5 2004.
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.
4
In 1990, Rodney filmed a pilot for TV entitled "Where's Rodney?" that was never picked up. It was a story about a 14 year old boy who was a great fan of Rodney, who was also named Rodney. He could summon him to help with life's problems.
5
Despite being known for playing belligerent losers, he was by all accounts a sensitive intelligent gentleman and resented being confused with his comedic persona.
6
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 6366 Hollywood Blvd.
7
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 123-124. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.
8
After he quit show business in 1949, he became an aluminum-siding salesman on Long Island. Eventually, he owned his own home improvement business, which he abandoned when he relaunched his career in the early 1960s.
9
The epitaph on his tombstone reads "There goes the neighborhood".
10
His 2004 autobiography, "It's Not Easy Bein' Me: A Lifetime of No Respect but Plenty of Sex and Drugs," was released posthumously.
11
His final appearance on a TV show was on Still Standing: Still Neighbors (2004), which aired on September 27, 2004, only eight days before his death.
12
He 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.
13
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.
14
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.
15
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 & Harriet (1952). But "Jack Roy" remained his legal name for the rest of his life.
16
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.
17
One of the great late bloomers of Hollywood. He was already near 60 when his first big movie, Caddyshack (1980), premiered in 1980.
18
Was hospitalized 24 August 2004 for heart valve-replacement surgery.
19
Published a biography in May 2004 entitled "It Ain't Easy Being Me". In it, he reveals that he was paid $35,000 to star in Caddyshack (1980), but in doing the movie, he lost $150,000 in would-be performances in Las Vegas.
20
Hit #89 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1983 with the song 'Rappin Rodney'
21
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 130-132. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
22
After regaining consciousness from his brain surgery, his first request was to watch Jerry Springer (1991).
23
On April 8, 2003, he underwent arterial brain surgery to improve his body's blood flow in preparation for the heart valve replacement.
24
He had two children by his first wife Joyce Indig: Brian and Melanie.
25
Was 30 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 2 days older than his last wife, Joan Dangerfield.
26
Won a Grammy in 1980 for Best Comedy Recording for, 'No Respect'.
27
Wanting to remain near his children, he opened the now-legendary Manhattan comedy club that bears his name.
Sea World and Busch Gardens Adventures: Alien Vacation!
1997
Yendor
Casper: A Spirited Beginning
1997
Video
Mayor Johnny Hunt
Meet Wally Sparks
1997
Wally Sparks
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
1997
TV Series
Rodney
Suddenly Susan
1996
TV Series
Artie
The Simpsons
1996
TV Series
Larry Burns
Casper
1995
Rodney Dangerfield (uncredited)
Guide to Golf Style and Etiquette
1995
Video short
Rodney
Natural Born Killers
1994
Ed Wilson, Mallory's Dad
Muscle Rock Madness
1992
Video
Ladybugs
1992
Chester Lee
Rover Dangerfield
1991
Rover Dangerfield (voice)
Moving
1988
Loan Broker (uncredited)
Back to School
1986
Thornton Melon
Not Necessarily the News
1985
TV Series
Chet
Easy Money
1983
Monty Capuletti
Caddyshack
1980
Al Czervik
Benny and Barney: Las Vegas Undercover
1977
TV Movie
Manager
The Projectionist
1971
Renaldi / The Bat
That's Life
1968-1969
TV Series
The Killing
1956
Onlooker (uncredited)
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast
1997
TV Movie
Meet Wally Sparks
1997
screenplay
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
1997
TV Series additional material - 1 episode
Guide to Golf Style and Etiquette
1995
Video short
It's Lonely at the Top
1992
TV Movie
Rover Dangerfield
1991
based on an idea by / screenplay / story developed by
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show
1991
TV Movie
Rodney Dangerfield: Opening Night at Rodney's Place
1989
TV Movie
Nothin' Goes Right
1988
TV Movie
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
1986
TV Special
Back to School
1986
story
Rodney Dangerfield: Exposed
1985
TV Movie head writer
The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More
