No Respect: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

LP record, No Respect, by Rodney Dangerfield. Released in 1980, this comedy album features live recordings of Dangerfield’s stand-up comedy act, including two of his monologues, "No Respect" and "Son of No Respect." The album won Best Comedy Recording at the 23rd annual Grammy Awards.

Rodney Dangerfield was an American stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer famous for his self-deprecating, rapid-fire one-liners, his energetic stage presence, and his iconic catchphrase, “I don’t get no respect!” After years of struggling to make a name in the entertainment industry, he finally found mainstream success in his 40s and 50s, unusually late in life compared to most performers. His perseverance became an example for others, showing that success is still possible after setbacks or a slow start. Dangerfield gained national attention through appearances on The Tonight Show and went on to star in popular films such as Caddyshack and Back to School. Beyond his own career, he also supported emerging comedians through his New York venue, Dangerfield's Comedy Club.

Dangerfield crafted a highly recognizable comedic persona casting himself as a disrespected underdog. He portrayed himself as unlucky, undesirable, and overlooked, turning personal misfortune into humor. At a time when many comedians aimed to appear confident or clever, he demonstrated that self-deprecation could be just as powerful—if not more so. His exaggerated insecurity made him relatable and memorable, influencing performers who use vulnerability in their comedy. He also mastered the art of the concise, punchline-driven joke, proving that stand-up did not need long stories to be effective. Today, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest stand-up comedians, with a style that continues to influence generations of comics.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1980
• recording artist: Dangerfield, Rodney
• maker: Casablanca
• Object Name: Phonorecord
• Other Terms: Phonorecord; 33 1/3 Rpm
• Physical Description: vinyl (overall material)
• Physical Description: paper (overall material)
• Physical Description: ink (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 12 in; 30.48 cm
• place made: United States: California, Los Angeles
• Subject: Comedians
• Subject: Comedy
• ID Number: 1982.0268.03
• maker number: CASABLANCA NBLP 7229
• accession number: 1982.0268
• catalog number: 1982.0268.03
• Credit Line: Rodney Dangerfield
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.