Don Rickles’ Secret Love For Marilyn Monroe

Don Rickles took some of Hollywood's biggest secrets to his grave — and died mourning Marilyn Monroe after the screen legend's suspicious death drove a wedge between the comic legend and Frank Sinatra!

In his final days, friends say Don confessed he hated the way Frank “pimped” Marilyn out to President John F. Kennedy and other men that the singer wanted to impress — including Chicago mob boss Sam “Momo” Giancana. The dying comic told pals that Frank treated troubled Marilyn “worse than a tramp!” He even believed Ol’ Blue Eyes played a key role in the blond bombshell’s death — along with Frank's fellow Rat Packer (and JFK brother-in-law) Peter Lawford.

Marilyn's death at age 36 in August 1962 was ruled a suicide by drug overdose, but Don “was convinced she was killed by the Kennedys — with Sinatra’s help — so she couldn’t reveal their sex secrets,” said a Hollywood insider. “He couldn’t forgive Frank for that, and nursed a simmering grudge for decades.”

Despite Don’s public persona as the Master of Mean, “he was, in reality, one of the most decent people you’d ever meet,” said a source. “Don hated watching Sinatra pass Marilyn around! He said she needed professional help — but Frank just tossed her around like a rag doll. He became a little estranged with Frank after she died.”

But Don was also one of the few people who could tease Frank and get away with it. The pair often dined at Patsy’s Italian Restaurant in Manhattan, where chef owner Sal Scognamillo recalled their pranks on each other. Once, Don was trying to impress some gals, so he gestured to Frank to come over to the table. As the singer sauntered over, Don turned to him and said: “Not now, Frank, can’t you see I’m eating?”

But even Don could go too far with his old friend. The comic once got carried away at his own birthday party, and jabbed Frank with a barb that wasn't appreciated. The Chairman of the Board ordered his bodyguard to “hit Rickles in the face with his own birthday cake!”