Jonathan Winters, Comedian, Dies at 87

[onehandle]

Source: New York Times



Jonathan Winters, the rubber-faced comedian whose unscripted flights of fancy inspired a generation of improvisational comics, and who kept television audiences in stitches with Main Street characters like Maude Frickert, a sweet-seeming grandmother with a barbed tongue and a roving eye, died on Thursday. He was 87.

A family friend, Joe Petro III, said he died Thursday evening at his home in Montecito, Calif., The Associated Press reported.

Mr. Winters, a rotund man whose face had a melancholy, basset-hound expression in repose, burst onto the comedy scene in the late 1950s and instantly made his mark as one of the funniest, least definable comics in a rising generation that included Mort Sahl, Shelley Berman and Bob Newhart.

At his best when winging it, Mr. Winters confounded television hosts and luckless straight men with his rapid-fire delivery of bizarre observations uttered by characters like Elwood P. Suggins, a Midwestern Everyman, or one-off creations like the woodland sprite who bounded onto Jack Paar’s late-night show and simperingly proclaimed: “I’m the voice of spring. I bring you little goodies from the forest.” A one-man sketch factory, Mr. Winters could re-enact Hollywood movies, complete with sound effects, or create sublime comic nonsense with simple props like a pen-and-pencil set.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/13/arts/television/jonathan-winters-comedian-dies-at-87.html

---

Loved, loved, loved that genius man.

I've already gotten several Facebook notifications and a couple of texts from old friends about him. He meant a lot to us.

[villager]

1. Aw, dammit. Used to watch his show regularly as a kid.

My parents were big fans.

Saw him riff live at the Burbank Airport once, with Iron Eyes Cody. A surreal SoCal moment.

[hlthe2b]

2. I always liked him... one of those comedians who could make me laugh--on sight.

RIP, Jonathan. Go crack em up in the "great beyond"...

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Just got my alert as well.

Wow. I haven't heard his name in I don't know how long and didn't realize he was still around.

R.I.P.

[bananas]

4. Oh no. nt

[rosesaylavee]

5. He was a comedic genius

RIP Mr. Winters

[SCVDem]

6. There will be an Open Egg viewing! nt

[calimary]

30. He was Robin Williams before Robin Williams was Robin Williams.

He was totally Out-There Brilliant. With a mind so fast you couldn't keep up with it. More jokes would go by before the first one in the stream could even be absorbed.

[A HERETIC I AM]

93. There is a story of when he was on "Mork and Mindy"....

Where he and Williams were improvising a scene and Winters, apparently taken with Williams similar quick witedness, said something to the effect. " and to think they put ME away!"

Winters spent time in a psychiatric hospital in the late fifties and early sixties.

A true comic genius.

[BeyondGeography]

7. He was scary funny

Like, imagine being high around Jonathan Winters-type funny.

RIP, good man.

[Purveyor]

8. OH NO! So sad to hear this. RIP.

[calimary]

9. No.........

Bless his wonderful comedic heart!

I interviewed him once. He had a great comment (well, one of about a hundred) where he talked about "the ol' dirt nap" - as in, until you're taking the ol' dirt nap, there's time, hope, fun, life, feelings, doings, activity, accomplishment - all the good things.

[Hoyt]

19. "Old dirt nap" - - how funny. Nap in peace.

[premium]

10. Another funny man gone.

R.I.P. Johnathon Winters, you'll be greatly missed.

[rocktivity]

11. Aww, that's sad -- liked him.

rocktivity

[In_The_Wind]

27. So Sad!

[graham4anything]

12. OMG. This is really sad.

Grew up with his roles.

If not for him, there wouldn't have been Robin Williams and so many others.

Robin returned the favor years later on Mork and Mindy, but there are so many better and bigger things to remember him by.

Very sad.

His way of going from one subject to the other, back again, to another, back again
Genius!

At least alot of his stuff will always be found online and on youtube and elsewhere.
Well worth watching.

