With the news of his recent passing making major headlines, Disney and Pixar paid tribute to Don Rickles on Twitter, reminding fans of Mr. Potato Head's most important body part — his heart. After the news of Rickles' death on April 6 spread, there has been an outpouring of love and adoration from fans and colleagues of the comedian. Among those honoring the fallen 90-year-old actor, who voiced Mr. Potato Head in all three installments of Toy Story, was Pixar's chief creative officer and Toy Story director, John Lasseter.
In a statement posted to Disney's official Twitter account, Lasseter wrote,
"Don Rickles was a comic genius, and here at Pixar we were honored to also call him a friend. The wit, personality and incredible timing he brought to Mr. Potato Head lit up the character and made him an essential part of the Toy Story ensemble. Even though Mr. Potato Head's facial features fell off in every Toy Story movie, his heart never left him—that was because of Don. We will miss him tremendously."
Rickles was, no doubt, a huge part of the Toy Story cast, playing the moody and adorable spud character for over two decades in movies and specials. Many have taken to the internet to offer their condolences and pay homage to the man who dedicated over 60 years of his life to entertaining and making people laugh.
Fellow comedians and Toy Story co-stars, Tom Hanks (Woody) and Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), both also paid tribute to the icon after receiving news of his death, with Allen telling Entertainment Tonight,
“Don Rickles is one of the biggest reasons I am a comic today. I feel bad, mostly for everyone in Heaven who will now learn first hand from the sharpest wits ever, what it’s like to be Rickled.”
Hanks also referred to Rickles as a "God" and expressed his sorrow over losing his longtime friend on Twitter.
According to IMDb the legendary insult comic was expected to return to voice the lovable character in Toy Story 4, which is scheduled to be released in June 2019. However, it is currently unclear whether or not the actor had begun production for the character prior to his death.
In 2013, Rickles joked about his Toy Story legacy. While he'd been working in the entertainment industry for more than six decades, he admitted his grandchildren still only acknowledged his role in the Pixar film. He told Maxim,
"I busted my bird for 60 years in the business, but my grandkids only know me as Mr. Potato Head."
The entertainer worked tirelessly until his passing, appearing in over 50 movies and television shows. Additionally, Rickles enjoyed a lengthy stand-up career and served as a guest on countless televised specials. He's widely considered to be a favorite reoccurring staple of many talk shows over the years.
Essentially, he and Mr. Potato Head were the heart and soul of the Toy Story franchise, and beyond. He will be sorely missed.