1983
TV Movie head writer
Easy Money
1983
writer
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
1982
TV Movie head writer
Back by Midnight
2004
written by
Rodney's Act
2004
Video
The 4th Tenor
2002
written by
My 5 Wives
2000
written by
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
One Hit Wonderland
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode, 2013 writer - 1 episode, 2013
I Love the 80's 3-D
2005
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Meet Wally Sparks
1997
performer: "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On", "Old Time Rock N Roll"
Ladybugs
1992
performer: "Great Balls of Fire"
Rover Dangerfield
1991
lyrics: "It's A Dog's Life", "Somewhere There's A Party", "I'd Give Up A Bone For You", "I'm In Love With The Dog Next Door", "I'll Never Do It On A Christmas Tree", "I Found a Four-Leaf Clover When I Met Rover" / music: "It's A Dog's Life", "Somewhere There's A Party", "I'd Give Up A Bone For You", "I'm In Love With The Dog Next Door", "I'll Never Do It On A Christmas Tree", "I Found a Four-Leaf Clover When I Met Rover" / performer: "It's A Dog's Life", "Somewhere There's A Party", "I'd Give Up
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show
1991
TV Movie performer: "It's Tough To Find Talent"
Back to School
1986
performer: "Twist And Shout"
Rodney Dangerfield: Exposed
1985
TV Movie performer: "Read It", "One Singular Sensation" - uncredited
The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More
1983
TV Movie performer: "Rappin' Rodney"
Easy Money
1983
performer: "Funiculi Funicula"
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
1982
TV Movie performer: "The Mikado" - uncredited
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rodney's Act
2004
Video producer
My 5 Wives
2000
producer
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast
1997
TV Movie executive producer - uncredited
Meet Wally Sparks
1997
producer - uncredited
It's Lonely at the Top
1992
TV Movie producer - uncredited
Rover Dangerfield
1991
executive producer
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rover Dangerfield
1991
songs: music and lyrics by
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Caddyshack II
1988
script revisions - uncredited
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Stupa-Man
2008
special thanks
The Diceman Cometh
1989
TV Special documentary special thanks
1989 Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search
1989
TV Movie special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Onion Movie
2008
Himself
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2004
TV Series
Himself
The O'Reilly Factor
2004
TV Series
Himself
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
2004
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1995-2004
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Rodney's Act
2004
Video
Himself
The Commies
2003
TV Special documentary
Himself
The Lionel Richie Collection
2003
Video documentary
Himself (segment "Dancing on the Ceiling")
Entertainment Tonight
2003
TV Series
Himself
Hollywood Squares
2002
TV Series
Himself
Adam Sandler Goes to Hell
2001
Video documentary short
Himself
Billy Joel: The Essential Video Collection
2001
Video
Himself (segment "Tell Her About It")
X.F.L.
2001
TV Series
Rodney Dangerfield
MADtv
1997-1999
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Host
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
1998
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Sin City Spectacular
1998
TV Series
Himself
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast
1997
TV Movie
Himself
Home Improvement
1997
TV Series
Himself
Howard Stern
1997
TV Series
Himself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1997
TV Series
Himself
The Daily Show
1997
TV Series
Himself
Night Stand
1997
TV Series
Himself
Saturday Night Live
1979-1996
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Host / Various
The Single Guy
1996
TV Series
Himself
The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards
1996
TV Special
Himself
Crook & Chase
1996
TV Series
Himself
A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman
1995
TV Movie documentary
Himself
A Tribute to Sam Kinison
1993
TV Special documentary
Himself
In Living Color
1993
TV Series
Himself
It's Lonely at the Top
1992
TV Movie
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1969-1992
TV Series
Himself - Comedian / Himself - Guest / Himself
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show
1991
TV Movie
Himself
...Where's Rodney?
