NEED TO KNOW
Jeff Bergman has taken over as the voice of Mr. Potato Head, following Don Rickles’ death in 2017
Bergman, 65, appeared on Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia, where he opened up about his lifelong fascination with the comedic actor
Rickles’ daughter, Mindy Rickles, previously appeared on the radio show, where she shared what the character means to her
Jeff Bergman is grateful to carry on Don Rickles‘ legacy.
Following the comedic actor’s death in 2017, Mr. Potato Head was recast, with Jeff Bergman stepping into the role. The voice actor, 65, recently appeared on Nostalgia Tonight on AM 970 The Answer.
Bergman explained that his connection to Rickles’ comedy dates back to childhood, telling host Joe Sibilia, “I did an impersonation of Don Rickles because when I first was introduced to Don Rickles,” noting that “this is before he got really big on The Tonight Show.”
“We’re talking, 58 years ago, when my parents would listen to that album called Hello Dummy! I don’t know what I’m laughing at, but they’re laughing, so I think it’s funny. That was my first introduction to Rickles,” he continued.
Don Rickles with a Mr. Potato Head doll in Oct. 2000
Credit: Newsmakers
Bergman would go on to include his Rickles impression in his repertoire, eventually performing it on Larry King’s radio show. Bergman recalls the host “was hysterically laughing because he loved Rickles. I mean, they were pals, but he just loved being cut up by Rickles.”
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Bergman is excited for fans to experience Toy Story 5, sharing, “What I have seen it’s fantastic. It’s great. It’s clever. People are going to really love it. There are some surprises in there that are just amazing.”
The actor — who has voiced iconic characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Garfield, Yogi Bear and more — is touched by being part of the Toy Story legacy, calling the opportunity to step in “the epic honor of a lifetime.”
“Then to come in to step in to do an iconic role like Don Rickles… The fans know, it’s 31 years,” he said. “It’s all about the childhood that people remember. I took my sons to see this movie 31 years ago. They’re in their 30s now.”
To get it right for the fans, they worked hard to bring “that spirit of Don Rickles to it.”
In November, Rickles’ daughter, Mindy Rickles, appeared on Nostalgia Tonight, where she confirmed that the legendary comedian had reservations about being in Toy Story.
“I think [director] John Lasseter had to come to the house and kind of convince him to do it because it was sort of a new area for him,” she explained, noting that “It became such a big thing, and his character was such a big deal.”
Mindy even pointed to the animatronic Mr. Potato Head at Disneyland that lightly heckles the guests he greets.
“There were little lines of insults that he would say. And it still goes on,” she laughed, adding, “It is an incredible thing to just always know that that’s there… for as long as Disneyland is there. So that’s a great thing for our kids — and maybe their kids.”
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