Rodney Dangerfield is known for his classic catchphrase, "I get no respect," but those who knew him best tell a different story. Adrienne Barbeau, the iconic actress who starred alongside him in the 1986 comedy Back to School, shares memories of Rodney that paint a far different picture. “The first day I arrived on set, there was a line of women outside his trailer,” Adrienne, now 73, revealed in an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, currently available on newsstands. “I asked the producer why they were all there, and he said, ‘Rodney’s a real sex symbol!’ Everyone wanted to meet him!”
From Humble Beginnings to Comedy Stardom
Despite his comedic brilliance and massive success, Rodney Dangerfield often carried the weight of his early struggles. Born Jacob Cohen in Babylon, New York, Rodney grew up in a less-than-loving household with an absentee father and a mother who showed little affection. “His childhood was miserable!” his second wife, Joan Child, shared with Closer. “He felt unloved.”
Rodney's journey to fame wasn't easy. He began performing as a young boy, finding joy and solace in making others laugh. Joan recounts a pivotal moment when Rodney was just four years old. During dinner, he complained, “I’m still hungry!” His mother replied, “You’ve had sufficient,” to which Rodney quipped, “I didn’t even have any fish!” The whole family laughed, and Rodney never forgot the feeling it gave him. That moment ignited a lifelong passion for comedy.
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But before he became the legendary Rodney Dangerfield, he worked as a singing waiter and struggled as a stand-up comedian under the name Jack Roy. In 1949, he married his first wife, singer Joyce Indig, and together they had two children, Brian and Melanie. For a while, Rodney stepped away from comedy to run a successful aluminum siding business. However, financial trouble struck when an unscrupulous accountant left him $20,000 in debt to a loan shark. This setback forced Rodney back into comedy, reigniting the career that would eventually make him a household name.
Rodney's Rise to Fame
Reinventing himself under the name Rodney Dangerfield, he found his stride in the 1960s with a memorable appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. This breakthrough led to over 70 appearances on The Tonight Show, the opening of his own NYC comedy club, Dangerfield’s, and a string of hit movies in the 1980s. Joan explains, “Rodney said making audiences laugh was like a fix he needed to survive. He would always try to book himself on his birthday as a little treat to himself. It meant that he was still relevant.”
The Funny Man Behind the Smile
Despite his incredible success, laughter wasn’t always Rodney’s constant companion. “He seldom laughed himself, even when watching other comedians he thought were brilliant,” Joan reveals. Yet, his second marriage to Joan was a source of immense happiness. They shared 11 wonderful years together, filled with love and laughter. Joan fondly remembers their weekly mani-pedis, where Rodney would serenade her with love songs. He left her sweet notes, like “I’ll never let you down—unless you’re on a ladder.”
Rodney’s Legacy
