Ever since Hollywood was making a name for itself in the world with some of the best Western films in history, the name Clint Eastwood started to become synonymous with Western cinema. For more than half a decade at this point, whether it be in front of the camera or behind it, orchestrating a shot for a film, the star has never disappointed.
Even today, his name is taken with the utmost reverence when it comes to acting and filmmaking alike, truly giving him a legendary status. But despite all of his accolades in the film industry, actor Don Rickles still went ahead and decided to take verbal jabs at the star during the 1996 AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony.
Don Rickles Had No Regrets Roasting Clint Eastwood In Front Of The Entire Hollywood
May it be classic old-time Western films or action movies and everything in between, there’s nothing that legendary actor Clint Eastwood hasn’t done and not left his mark on it. Therefore, the star has gained a lot of respect from people both within Hollywood and beyond it, not to mention his Award-winning filmmaking that he is so widely known for.
And yet, during his reception of the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award in 1996, his fellow star and another legendary actor Don Rickles decided to engage in friendly fire of words with him. The star was previously seen with the A Fistful of Dollars star in their 1970 War Comedy film Kelly’s Heroes.
Here, as soon as the host for the night Jim Carrey called upon Rickles to address the Academy Award winner on his achievement, the star went straight for his fellow star, roasting his for the next two minutes without a break, saying:
“Clint, I say with due respect, 28 years ago we did Kelly’s Heroes and I heard from you since. Clint, I say it, nobody else has said it, and I say it from my heart, you’re a lousy actor. Spielberg and all these actors at the table are like ‘We know Clint’. I know you. Clint’s idea of a good time is sitting on a pickup truck watching his dog bark.”
It was so funny and sudden that even Carrey couldn’t hold back his laughter during Rickles’ entire roasting bit. In the end, the star blessed Eastwood for his achievement.
What Was Kelly’s Heroes About?
One of Eastwood’s earliest attempts at comedy comes from this World War II film where the star brings a little bit of satire into a grave topic. Kelly’s Heroes tells us the tale of Pvt. Kelly, who has recently come upon the information that there is gold worth millions of dollars stashed on the enemy’s turf somewhere. Thus, entranced with the news that he got from a drunk German soldier, Kelly rallies several fellow soldiers in an attempt to take the treasure for themselves at any cost.