Rodney Dangerfield video blocked, widow’s lawsuit settled

A LA judge has ordered a former friend of the late comedian, Rodney Dangerfield, not to release video footage of the comic in his final years.

Dangerfield’s widow, Joan, had filed a lawsuit against producer, David Permut, last year and the permanent injuction comes after Joan Dangerfield’s lawyers filed the final paperwork on Tuesday.

Rodney Dangerfield was famous for his catchphrase “I don’t get no respect” and had etched a niche for his pessimistic, self-effacing act and rapid delivery.

In middle-age, having tried numerous careers while writing gags, he got his big break on the Ed Sullivan show. His first ‘respect’ line sealing his fate:

“I don’t get no respect. I played hide-and-seek, and they wouldn’t even look for me”.

In 1969, he bought a nightclub in Manhatten, which became Dangerfield’s, the venue for an HBO show that helped popularise lots of fledgling stand-ups, including Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, Tim Allen, Roseanne Barr and Andrew Dice Clay.

Dangerfield died in 2004, aged 82. David Permut had allegedly showed video footage of the late star to two writers and was planning to edit 200 hours of footage into a documentary called Respect.

Attorneys for both parties declined to comment on the settlement.

Five classic Rodney Dangerfield lines:

“ A girl phoned me the other day and said… Come on over, there’s nobody home. I went over. Nobody was home.”

“I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.”

“I drink too much. The last time I gave a urine sample it had an olive in it.”

“I have good looking kids. Thank goodness my wife cheats on me.”

“I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous – everyone hasn’t met me yet.”

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