[DoBotherMe]

13. Mad, mad, mad, mad, world

(skip the ad)

[Richardo]

16. Lennie Pike

"Not pay taxes? Everyone has to pay taxes! Even businessmen, who lie and cheat and steal from people every day, even THEY have to pay taxes!"

[DinahMoeHum]

47. Loved that scene to pieces. Literally.

Thanks!

Rest In Peace, JW

[longship]

55. He's gone to the Big Dubya in the sky.

Those who've never seen "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" probably won't get the allusion.

[RoccoR5955]

90. That was one of the funniest movies of all time

RIP Jonathan Winters.
What a genius of comedy.

[pangaia]

96. I will never , ever, evre forget the gas station scene!!

One of THE classic scenes. EVER....
I'm cracking up now just thinking about it. I don't even have to watch it.. :&gt
Thank you Mr. Winters for so much....

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. He suffered in real life from Multiple Personality Disorder....

He used to talk about it in his act. He told people he could park in handicapped because he was crazy.

[Brother Buzz]

52. He put the Balclutha on the map

[Spitfire of ATJ]

58. He denied that incident went down as described.

http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=Frigging_%28Mad%29_in_the_Rigging

[Brother Buzz]

64. He may not have made it up into the rigging, but he did have an incident at the Balclutha

I love his account, pure Winters, yet, "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend".

[Spitfire of ATJ]

73. I seem to remember him comparing coverage of that to the way the media treated Fatty Arbuckle.

[Brother Buzz]

75. I can't relate to any comparison between the two

Fatty Arbuckle faced a serious criminal charge and skated while Winters simply had an 'episode', albeit a comic one in retrospect; no harm, no foul.

The only connection I can make is San Francisco.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

77. Both were where celebrities were victims of exagerations....

Fatty suffered actual damage while Winters was able to exploit it into his act.

[Brother Buzz]

78. I saw that film a few years ago

His artwork is better then just good, it's truly extraordinary.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

79. Some of it is like Dali.

[klook]

85. Saw "Certifiably Jonathan" streaming on Netflix

-- excellent mockumentary with a lot of uncomfortable truths. Wonderful glimpse into his world.

[lbrtbell]

57. No, he was bipolar--as is Robin Williams

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/30/138822853/jonathan-winters-reflects-on-a-lifetime-of-laughs

At the height of his success, in his early 30s, Jonathan Winters voluntarily committed himself to a private psychiatric hospital.

"At that time they didn't have a label for me. I said, 'What the devil, I know I'm not schizophrenic; I'm not catatonic," Winters remembers.

So he asked for a diagnosis. He repeats the doctor's answer in a coy tone: "It would only upset you." Winters replied, "I'll tell you what's upsetting me is the cost of this place."

Now he knows his diagnosis was bipolar disorder, but there were no effective medications for it back then. Winters says he declined the electroshock treatment that doctors said would erase some of the pain he was feeling.

"I need that pain whatever it is to call upon it from time to time, no matter how bad it was," he says.

Robin Williams is also bipolar. Both of them turned their bipolar symptoms (racing thoughts and pressured speech) into something positive for themselves and their audiences.

[Beacool]

89. I'll always remember him on Mork and Mindy.

Great comedian. My condolences to his family.

Nanu, nanu, Jonathan.

[Paladin]

15. A brilliant talent. RIP. (nt)

[avaistheone1]

25. Indeed. Crazy in all the right ways.

RIP

[Paladin]

82. "Crazy in all the right ways." Well said.

There are a lot worse epitaphs.....

[Ohio Joe]

17. RIP - nt

[ChazInAz]

18. AAAww jeez!

I loved the big goof! Heck, I used one of his routines just yesterday: "I rubbed it aaalll over mah bo-dy!" Lines like that are guaranteed to elevate a conversation to whole (Ahem) new level.

[FailureToCommunicate]

20. Sad news. Sure loved him! ALL the different 'hims'...

I remember my father laughing so hard watching him on TV he'd thump the coffee table with his foot!

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RIP Mr Winters

[calimary]

34. Wow! Vintage!

Look at that dais - Dean Martin, Jack Benny, Phyllis Diller, Don Rickles, Jayne Meadows, and... (!!!!!) Soupy Sales!!!!!

