Kevin Pollak: Don Rickles Badgered Robert De Niro Every Day on the Casino Set | The Rich Eisen Show

Summary

In this engaging interview, Kevin Pollak shares anecdotes from his experiences on set with legendary actors. He recounts the humorous and tense moments when Don Rickles playfully but sharply teased Robert De Niro during filming, highlighting De Niro's admiration for Rickles. Pollak also reflects on working with Walter Matthau, revealing Matthau's candid admission about his gambling debts. The conversation offers a glimpse into the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable world of Hollywood, where even the biggest stars have their vulnerabilities and humorous sides.

Takeaways

• 😄 Kevin Pollak shares his experience of Don Rickles' humor on set, particularly directed at Robert De Niro.
• 🎬 The story of Don Rickles interrupting a take to criticize De Niro's acting in the middle of a scene is highlighted.
• 🤔 Rickles' comments during filming were unexpected and created tension among the crew due to De Niro's possible reaction.
• 🌟 De Niro admired Rickles, which gave Rickles the confidence to tease him, as he knew De Niro's background in 'put-down groups'.
• 👴 Rickles saw himself as a mentor to De Niro, who looked up to him as a comedy idol during his youth.
• 🎭 Pollak discusses his time on the set of 'Grumpy Old Men' and Walter Matthau's famous gambling problem.
• 📋 Matthau's gambling debts were so significant that he joked about owing his bookie two million dollars.
• 😮 Pollak's encounter with Matthau involved an attempt at small talk that quickly turned to Matthau's financial troubles.
• 👏 Kevin Pollak expresses his admiration for character actors who became leading men, like Matthau and Lemon.
• 🏆 The script implies that Pollak sees being on set with such actors as a learning experience, akin to studying at 'Mount Rushmore' of acting.
• 📻 For more content like this, the audience is directed to tune in to the Rich Eisen show on various platforms.

Q & A

Who is the guest on the Richardson show?

Kevin Pollak is the guest on the Richardson show.

What is the context of the conversation about Don Rickles?

The conversation is about Don Rickles' behavior on set, particularly his habit of teasing Robert De Niro during filming.

What did Don Rickles do during a take involving Robert De Niro?

During a take, Don Rickles interrupted Robert De Niro's dialogue by making fun of him, despite his character not being supposed to speak at that moment.

How did the people on set react to Rickles' interruption?

Everyone on set was tense and unsure of how Bob De Niro would react to Rickles' interruption.

Why did Rickles feel he had an upper hand over De Niro?

Rickles felt he had an upper hand because De Niro admired him greatly, having worshipped Rickles since he was a child.

What was the significance of the 'put-down groups' in New York during De Niro's childhood?

The 'put-down groups' were street groups that insulted others, and De Niro was part of such a group. Rickles, known for his insult comedy, was seen as a god by these groups.

What did Kevin Pollak do during the filming of 'Casino'?

Kevin Pollak played the role of a character standing in the background in the casino scene.

What is the connection between Walter Matthau and gambling?

Walter Matthau had a famous gambling issue, and his memorial included his picks for the following Sunday's games.

What was Kevin Pollak's first interaction with Walter Matthau like?

Kevin Pollak tried to make small talk with Matthau by commenting on the script, to which Matthau responded about his gambling debt.

How did Kevin Pollak feel about being around Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon?

Pollak felt honored and considered it a privilege to be around Matthau and Lemmon, as he admired character actors and aspired to be one.

How can one access more of the Rich Eisen show?

The Rich Eisen show can be accessed on Audience Channel 239 on Direct TV, for free on BR live, or by downloading the Rich Eisen show app.