Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Larry (Lawrence) Rickles |
| Born | May 12, 1970 — Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | December 3, 2011 — Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Age at death | 41 |
| Occupations | Television writer, producer; occasional actor |
| Years active | Mid-1990s–2011 |
| Known for | Co-producer of the HBO documentary “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project” (2007), Primetime Emmy-winning |
| Parents | Don Rickles; Barbara (Sklar) Rickles |
| Siblings | Mindy Rickles |
| Notable relatives | Grandparents Max and Etta Rickles; brother-in-law Ed Mann; nephews Ethan and Harrison Mann |
Early Life and Family Roots
Larry Rickles grew up in Los Angeles in a household where comedy was both craft and oxygen. His father, Don Rickles, was already a towering presence in American entertainment by the time Larry was born in 1970. His mother, Barbara (Sklar) Rickles, provided balance and ballast, the steadying figure in a family that traveled through the glare of bright lights. Family stories, touring schedules, and table-talk punchlines formed the background music of his childhood.
The Rickles family traced deep American show-business roots, but also older threads of heritage, tradition, and resilience. Larry’s grandparents, Max and Etta, loomed large in family lore—strong-willed, warm, and, by most accounts, formative in shaping the ethos that later propelled Don’s career and sustained the family’s sense of humor through the decades. Within that lineage, Larry learned to listen closely, to observe carefully, and to tell stories that carried feeling as well as fact.
Finding a Voice in Television
By the mid-1990s, Larry stepped out from the audience into the writer’s room. He honed his chops in the competitive world of television comedy—workshops, spec scripts, and long days polishing scenes until a punchline clicked into place like a key in a lock. In 1997, he joined the staff of Murphy Brown, a benchmark news-satire sitcom that prized sharp dialogue and disciplined timing. It was a proving ground for Larry, underscoring that his path would be built on craft, not pedigree.
He worked steadily through the late 1990s and 2000s, moving between writing and producing roles. Industry colleagues recall him as precise and generous—the sort of collaborator who could tighten a sequence without sanding off its humanity. Unlike his father’s brash, lightning-quick stage persona, Larry’s professional style was quieter, built around listening, structure, and a keen sense of what served a story.
“Mr. Warmth”: Turning the Spotlight Back on Home
In 2007, Larry co-produced “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project,” a feature documentary directed by John Landis and broadcast by HBO. The film became both a celebration and a reckoning—a portrait of a performer whose rapid-fire put-downs masked a disciplined, old-school stage ethic and a tender private life. For Larry, the project demanded dual sightlines: he had to see his father as both subject and legend, a man and a myth, without losing the nuance of either.
The result resonated. In 2008, the film earned Primetime Emmy recognition, including a win in a top variety special category. Don Rickles also took home a performance Emmy that night, a fitting nod to a life’s work. Larry’s role as co-producer placed him directly on that stage in a different way—less visible than the man with the mic, perhaps, but essential in shaping the story from the wings. It was the culmination of years of learning how to frame a narrative and let it sing.
Selected Credits and Milestones
| Year | Role | Title/Project | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Writer (Workshop) | Warner Bros. Writers’ Workshop | Formal training and industry entry |
| 1997 | Staff writer | Murphy Brown (TV) | Late-series writers’ room experience |
| 1999 | Actor (cameo) | David & Lola (Film) | On-screen appearance |
| 2007 | Co-producer | Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (HBO) | Feature documentary |
| 2008 | Emmy recognition | Mr. Warmth | Primetime Emmy winner among its honors |
| 2011 | — | Passing | December 3 in Los Angeles, age 41 |
The Rickles Family Circle
Larry’s family was small, close, and often in the public eye. His father, Don (1926–2017), remade insult comedy into an affectionate art form, building a six-decade career in nightclubs, film, television, and voice work. His mother, Barbara (d. 2021), was partner and compass—married to Don in 1965, steadfast through the swirl of show business.
Larry’s sister, Mindy Rickles, followed a path onto stages and sets of her own as an actress and comedian. She married Ed Mann; together they are parents to two sons, Ethan and Harrison, the grandsons who often appeared in later-life tributes to Don and Barbara. For Larry, this family constellation wasn’t just biography—it was a map, guiding him through the industry with loyalty and a stubborn dedication to detail.
Style, Work Ethic, and the Measure of Influence
Larry’s reputation in writers’ rooms and on productions rested on clarity and care. He embraced the “cut once, measure twice” discipline that undergirds the best comedy writing—letting the cadence of a line do the heavy lifting, trimming what didn’t serve, protecting what did. If his father conquered the spotlight with speed and daring, Larry tended the lamp that made that light possible, attending to structure, rhythm, and the final human note in every scene.
His work bridged generations. He understood the classic mechanics of setup and payoff, yet he navigated the evolving television landscape of the 1990s and 2000s with a modern sensibility. “Mr. Warmth” distilled his approach: he gave the audience a backstage pass, then moved aside, letting the story—its history, heart, and humor—fill the room.
Death and Remembrance
Larry Rickles died in Los Angeles on December 3, 2011, at just 41. The brevity of his life stands in stark contrast to the long shadow of his work; tributes remembered him as an Emmy-winning producer, a disciplined writer, and a quiet anchor within a public family. In memorials to Don and Barbara over the following decade, Larry’s story reemerged—a reminder that, sometimes, the strongest voices are the ones you hear when the laughter fades and the credits roll.
A Family Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Family Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1965 | Don Rickles marries Barbara Sklar |
| 1970 | Birth of Larry Rickles in Los Angeles |
| 1970s–1980s | Larry grows up amid his father’s touring and television success |
| 1990s | Larry enters television writing and production |
| 2007–2008 | “Mr. Warmth” released; Emmy recognition follows |
| 2011 | Larry Rickles passes away at 41 |
| 2017 | Don Rickles passes away |
| 2021 | Barbara Rickles passes away |
FAQ
Who was Larry Rickles?
Larry Rickles was an American television writer and producer best known as the co-producer of the Emmy-winning HBO documentary “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project.”
When was Larry Rickles born and when did he die?
He was born on May 12, 1970, and died on December 3, 2011, both in Los Angeles.
What is Larry Rickles best known for?
He is best known for co-producing “Mr. Warmth,” a 2007 HBO documentary about his father, which received Primetime Emmy honors.
Was Larry related to Don Rickles?
Yes, Larry was the son of legendary comedian Don Rickles and Barbara (Sklar) Rickles.
Did Larry Rickles have siblings?
Yes, he had one sister, Mindy Rickles, an actress and comedian.
What awards did he receive?
As a co-producer of “Mr. Warmth,” Larry shared in the film’s Primetime Emmy recognition in 2008.
What television show did he write for?
He worked as a staff writer on Murphy Brown in the late 1990s.
Did Larry Rickles have children?
There is no public record of Larry having children.
How is Larry Rickles remembered today?
He is remembered as a skilled, understated storyteller who helped preserve and present his father’s legacy while carving out his own path in television.