Dayum!!! Those were the days!

Oh yeah, and ronald reagan was there, too...

[bluedigger]

21. Best improv ever!

Gonna be one hell of a funny night in the afterlife tonight.

[Arctic Dave]

22. The creator of the, "implied facepalm".

?partner=allrovi.com

[Plucketeer]

23. Here's hoping

Hoping I get to see his act when I join him in a long dirt nap!

[Auggie]

24. Awesome performer

[liberal N proud]

26. It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

[sufrommich]

28. ,By far one of the best comedians of his generation.

Rest in peace,Mr. Funnyman.

[MotherPetrie]

29. :( The Loved One...

[Babel_17]

31. He brought a lot of joy to his work, farewell! (nt)

[Berlum]

32. "Sayonara, Johnny Boy." - Maude Frickert

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

33. I liked the way he looked so serious and clean cut

Last edited Fri Apr 12, 2013, 02:30 PM - Edit history (2)

(when he wasn't dressing up as an old woman, a child, or doing another one of his personalities) and as stolid as an insurance salesman until he got a few seconds into his sketch when you saw the woo-woo bizarreness coming through. He was so funny.

&NR=1&list=RD02wHOy5gBJIm0&feature=endscreen

&list=RD02wHOy5gBJIm0

[spiderpig]

35. Used to watch him all the time on the Tonight Show and Jack Paar Program

Think it was Paar who said he was on an airplane with Winters where they kept playing the same elevator music over and over and over. Winters rang for the flight attendant and asked her to tell the pilot to turn the plane upside down so they could hear the other side of the record.



Sads. But he had a good long life.

[locks]

36. just the best

I watched this great guy long ago and for so many years; nobody could touch his facial expressions and monologues. Sad he could not find much fun in these last years, especially in politics. But where ever he is now he's got them rolling in the aisles. Laugh in peace, Jon!

[walkerbait41]

37. The world is a little sadder today

R.N.P. Mr.Winters. It`s a mad mad mad mad world now

[AAO]

50. R.N.P.??

[DainBramaged]

38. Mork and Mindy

he is Robin Williams hero.

[AsahinaKimi]

39. I met him once when down in Santa Barbara

He was a gem, and I had heard Robin Williams was totally inspired by him.

[Blue_In_AK]

60. I saw him in Santa Barbara, too,

shopping at a street bazaar. I was too shy to approach and tell him how much I had appreciated his humor all those years. I wish I had.

[AsahinaKimi]

61. I was working at Santa Barbara Cottage Hosptial

at the time. Working as a Telephone Operator. People had said he had come into the hospital because of problems. Often he would call down to be directed to some department, and I told him how I felt honored to speak to him. He was such a nice guy. Later As I was going to lunch, I nearly bumped into him while he was being pushed around in a wheel Chair. Even then.. he was like.. "Oh where is my horn, I should have honked it coming down the hall!"

[Isoldeblue]

67. What a warm, wonderful memory!

Thanks for sharing that. You gave me a smile today

[pangaia]

97. Such a priceless encounter.

I watched him so much as a teenager and 'young adult.'
I always felt, and still do, that he was the best at his art.
Thanks for sharing....

[Duer 157099]

40. One of my all time faves. RIP. n/t

[klook]

41. I love this guy so much

So sorry to hear he's gone. He's been an enormous influence and inspiration for me. When I was a kid, I was enthralled that somebody so normal looking could be so weird and brilliant and irreverent and...oh, dammit.

[Unknown Beatle]

42. One of my favorite comedians.

He always had me in stitches. One of the all time great comedians.

RIP Mr. Winters

[MindPilot]

43. "ROTFLMFAO" exists because of him.

As I recall he used to do a bit on his show called "Jonathan's Attic" where he would improve with everyday objects. I would laugh 'til I gasped for breath.

