Former child actor Justin Cooper revealed that his mother established a strict boundary for late comedy legend Don Rickles on the set of the 1998 feature film Dennis the Menace Strikes Again, demanding that the famously foul-mouthed comedian refrain from swearing around her young son. Cooper, who starred as the titular menace at age nine, shared the behind-the-scenes anecdote during an appearance on the Not So Little Rascals podcast.
At the time of filming, Rickles was widely celebrated as the master of the insult and sarcastically known as “Mr. Warmth,” a reputation built over decades of rapid-fire stand-up and memorable television appearances. While many child actors during that era faced immense pressure to simply follow instructions without question from adult crew members, Cooper explained that his mother took a fiercely protective approach to shielding him from uncomfortable situations on set.
Reflecting on his childhood career, which also included a role in the 1997 Jim Carrey film Liar Liar, Cooper noted that his mother stood apart from typical stage parents. Speaking on the podcast, Cooper recalled how his mother confronted the legendary comic directly about his language, leaving him stunned at the time by her bold stance.
“There’s a lot of acting parents that you hear of back in the day that were just like, ‘Yeah go do whatever they tell you to do,'” Cooper said on the podcast. “My mom was not like that, like, almost to a fault.”
He continued by recounting the specific interaction with Rickles, who portrayed Mr. Wilson in the 1998 family comedy. “I remember a story that just blew my mind,” Cooper said. “So Don Rickles played Mr. Wilson in Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! And you know, he’s known for being a foul-mouthed comic. And she went up to him and was like, ‘I don’t want you to use any language like that in front of my kid.’ I was like, ‘Mom, whoa!'”
The Legacy of Don Rickles and Hollywood Beginnings
Don Rickles earned his enduring reputation as a pioneer of insult comedy after discovering that impromptu insults won more applause than scripted material. His quick-wit style famously brought him to national prominence when he interrupted a performance by Frank Sinatra in a Hollywood club, telling the singer to make himself at home and hit somebody.
That fearlessness cemented Rickles as a fixture of celebrity culture throughout the 1970s and 1980s, where he regularly targeted high-profile figures on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. His sharp tongue spared few, directing his signature barbs—and his frequent label for audiences, “hockey pucks”—at icons such as Ronald Reagan, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Kirk Douglas, Sammy Davis Jr., and Mr. T.
Beyond his searing stand-up routines, Rickles transitioned into acclaimed dramatic and voice acting. He delivered a performance in Martin Scorsese’s Casino and voiced Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story films. Rickles passed away in 2017 at the age of 90, prompting tributes including from director Martin Scorsese, who remembered him as a giant and a legend.
Transition from Child Stardom to Sports Broadcasting
Justin Cooper stepped away from the entertainment industry after his childhood acting career concluded. Now 37 years old, he works in sports broadcasting.
Reflecting on his time working alongside comedy legends, Cooper’s recent podcast appearance offered a rare window into the realities of growing up in front of the camera during the late 1990s. While films like Dennis the Menace Strikes Again and Liar Liar cemented his place in 90s pop culture, his mother’s unwavering vigilance ensured that the young actor navigated Hollywood’s demanding sets strictly on family-managed terms.
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