Q&A / DON RICKLES, comedian and author: Hey, hockey puck, it's just a role he plays

An Emmy-winning veteran of stage and screen for more than 45 years, Rickles now finds himself entertaining through the written word. After the success of 2007's "Rickles' Book," the comedian has released "Rickles' Letters" (written with David Ritz, Simon & Schuster, $25), a collection of unsent letters that take issue with living, dead and fictitious characters such Jimmy Carter, Benjamin Franklin, Santa Claus and Mr. Potato Head (for whom he did the voice in the "Toy Story" films).

Here he discusses the book, his secrets to career longevity and his reputation for getting a laugh at the expense of others.

Q: You're one of the rare performers who has survived several decades in the entertainment business. What's your secret?

A: When I first started out, I always said being different's a big help. And I've always been politically incorrect, but I did that long before there were any problems with it. I've never been mean- spirited and when you're up there by yourself the audience buys the personality or the character you're playing. I've been fortunate to have the public understand me through a long [period of] time. They've developed a liking to the character and they know that everything I say is exaggerated and done in fun.

Q: Though you've never been one to bite your tongue, your latest book features letters to people that were never actually sent. Why did you choose to take this approach rather than just saying what was on your mind in person?

A: They're all fictitious things and I was having fun and just being outrageous. But if I wrote to these people I would be ripping them as I do in the book. So it's just an exaggeration of what I might do if I wrote to some of those people. ... My wife came up with this idea because she said I always wrote funny letters to my family and friends when I was in the service. She said, "Why don't you just tell David Rosenthal, the CEO of Simon & Schuster, about your letters. It's easy for you and you like it, so ask him." I said, "I don't want to do that," but Simon & Schuster loved the idea and we went from there.

Q: Aside from performing in Vegas, you have several projects in the works, including reprising your role as Mr. Potato Head in the next "Toy Story" film.

A: Yeah, that comes out in a couple of years and the great part is my grandchildren, of all the work I've done in my career, they only know me as Mr. Potato Head. There's this animated doll at [Disneyland Resort] that stands out front [of Toy Story Mania!] and moves its head and eyes and arms and makes fun of people in the front as they get into the ride and it's my voice. I do the voices for this particular ride, plus the "Toy Story" movies, so Disney has been very kind to me. I'm also [performing at] all the Indian casinos around the country and some theaters, and the rest of the time I'm watching the Dodgers and the Lakers in California.

Q: When I told someone I was interviewing you today, she said, "You'll be lucky to get a word in edgewise." How do you like being known as a mouthy comic?

A: For people who don't know me, of course that's a character I do on stage when I perform. I do kid around with my friends and with [Bob] Newhart and so forth, but when it comes to guys like yourself, I get up in the morning like you and I have breakfast just like you and I go to the bathroom just like you. But people get that image that I'm going to get on them and say, "You're as dumb as a hockey puck. You're a moron." But as you see, that's not the case.