[benld74]

44. Huge loss,,,, RIP and prayers

[Festivito]

45. He could turn a storage attic into heaven.

Ordinary things became prescient one after another in a cascade of our imaginations gently tweaked by his contiguous relentless imaginings.

[awoke_in_2003]

46. damn. nt

[olddad56]

48. comic genius who inspired so many other great comics. RIP

[yesphan]

49. I thought you were

brilliant. RIP JW.

[maddogesq]

51. He provided many father/son bonding hours of ROTF.

I do not think there was any other comic that could make my dad laugh harder than this guy. He was just out there.

This is making miss my dad a lot.

[wryter2000]

53. I loved him, too.

He was fabulous.

[moondust]

54. Thanks for all the laughs, Jonny Boy.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

56. Thank you, Maude Frickert, wherever you are!!!

R.I.P.

[Blue_In_AK]

59. What a very funny guy.

One of my favorite comedians. This is sad, but I guess no one lives forever.

[Liberal_in_LA]

62. RIP

[Contrary1]

63. Damn...Loved his humor. My Grandma babysat for him back in Ohio. n/t

[The Wizard]

65. When a funnynan dies

the whole world sheds a tear.

[sdfernando]

66. RIP Jonathan

and thanks for the laughs and bringing such joy to my childhood years.

[Isoldeblue]

68. I am so saddened by this

Winters is one of the few comics that could always make me laugh out loud with a real belly laugh. His style and comedy was timeless. He was a gift!

[Kali]

69. genius

loved the guy

[hollysmom]

70. When I was very very little, he has a 15 minute show after the 15 minute news at night

7:15.
The staff would put props on a table and he would pick one and then ad lib for the 15 minutes, minus the one commercial.
That is where I first saw him try and sell that new toy, the "stick" and another night the "rope".
He was never cruel in his jokes. I miss his type of humor.

[lunatica]

71. I love him!

Jonathan Winters was wonderful!

[reflection]

72. "I am the voice of spring. I bring you little goodies from the forest." n/t

[pangaia]

98. WOW-- I remember that one-- Johnny Carson-- Jack Paar.. one of them....

[frylock]

74. one of my favorite old guard comedians

[RKP5637]

76. He was great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[wilsonbooks]

80. you tube clip

[link:http://

|

[Cooley Hurd]

81. Aw, Damn!!!!

He was BEYOND brilliant! From IAMMMMMW to the HBO specials to Mork and Mindy to everything past that, he was the COMEDIAN's comedian.

Big gentle soul, cross the river and make them smile on the other side. You've done your work here... masterfully.

[Harriety]

83. Oh No! I loved him! His comedy and impressions? Totally bip!

[Faygo Kid]

84. Think I'll watch "The Russians Are Coming" tonight

A favorite, he is just hilarious as the sheriff, and the rest of the cast is just great.

[CK_John]

86. Semper Fi

[niyad]

87. requiescat in pacem, dear soul. you brought so much joy and light into this world.

one of the funniest comedy sketches I ever saw was the night he was on the carson show, as maude frickert. carson was doing his aunt blabby character--there were the two of them, dressed as these old ladies, just having a blast. it was wonderful

[tabasco]

88. He was truly awesome.

RIP and thanks for the laughs!

[Martin Eden]

91. How brilliant and funny was Jonathan Winters?

Robin Williams was inspired by him.

[Broken_Hero]

92. RIP, nt

[grantcart]

94. My friends were buying the Doors and other albums

I bought Winters.


Helped me stay sane if he always skated near the edge himself.

[efhmc]

95. He was amazing. RIP

[Uncle Joe]

99. RIP Jonathan and thanks for the laughs.

Thanks for the thread, onehandle.

[dflprincess]

100. When I was in grade school I took an immediate liking to my dad's boss because he looked so much

like Jonathan Winters & did have a great sense of humor.

He looked so much like Winters that he was often stopped and asked for his autograph - most often if he was flying in or out of NYC. There were times he couldn't convince the person he wasn't Jonathan Winters so he'd crack and sign his name. (He also liked Winters so he said he'd always try to be polite so it wouldn't reflect badly on the comedian.)