Iconic Star Of Words “I don’t get no respect” Rodney Dangerfield (died October 5, 2004, California) was a popular American comedian known for his comedy style and delivery along with his struggles and backstory. From a singing waiter and struggling stand-up practices, his journey was so miserable.
Everybody laughed at his jokes and he made this his power and became a successful actor and comedian. In this article, we are going to have a look at Rodney Dangerfield’s phases as he seemed to become successful and married life with Joyce Indig.
Profile Summary
- Name: Rodney Dangerfield
- Birth Year: 1921
- Birth date: November 22, 1921
- Birth State: New York
- Birth City: Babylon
- Birth Country: United States
- Gender: Male
- Best Known Fo: Known for his “I don’t get no respect” routine.
- Astrological Sign: Sagittarius
- Death Year: 2004
- Death date: October 5, 2004
- Death State: California
- Death City: Los Angeles
- Death Country: United States
Early Struggles
Legendary Actor Rodney Dangerfield (born on November 22, 1921, in Babylon, New York) was the younger son of Phil Roy, a comic and juggler. His father left her mother shortly after Dangerfield’s birth. Dangerfield childhood was miserable.
After school, he started selling ice cream and delivering groceries. He understood that making people laugh is also a great ability. He felt great when he made others laugh at his jokes.
At 17, he began writing jokes and, performing his act in various clubs. Later, he took his work as a profession and started performing with his stage name Jack Roy.
In New York, he earned $12 a week for performing his first big gig in ten weeks. That was his way to earning and he kept performing at various clubs. To make extra money and facilities, he did a delivery job and as a singing waiter. But making $300 a week was not enough for him to meet both ends.
Meet Joyce Indig
Joyce was the daughter of Rhea and Max Indig. She landed her debut in New York on May 28, 1949, on The Art Ford Show, on WPIX, channel 11. She got prominence for her performance of “Wish Me Luck” (1949) on Skitch Henderson’s WNBC radio show.
At that time, she met Rodney Dangerfield. After dating for a while, the couple married on October 3, 1951, in Manhattan. Young comic Jack Roy left his business and the couple moved to New Jersey to start a new life.
Their first baby boy was born in 1960. They faced various financial issues and decided to separate. The two divorced in 1961. However, they stayed connected, remarried in 1963, and had their second baby girl.
Her husband struggled a lot to feed his family and wife, who was suffering from debilitating arthritis. He became an aluminum siding salesman. But it didn’t work and the duo divorced again in 1970. Later in 1969, he opened his comedy club in New York City, “Dangerfield’s”.
Comeback To Comedy
After facing his financial and personal issues, he finally decided to restart his comic career. He became famous for his signature “No Respect”. He did late-night performances throughout 1972 and 1973 majorly on the Tonight Show and The Dean Martin Show.
His club Dangerfield’s in Manhattan was the place of startup for other performers including Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, and Roseanne Barr.
Movie Debut
During that, he also appeared in his debut movie The Projectionist (1971). The beginning was not good but after nine years he moved back to the big screen. His movies and dramas include:
. Caddyshack (1980)
. Easy Money (1983)
. Back to School (1986)
. Natural Born Killers (1944)
Has Rodney Dangerfield and Joyce Indig Died?
Dangerfield proved his ability and won Grammy for his comedy albums including 1981’s No Respect. Furthermore, he continued his profession and he published his autobiography It’s Not Easy Bein’ Me: A Lifetime of No Respect but Plenty of Sex and Drugs (2004).
Besides that, he was suffering from cardiac problems and completed his double bypass surgery in 2000. He underwent arteria brain surgery in 2003. In 2004, he went into a coma after a heart valve replacement surgery. It was sad news but our comic star died at the age of 82 on October 5, 2004, in Los Angeles, California.
According to a People Magazine article from 1986, Joyce Indig, Dangerfield’s first wife died nine years prior. She was 45 years old at that time, suffering from debilitating arthritis.
Dangerfield married her second wife Joan Child, who is alive and living with his children, Brian and Melanie; and two grandsons. Recently, his widow and children revealed to social media how he struggled a lot from childhood to stardom.