Rodney Dangerfield Net Worth

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 dont get no respect. He was also known for his roles in the 1980s comedies Caddyshack and Back

Rodney Dangerfield net worth is
$10 Million

Rodney Dangerfield Wiki Biography

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.


Full NameRodney Dangerfield
Net Worth$10 Million
Date Of BirthNovember 22, 1921
Died2004-10-05
Place Of BirthDeer Park, in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York
Height5' 10" (1.78 m)
ProfessionComedian, Actor, Writer
EducationRichmond Hill High School
NationalityAmerican
SpouseJoan Child (m. 1993–2004), Joyce Indig (m. 1963–1970), Joyce Indig (m. 1949–1962)
ChildrenBrian Dangerfield, Melanie Dangerfield
ParentsDotty Teitelbaum, Phil Roy
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001098
AwardsGrammy Award
Albums"No Respect" (1980-comedy album), "Rappin' Rodney" (1983), "Romeo Rodney" (2000), "La Contessa" (1995), "Greatest Bits" (2008)
NominationsMTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film
Movies"The Projectionist" (1971), "Easy Money" (1983), "Caddyshack" (1980), "Back to School", "The Simpsons:"Burns, Baby Burns", "Little Nicky" (2000)
TV Shows"The Ed Sullivan Show","The Dean Martin Show", "The Tonight Show"
#Trademark
1Distinctive voice
2Nervously dabbing his forehead and neck with a handkerchief
3Catchphrase: "I don't get no respect!"
4Wore white shirt and red tie on stage
5Self-deprecating humor
6Famous one-liners
#Quote
1[asked who makes him laugh] My wife, during sex.
2I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous: everyone hasn't met me yet.
3What a kid I've got. I told him about the birds and the bees, and he told me about the butcher and my wife.
4I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.
5My cousin's gay. He went to London only to find out that Big Ben is a clock.
6When I was a kid my parents moved a lot, but I always found them.
7My wife was afraid of the dark. Then she saw me naked, and now she's afraid of the light.
8I'm taking Viagra and drinking prune juice. I don't know if I'm coming or going.
9I looked up my family tree and found three dogs using it.
10My psychiatrist told me I was crazy, and I said I wanted a second opinion. He said, 'Okay, you're ugly too.'
11I drink too much. The last time I gave a urine sample it had an olive in it.
12I found there was only one way to look thin: hang out with fat people.
13Comedy is a camouflage for depression.
14When I get in an elevator, the operator takes one look and says, "Basement?"
15At my age, making love is like trying to shoot pool with a rope.
16My mother never breast-fed me. She told me she liked me better as a friend.
17I was ugly, very ugly. When I was born, the doctor smacked my mother.
18Last week my house was on fire. My wife told the kids, 'Be quiet, you'll wake up Daddy'.
19I 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'.
20My dog learned how to beg by watching me through the bedroom door.
21If it weren't for pickpockets, I'd have no sex life at all.
22To 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.
23I 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.
26My wife and I were happy for 20 years. Then we met.
27I'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.
28I feel sorry for short people, you know. When it rains, they're the last to know.
29My wife was afraid of the dark, saw me naked, now she's afraid of the light!
30It's lonely on the top when there's no one on the bottom.
31I don't get no respect, no respect at all!
#Fact
1He 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.
2One of the few actors to have played both God (in Angels with Angles (2005)) and Lucifer (in Little Nicky (2000).
3According 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.
4In 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.
5Despite being known for playing belligerent losers, he was by all accounts a sensitive intelligent gentleman and resented being confused with his comedic persona.
6He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 6366 Hollywood Blvd.
7Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 123-124. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.
8After 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.
9The epitaph on his tombstone reads "There goes the neighborhood".
10His 2004 autobiography, "It's Not Easy Bein' Me: A Lifetime of No Respect but Plenty of Sex and Drugs," was released posthumously.
11His 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.
12He 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.
13Twice 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.
14Although 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.
15As 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.
16Based 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.
17One of the great late bloomers of Hollywood. He was already near 60 when his first big movie, Caddyshack (1980), premiered in 1980.
18Was hospitalized 24 August 2004 for heart valve-replacement surgery.
19Published 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.
20Hit #89 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1983 with the song 'Rappin Rodney'
21Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 130-132. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
22After regaining consciousness from his brain surgery, his first request was to watch Jerry Springer (1991).
23On April 8, 2003, he underwent arterial brain surgery to improve his body's blood flow in preparation for the heart valve replacement.
24He had two children by his first wife Joyce Indig: Brian and Melanie.
25Was 30 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 2 days older than his last wife, Joan Dangerfield.
26Won a Grammy in 1980 for Best Comedy Recording for, 'No Respect'.
27Wanting to remain near his children, he opened the now-legendary Manhattan comedy club that bears his name.
28Through his HBO shows from Dangerfield's, he introduced Jim Carrey, Roseanne Barr, Louie Anderson, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Rita Rudner, Sam Kinison, Robert Townsend, Bob Saget, and Jeff Foxworthy to TV.
29His first big break was "The Ed Sullivan Show" (The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)), which he did 16 times.
30His trademark white shirt and red tie are on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.
31Was the first entertainer to own a website (www.rodney.com), which was launched in February 1995.
32On Nov. 22, 2001, he suffered what was called a "mild" heart attack on his 80th birthday.
33Premiered Meet Wally Sparks (1997) in the small town of Daingerfield, TX. A street there was then named after him.
34Chosen #36 out of the 50 funniest people by Entertainment Weekly.
35Made 70 appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962).
36Became outspoken about his bouts with lifelong depression in 1997.

