Born Jacob Cohen in 1921, self-deprecating comedian and actor Rodney Dangerfield got his start in the business writing material for standup comics until he joined the ranks himself at the age of 19. He used the pseudonym Jack Roy before later adopting the Dangerfield persona, lifting it from a 1941 Jack Benny broadcast, though it was also later used by Ricky Nelson on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Working as an aluminum salesman by day, his career in comedy ‘didn’t get no respect’ until a last-minute replacement appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Aside from Sullivan, Dangerfield performed on The Dean Martin Show and The Tonight Show with Jonny Carson (70 appearances!) in addition to four televised comedy specials. His acting resume spans the classic Caddyshack, Easy Money, Back to School, and a brief but memorable appearance in Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers. Though Dangerfield loved to exclaim “I don’t get no respect!,” critical response indicated otherwise. His routine garnered much attention and praise, receiving a Grammy for his 1980 comedy album No Respect and an American Comedy Award for lifetime creative achievement in 1994.

In 2004, Dangerfield penned his autobiography, “It’s not Easy Bein’ Me: A Lifetime of No Respect but Plenty of Sex and Drugs.” Later that year he suffered complications following a heart valve-replacement operation and passed away. His sense of humor followed him to the end; when asked how long he would be hospitalized, he jokingly replied, “If all goes well, about a week. If not, about an hour-and-a-half.”