1990
TV Movie
Himself
The Earth Day Special
1990
TV Special
Dr. Vinny Boombatz
An Amazin Era: Revised and Updated
1989
Video
Himself
Rodney Dangerfield: Opening Night at Rodney's Place
1989
TV Movie
Himself
Nothin' Goes Right
1988
TV Movie
Himself
Will Rogers: Look Back in Laughter
1987
TV Movie
Himself
The 59th Annual Academy Awards
1987
TV Special
Himself - Presenter: Best Makeup
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
1986
TV Special
Himself
Late Night with David Letterman
1986
TV Series
Himself
An Amazin' Era
1986
Video documentary
Himself - Host
Rodney Dangerfield: Exposed
1985
TV Movie
Himself / Various
The 9th Annual Young Comedians Special
1984
TV Special
Himself - Host
The 26th Annual Grammy Awards
1984
TV Special
Himself
The Top
1984
TV Movie
Himself
The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More
1983
TV Movie
Himself / Various
The Making of 'Easy Money'
1983
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
1982
TV Movie
Himself / Various
The Robert Klein Show
1981
TV Movie
Himself
Command Performance: The Stars Salute the President
1981
TV Special documentary
This Is Your Life: 30th Anniversary Special
1981
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The 23rd Annual Grammy Awards
1981
TV Special
Himself
The Alan Thicke Show
1980-1981
TV Series
Himself
Live Wednesday
1978
TV Series
Himself
The Hollywood Squares
1976-1978
TV Series
Himself
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas
1977
TV Special
Himself
I've Got a Secret
1976
TV Series
Himself
The Dean Martin Comedy World
1974
TV Series
Himself
The Mike Douglas Show
1971-1973
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Comedian
The David Frost Show
1969-1971
TV Series
Himself
The Ed Sullivan Show
1967-1971
TV Series
Himself - Comedian / Himself - Audience Bow
The Jackie Gleason Show
1970
TV Series
Himself
The Merv Griffin Show
1965-1969
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
Della
1969
TV Series
Himself
The Joan Rivers Show
1968-1969
TV Series
Himself
The Joey Bishop Show
1967-1969
TV Series
Himself
That's Life
1969
TV Series
Himself
Operation: Entertainment
1968
TV Series
Himself
The Steve Allen Show
1968
TV Series
Himself - Comedian
Away We Go
1967
TV Series
Himself
The Eamonn Andrews Show
1967
TV Series
Himself
The Dean Martin Show
1965
TV Series
Himself (regular performer, 1972-1973)
On Broadway Tonight
1964
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Board James
2015
TV Series
Himself
Beer and Board Games
2014
TV Series documentary
Himself
The O'Reilly Factor
2014
TV Series
Himself / Himself (segment "Watter's World")
The Sixties
2014
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself - Comedian
Video Games AWESOME!
2014
TV Series
Al Czervik
The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall
2013
TV Movie documentary
Himself
When Jews Were Funny
2013
Documentary
Himself
Caddyshack: The Inside Story
2009
TV Movie
Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
2009
TV Series
Himself
The Greatest
2009
TV Series documentary
Himself - #89: 'Rappin' Rodney'
Mike Douglas: Moments & Memories
2008
Video
Himself
Legends: Rodney Dangerfield
2006
TV Movie
Himself / Various
The 77th Annual Academy Awards
2005
TV Special
Memorial Tribute
11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
2005
TV Special
Himself - Memorial Tribute
100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time
2004
TV Mini-Series
Himself #7
Tragedy to Triumph: The Maryland Terrapin Odyssey
2003
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy
2001
Documentary
Himself
Biography
2000
TV Series documentary
Himself
Caddyshack: The 19th Hole
1999
Video short documentary
Al Czervik
A Really Big Show: Ed Sullivan's 50th Anniversary
1998
TV Special
Himself
The Great Standups
1984
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Texaco Star Theatre Presents Bob Hope in 'Who Makes the World Laugh?'
1983
TV Movie
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 19th Anniversary Special
1981
TV Movie
Himself
Johnny Carson's 18th Anniversary Special
1980
TV Movie
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2002
Star on the Walk of Fame
Walk of Fame
Live Performance
Awarded on March 27, 2002 at 6366 Hollywood Blvd.
1995
Creative Achievement Award
American Comedy Awards, USA
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1987
American Comedy Award
American Comedy Awards, USA
Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role)
Back to School (1986)
Known for movies
Back to School (1986) as Thornton Melon
Rover Dangerfield (1991) as Rover Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me (1986) as Writer
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me (1982) as Writer