In addition to his Primetime Emmy for his role as Gunny Davis on the ABC/CBS sitcom “Davis Rules,” Jonathan Winters won a Grammy for his comedy CD “Crank(y) Calls” in 1995).
In addition to “Jonathan Winters Is Terminator 3” (1988), “Finally Captured” (1988), and “The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters” (1960), Jonathan recorded a slew of other comedy CDs (1992). Among Winters’s more than 80 acting credits include the films “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” and “The Big Chill” (1963),
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Jonathan Winters Early Life
On November 11, 1925, in Dayton, Ohio, Jonathan Harshman Winters III was born. Winters II was born to Alice Kilgore Rodgers (later Alice Bahman) and Jonathan Harshman II.
His dad got his start in the business as an insurance agent, but eventually shifted to a career as an investment broker. Jonathan’s grandpa was the bank owner and “frustrated comedian” of the Winters National Bank.
When Winters was seven, his parents got a divorce, and Alice took him to live with her mom in Springfield. In September of 1960, Alice and Jonathan were guests on the game program “I’ve Got a Secret” as a married couple.
Alice had become a radio personality at WIZE in Springfield. Winters left to his own devices in his grandmother’s bedroom, began to construct a “repertory of sound effects” by making up characters and interviewing himself.
He started at Springfield High, but he left his senior year to enlist in the Marine Corps instead. After serving for two and a half years in the Pacific Theater during World War II, Jonathan enrolled at Kenyon. There, he met his future wife, Eileen Schauder, and majored in cartooning.
Happiest of Birthdays dear friend Jonathan Winters, as funny and as sharp as ever! With gratitude, respect and love… pic.twitter.com/uBwL0VXS
— Bonnie Hunt (@BonnieHunt_real) November 11, 2012
Jonathan Winters Career
Due to financial difficulties caused by a missing wristwatch, Eileen urged Jonathan to compete in a talent show in the late 1940s. When he won the competition, not only did he receive a wristwatch as his prize, but he also landed a job as a DJ.
As an employee, Winters contributed to Dayton’s WING, Springfield’s WIZE, and Columbus’s WBNS-TV. The director of programming at WBNS-TV, Jerome R. “Ted” Reeves, helped Jonathan Winters get an audition at CBS in New York City, and Winters relocated there with only $60. Shortly after signing with agent Martin Goodman, he began performing stand-up comedy in New York City’s nightclubs.
In 1954, on the DuMont Television Network’s “Chance of a Lifetime,” he made his television debut, and in 1956, RCA broadcast what it called “the first public demonstration of color videotape” on NBC’s “The Jonathan Winters Show.”
At its conclusion in the middle of 1957, the series had aired 38 total episodes. In the 1950s, Jonathan was a regular guest on a wide variety of talk shows, including “The Blue Angel” (1954), “Pass the Line” (1954), “Omnibus” (1954), “The Jack Paar Show” (1955), “Good Morning! with Will Rogers, Jr.” (1955), “The NBC Comedy Hour” (1956), and “The Tonight Show” (1956). (1955–1957).
First appearing in “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” in 1963 (for which he received a Golden Globe nomination), then in “The Loved One” (1965), “The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming” (1966), “Penelope” (1966), “Eight on the Lam” (1967), and “Viva Max!” (1969), and narrating “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You in the Closet and The second season of “The Jonathan Winters Show,” which he hosted, aired on CBS from 1967 through 1969 and consisted of 43 episodes.
After starring in the 1970 special “The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters” and 1976 special “Jonathan Winters Presents 200 Years of American Humor,” Winters went on to host the NBC documentary series “Hot Dog” and star in the 1972–1974 syndicated series “The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters” (1970–1971).
Jonathan has appeared in several TV shows and movies, including as a guest star on “The Muppet Show” (1980), a regular on “Mork & Mindy” (1981–1982) on ABC, and the voice of Grandpa Smurf in “The Smurfs” (1986–1989) and “Smurfquest” (a TV movie) (1986).
In addition to his role as Gunny Davis on “Davis Rules” from 1991 to 1992, Winters has appeared in the films “I Go Pogo” (1980), “Hanky Panky” (1982), “E. Nick: A Legend in His Mind” (1984), “The Longshot” (1986), “Say Yes” (1986), “Moon Over Parador” (1988), “The Flintstones” (1994), and “The Shadow” (1994).
Jonathan Winters Net Worth
Comedian, actor, writer, producer, and artist Jonathan Winters had a $5 million fortune when he passed away in 2013.
Jonathan Winters Personal Life
On September 11, 1948, Jonathan wed Eileen Ann Schauder, and they stayed married until her death in January 2009 from breast cancer, a disease she had been battling for two decades. The couple’s offspring were named Jay and Lucinda.
Winters disclosed his time spent in a private psychiatric hospital in 1959 and 1961 during an interview with the Archive of American Television when he discussed his struggles with bipolar disorder and nervous breakdowns. Like many artists, Jonathan had a passion for the visual arts and frequently held solo exhibitions.
Jonathan Winters Death
At the age of 87, Jonathan passed away at his home in Montecito, California on April 11, 2013, from unanticipated causes.
His children were given his cremains after Winters’s cremation. Following the announcement of Jonathan’s death, Robin Williams posted on Facebook, “At first, he was someone I looked up to, and later he became a wonderful role model and friend. I will sorely miss him. The Comedy Buddha, if you will. The Buddha forever reigns.” A tweet from Steve Martin reads, “End of an era, Jonathan Winters. You were among the very best of the very best.”
Jonathan Winters Awards and Nominations
Winters was nominated for two Primetime Emmys and won in 1991 for his role as an outstanding supporting actor in the comedy series Davis Rules. In 2003, for “Life with Bonnie,” he was nominated for another Emmy as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
After his performance in “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World” in 1964, Jonathan was nominated for both a Golden Globe and a Laurel Award as that year’s Top Male New Face and Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical.
The album “Crank(y) Calls,” which Winters produced, was nominated for 11 Grammys and won the award for Best Spoken Comedy Album in 1996.
Best Comedy Recording for “Finally Captured” (1989) and “Jonathan Winters Into The… 90’s” (1991), Best Spoken Word Album for “Winters’ Tale” (1989) and “Jonathan Winters – A Very Special Time” (2010), and Best Album for Children for “The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters” (1961). (1993). You can check TheActiveNews.Com for the latest information.