Jonathan Winters
Jonathan Winters
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Jonathan Harshman Winters III was an American actor, comedian, and artist, commonly known as Jonathan Winters.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on November 11, 1925, in Dayton, Ohio. He passed away on April 9, 2013, at the age of 87.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Winters was an American actor, comedian, and artist, known for his work in television, film, and radio.
Early Life and Background
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Jonathan Winters grew up in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He developed an interest in acting at a young age and began performing in school plays. After graduating from high school, he studied pre-law at Kenyon College but eventually dropped out to pursue a career in show business.
Major Accomplishments
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Winters' breakthrough came when he was discovered by comedian Steve Allen on the TV show "Tonight Starring Steve Allen." He went on to appear on numerous television shows and films throughout his career, including "The Andy Griffith Show," "Dragnet," and "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."
Notable Works or Actions
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One of Winters' most notable roles was as Mawdryn on the TV show "Star Trek: The Animated Series." He also provided voices for several animated characters, including Gildy in the "G.I. Joe" franchise and Maestro in the "Futurama" series.
Winters was a talented artist and cartoonist, known for his quick-draw caricatures of celebrities on TV shows like "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." He published several collections of his artwork and was recognized as one of the top cartoonists in the country by _The Wall Street Journal._
Impact and Legacy
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Jonathan Winters' impact on comedy is still felt today. He was a pioneer of improvisational comedy, influencing many notable comedians, including Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, and Billy Crystal.
Winters was also an advocate for mental health awareness. He struggled with depression throughout his life but used his platform to raise awareness about the condition.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Jonathan Winters is widely quoted and remembered for his quick wit, incredible comedic talent, and innovative approach to improvisation. His ability to think on his feet and create spontaneous characters made him a beloved figure in comedy circles.
Quotes by Jonathan Winters
I find painting a much slower process than comedy, where you can go a mile a minute verbally and hope to God that some of the people out there understand you. I don't paint every day. I'm not that motivated.
Something I’ll always remember – when I was a kid, I shook hands with Orville Wright. Forty years later, I shook hands with Neil Armstrong. The guy that invented the airplane and the guy that walked on the moon. In a lifetime, that’s kinda wild when you think about it.
Throughout my life, I’ve been gratified that I’ve been able to keep the child in me alive and inspire others.
My mother had a radio show – a Barbara Walters type of gal and was very successful for about 20-some years on a radio station.
I don’t paint every day. I’m not that motivated. I don’t do anything the same every day.
Well, the most terrible fear that anybody should have is not war, is not a disease, not cancer or heart problems or food poisoning – it’s a man or a woman without a sense of humor.
I’ve done for the most part pretty much what I intended – I ended up doing comedy, writing and painting. I’ve had a ball. And as I get older, I just become an older kid.
Now the freaks are on television, the freaks are in the movies. And it’s no longer the sideshow, it’s the whole show. The colorful circus and the clowns and the elephants, for all intents and purposes, are gone, and we’re dealing only with the freaks.
I was talking to a businessman, and I said, Don’t you think most men are little boys? And he said, I’m no little boy! I make seventy-five thousand dollars a year. And I said, Well, the way I look at it – you just have bigger toys.