With Rickles gone, who inherits the throne? Once it might have been Cosby, but even though his influence is unquestionable he’s lost the love and respect the title requires.
I have always been a big fan of Bob Newhart.
He’s probably a kid compared to Rickles/Newhart, but Lewis Black seems a lot older than his 68 years.
Bob’s a few years older and definitely not as left-of-center, but Dick Gregory’s still around also.
Does he seem as old as Steve Martin?
He may not be the oldest, but Robert Klein seems the most active of the Senior Circuit. And he still can’t stop his leg.
It depends on if you are talking about fans or other comics. It’s widely overshadowed by his film work but I’ve heard comics talk with deep respect for Woody Allen’s stand up.
I think at this point being a comic is maybe the 5th thing you think about when you think of Dick Gregory. He took himself out of the running long ago.
If we are just going by age and not necessarily influence how about Mort Sahl, Shecky Greene and Jackie Mason?
Does it have to be someone who’s still active as a comedian?
I was thinking other comics. And most likely someone still active, who continues to show new comics “how it’s done”.
Richard Lewis. Was this a trick question? Yes. Just kidding.
By age and current activity, I’d give it to 75-year-old Robert Klein.
Standup only or comedy as a whole? I’d say Mel Brooks if you include writers and such.
…and/or Carl Reiner.
For Stand up maybe Robert Klein?
Robert Klein is almost a full generation younger than Don Rickles. Maybe because Rickles seemed old when I was a kid, he struck me as ancient. Robert Klein doesn’t. Without looking up birthdates, it seems to me that people of the same generation and similar stature to Rickles include people like Jerry Lewis, Tim Conway, and maybe Bob Newhart. Is Bob still active? I believe Tim Conway is; at least, he was in The Aristocrats, which at my age still seems recent. Jerry Lewis definitely is still active, but I don’t know if he’s respected by his peers the way other famous comedians are, and I understand he’s basically devolved to just shouting at his audience and insulting them, but without any of the charm or wit of Don Rickles. Still, his fans love him, and he was undeniably influential on the generation that came after him, even if they don’t like him because he’s a jerk.
Full disclosure: I almost included Rodney Dangerfield as the closest thing to a living Don Rickles, but I checked, and he died a dozen years ago. I’d have probably put Joan Rivers in there too if she were still with us, largely on the strength of her turn on Louie a few years ago, where she was cast in exactly the role of an elder statesperson of stand-up comedy.
Another vote for Klein. He was on Colbert a week ago and he still has “it”. Lots of impromptu jokes. Unfortunately buried as the 3rd guest and so not given enough time.
Neither Lewis nor Conway are standups, so they don’t count for this thread. (And neither do Brooks or Reiner.)
I had thought that Newhart had stopped touring, but nope, he’s out there now. And he’s 87. So he’s the top banana.
Mel Brooks’ talk show appearances are pretty close to a standup routine sitting down, so I’d still give the title to him.
I agree with Robert Klein.