All pictures

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Angels with Angles2005God
Still Standing2004TV SeriesEd Bailey
Back by Midnight2004Jake Puloski
Phil of the Future2004TV SeriesMad Max
The Electric Piper2003TV MovieRat-A-Tat-Tat (voice)
The 4th Tenor2002Lupo
Little Nicky2000Lucifer
My 5 Wives2000Monte Peterson
Pirates: 3D Show1999ShortCrewman Below Deck (uncredited)
Rusty: A Dog's Tale1998Bandit the Rabbit (voice)
The Godson1998The Rodfather
Sea World and Busch Gardens Adventures: Alien Vacation!1997Yendor
Casper: A Spirited Beginning1997VideoMayor Johnny Hunt
Meet Wally Sparks1997Wally Sparks
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist1997TV SeriesRodney
Suddenly Susan1996TV SeriesArtie
The Simpsons1996TV SeriesLarry Burns
Casper1995Rodney Dangerfield (uncredited)
Guide to Golf Style and Etiquette1995Video shortRodney
Natural Born Killers1994Ed Wilson, Mallory's Dad
Muscle Rock Madness1992Video
Ladybugs1992Chester Lee
Rover Dangerfield1991Rover Dangerfield (voice)
Moving1988Loan Broker (uncredited)
Back to School1986Thornton Melon
Not Necessarily the News1985TV SeriesChet
Easy Money1983Monty Capuletti
Caddyshack1980Al Czervik
Benny and Barney: Las Vegas Undercover1977TV MovieManager
The Projectionist1971Renaldi / The Bat
That's Life1968-1969TV Series
The Killing1956Onlooker (uncredited)

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast1997TV Movie
Meet Wally Sparks1997screenplay
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist1997TV Series additional material - 1 episode
Guide to Golf Style and Etiquette1995Video short
It's Lonely at the Top1992TV Movie
Rover Dangerfield1991based on an idea by / screenplay / story developed by
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show1991TV Movie
Rodney Dangerfield: Opening Night at Rodney's Place1989TV Movie
Nothin' Goes Right1988TV Movie
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me1986TV Special
Back to School1986story
Rodney Dangerfield: Exposed1985TV Movie head writer
The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More1983TV Movie head writer
Easy Money1983writer
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me1982TV Movie head writer
Back by Midnight2004written by
Rodney's Act2004Video
The 4th Tenor2002written by
My 5 Wives2000written by

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
One Hit WonderlandTV Series documentary performer - 1 episode, 2013 writer - 1 episode, 2013
I Love the 80's 3-D2005TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Meet Wally Sparks1997performer: "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On", "Old Time Rock N Roll"
Ladybugs1992performer: "Great Balls of Fire"
Rover Dangerfield1991lyrics: "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 Show1991TV Movie performer: "It's Tough To Find Talent"
Back to School1986performer: "Twist And Shout"
Rodney Dangerfield: Exposed1985TV Movie performer: "Read It", "One Singular Sensation" - uncredited
The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More1983TV Movie performer: "Rappin' Rodney"
Easy Money1983performer: "Funiculi Funicula"
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me1982TV Movie performer: "The Mikado" - uncredited

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Rodney's Act2004Video producer
My 5 Wives2000producer
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast1997TV Movie executive producer - uncredited
Meet Wally Sparks1997producer - uncredited
It's Lonely at the Top1992TV Movie producer - uncredited
Rover Dangerfield1991executive producer

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Rover Dangerfield1991songs: music and lyrics by

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Caddyshack II1988script revisions - uncredited

