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.
