Jonathan Winters

**Jonathan Harshman Winters** (November 11, 1925 – May 11, 2013)  was an American comedian, television, stage, voice, movie actor, and artist. Winters had appeared in several television shows and in movies. He was recently known for voicing Papa Smurf in the 2011 movie _The Smurfs_. In _The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol_, he was replaced by Jack Angel.

## Early life

Winters was born **Jonathan Harshman Winters** in Dayton, Ohio on November 11, 1925. He is of Irish-Scottish-English descent. During his senior year at Springfield High School, Winters quit school to join the United States Marine Corps and served two and a half years in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After his return, he attended Kenyon College. He later studied cartooning at Dayton Art Institute, where he met Eileen Schauder, whom he married on September 11, 1948. He was a brother of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity (Lambda chapter).

## Career

Beginning in 1960, Winters recorded many classic comedy albums for the Verve Records label. He also had comedy albums released every decade for over 50 years, receiving 11 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album nominations during his career, and winning the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album for Crank(y) Calls in 1996.

In 1957, he was the first comedian in the United States to be on color television, a 15-minute routine sponsored by Tums.

Winters has also appeared in hundreds of television show episodes/series and movies combined, including eccentric characters on _The Steve Allen Show_, _The Garry Moore Show_, _The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters_ (1972–74), _Mork & Mindy_, _Hee Haw_ and in _It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World_.

After voicing Grandpa Smurf on _The Smurfs_ (1980–2009) and Papa Smurf in _The Smurfs_, Winters's final feature movie was _The Smurfs 2_ in 2013, which will be dedicated in his memory.

Winters was originally cast in _Big Finish_ (2014), during pre-production. It's an upcoming comedy set in a retirement home. His scheduled role was to appear alongside Jerry Lewis and Bob Newhart.

### Influences

Winters only had three influences Irwin Corey, Groucho Marx, and Charlie Chaplin. He had influenced George Carlin, Billy Crystal, Bill Cosby, Robin Williams, Richard Lewis, Jim Carrey, Conan O'Brien, Patton Oswalt, and Frank Caliendon. He worked with Robin Williams on many television shows including _Mork & Mindy_. When Winters died Williams remarked that "First he was my idol, then he was my mentor and amazing friend. I'll miss him huge. He was my Comedy Buddha. Long live the Buddha."

### Awards

In 1991, Winters earned an Emmy Award for his supporting role in _Davis Rules_. In 2002, he earned an Emmy nomination as a guest star in a comedy series for _Life With Bonnie_. In 1999, Winters was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. In 2008, Winters was presented with a Pioneer TV Land Award by Robin Williams. Winters received 11 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album nominations during his career, and won the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album for _Crank(y) Calls_ in 1996.

### Artistic career

Winters lived near Santa Barbara, California and was often seen browsing or "hamming" for the crowd at the antique show on the Ventura County fairgrounds. He often entertained the tellers and other workers whenever he visited his local bank to make a deposit or withdrawal. Plus, he spent his time painting and attended many gallery showings, even presenting his art in one-man shows.

## Personal life

In his interview with the Archive of American Television, Winters reported that he suffered a nervous breakdown and spent 8 months in a private mental hospital in the late 1950s. Despite not being given a diagnosis in the hospital, he was diagnosed with manic depression later on (known today as bipolar disorder). Winters referred to this incident obliquely in his stand-up act, most famously on his 1960 comedy album _The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters_. During his classic "flying saucer" routine, Winters mentions that if he wasn't careful, the authorities might put him back in the "zoo", referring to the institution.

On January 11, 2009, Winter's wife Eileen died at the age of 84 after a 20-year battle with breast cancer.

### Death

Winters died May 11, 2013, in Montecito, California  of natural causes, aged 87

.
He is survived by his two children:  Jay Winters, and Lucinda Winters.

## Quotes

- _"If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to meet it."_
- _"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it."_
- _"Nothing is impossible. Some things are just less likely than others."_

## Other websites

- Jonathan Winters' Official Homepage
- Interview with the Archive of American Television
- Official Website of the Jonathan Winters movie, Certifiably Jonathan
- Marc Maron interviews Jonathan Winters - WTF Podcast Episode 173 - May 2011
- Marc Maron on the genius of Jonathan Winters and his "possession of a comic muse perpetually at war with the darkness of his mind" , Entertainment, xojane, 2019.04.12

## Infobox (comedian awards)

- **child**: yes
- **emmyawards**: **Primetime Emmy Award, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Comedy Series**
1991 _Davis Rules_


## Infobox (comedian)

- **name**: Jonathan Winters
- **image**: Jonathan Winters - publicity.jpg
- **caption**: Winters in c. 1960s
- **birth name**: Jonathan Harshman Winters
- **birth place**: Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
- **death place**: Montecito, California, U.S.
- **medium**: Comedian, actor, artist
- **nationality**: American
- **active**: 1940–2013
- **influences**: Irwin Corey, Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marx
- **influenced**: George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Robin Williams, Richard Lewis, Conan O'Brien, Patton Oswalt, Frank Caliendo, Tim Conway, Billy Crystal, Jim Carrey
- **spouse**: Eileen Schauder (1948–2009; her death; 2 children)