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Stupa-Man2008special thanks
The Diceman Cometh1989TV Special documentary special thanks
1989 Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search1989TV Movie special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Onion Movie2008Himself
Jimmy Kimmel Live!2004TV SeriesHimself
The O'Reilly Factor2004TV SeriesHimself
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn2004TV SeriesHimself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1995-2004TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Rodney's Act2004VideoHimself
The Commies2003TV Special documentaryHimself
The Lionel Richie Collection2003Video documentaryHimself (segment "Dancing on the Ceiling")
Entertainment Tonight2003TV SeriesHimself
Hollywood Squares2002TV SeriesHimself
Adam Sandler Goes to Hell2001Video documentary shortHimself
Billy Joel: The Essential Video Collection2001VideoHimself (segment "Tell Her About It")
X.F.L.2001TV SeriesRodney Dangerfield
MADtv1997-1999TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Host
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?1998TV Movie documentaryHimself
Sin City Spectacular1998TV SeriesHimself
Rodney Dangerfield's 75th Birthday Toast1997TV MovieHimself
Home Improvement1997TV SeriesHimself
Howard Stern1997TV SeriesHimself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien1997TV SeriesHimself
The Daily Show1997TV SeriesHimself
Night Stand1997TV SeriesHimself
Saturday Night Live1979-1996TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Host / Various
The Single Guy1996TV SeriesHimself
The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards1996TV SpecialHimself
Crook & Chase1996TV SeriesHimself
A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman1995TV Movie documentaryHimself
A Tribute to Sam Kinison1993TV Special documentaryHimself
In Living Color1993TV SeriesHimself
It's Lonely at the Top1992TV MovieHimself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1969-1992TV SeriesHimself - Comedian / Himself - Guest / Himself
Rodney Dangerfield's The Really Big Show1991TV MovieHimself
...Where's Rodney?1990TV MovieHimself
The Earth Day Special1990TV SpecialDr. Vinny Boombatz
An Amazin Era: Revised and Updated1989VideoHimself
Rodney Dangerfield: Opening Night at Rodney's Place1989TV MovieHimself
Nothin' Goes Right1988TV MovieHimself
Will Rogers: Look Back in Laughter1987TV MovieHimself
The 59th Annual Academy Awards1987TV SpecialHimself - Presenter: Best Makeup
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me1986TV SpecialHimself
Late Night with David Letterman1986TV SeriesHimself
An Amazin' Era1986Video documentaryHimself - Host
Rodney Dangerfield: Exposed1985TV MovieHimself / Various
The 9th Annual Young Comedians Special1984TV SpecialHimself - Host
The 26th Annual Grammy Awards1984TV SpecialHimself
The Top1984TV MovieHimself
The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More1983TV MovieHimself / Various
The Making of 'Easy Money'1983TV Movie documentaryHimself
The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me1982TV MovieHimself / Various
The Robert Klein Show1981TV MovieHimself
Command Performance: The Stars Salute the President1981TV Special documentary
This Is Your Life: 30th Anniversary Special1981TV Movie documentaryHimself
The 23rd Annual Grammy Awards1981TV SpecialHimself
The Alan Thicke Show1980-1981TV SeriesHimself
Live Wednesday1978TV SeriesHimself
The Hollywood Squares1976-1978TV SeriesHimself
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas1977TV SpecialHimself
I've Got a Secret1976TV SeriesHimself
The Dean Martin Comedy World1974TV SeriesHimself
The Mike Douglas Show1971-1973TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Comedian
The David Frost Show1969-1971TV SeriesHimself
The Ed Sullivan Show1967-1971TV SeriesHimself - Comedian / Himself - Audience Bow
The Jackie Gleason Show1970TV SeriesHimself
The Merv Griffin Show1965-1969TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Guest
Della1969TV SeriesHimself
The Joan Rivers Show1968-1969TV SeriesHimself
The Joey Bishop Show1967-1969TV SeriesHimself
That's Life1969TV SeriesHimself
Operation: Entertainment1968TV SeriesHimself
The Steve Allen Show1968TV SeriesHimself - Comedian
Away We Go1967TV SeriesHimself
The Eamonn Andrews Show1967TV SeriesHimself
The Dean Martin Show1965TV SeriesHimself (regular performer, 1972-1973)
On Broadway Tonight1964TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2002Star on the Walk of FameWalk of FameLive PerformanceAwarded on March 27, 2002 at 6366 Hollywood Blvd.
1995Creative Achievement AwardAmerican Comedy Awards, USA

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1987American Comedy AwardAmerican Comedy Awards, USAFunniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role)Back to School (1986)

Known for movies


ncG1vNJzZmimlanEsL7Toaeoq6RjvLOzjqumnaaVrnqlrc2gnKuemZq5pXnNnqtmr5%2Bnwal7

 Share!