>> reporter: no race, no religion. >> i'm a jew and you're an italian and here we have-- what? >> reporter: in fact, the bigger they were the morericles loved going after them. even the president of the united states. ( laughter ). at he's sitting there looking at tue program going, "where is he saying he makes fun of me? where does he say that?" he reporter: born 90 years ago in queens, don rickles studied acting after the navy. so got some bit parts in movies. >> i guess it's-- it's area 7, mr. bledsoe. >> did you hear the captain read the operations orders? or reporter: but short, squat, and balding, he saw his future in nightclubs, not the big screen. >> is that your wife, sir? geez! oll tell you this-- ( laughter ) >> ages three up and. it's on my box. >> reporter: the later generations who would know him as mr. potato head in "toy story"-- >> gee, i better shave. >> reporter: ...may not have appreciated his old-school insult act. ant rickles explained to charlie rose he wasn't really hurting anyone. >> i don't know how, but i have