RIP Jonathan Winters

Greg

He played my favorite character on Mork & Mindy, he was somebody that could sit and listen to all day long.

Thank you for laughs Mr. Winters.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/13/arts/television/jonathan-winters-comedian-dies-at-87.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

TrustyMutsi

Aw, man... Yeah, Mearth was my favorite part of Mork and Mindy :(

Fade2Black

Since this is a comic book forum - here's an excerpt from Fish Police an animated series based on a comic book by Steve Moncuse that he costarred in (he was Mayor Cod). Jonathan actually worked on quite a few comic book-related series including the role of of Papa Smurf in the Live action Smurf movies. His career as a voice actor spans decades. I noticed on IMDb also lists him appearing in David Letterman's 2nd Annual Holiday Film Festival (perhaps Pants can shed some light on that one).

Anyhoo, without flounder ado...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qip-ECM2YOI

David_D

As fun as he was on Mork & Mindy, some of his standup material, as well as the sort of riffing he would do on talk shows was genius. He was a very strange, very funny man.

Chuck_Melville

Robin Williams posted on Facebook: "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."

rebis

David_D said:

As fun as he was on Mork & Mindy, some of his standup material, as well as the sort of riffing he would do on talk shows was genius. He was a very strange, very funny man.

I don't know if this was an official released product or not, but some time ago I found a collection of phone messages that Winters left to his ... I want to say agent. It's some of the crazies stuff you will ever listen to.

I grew up watching Winters on things like the Dean Martin Variety Show & Celebrity Roasts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q08L6POKJsE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDDXjZ2wLxw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=NfTgzZb-VVs&list=RD02bDDXjZ2wLxw&feature=endscreen

kiwijase

I remember watching a skit he did where he was given two pencils and was asked to improvise a series of short routines with them. He did and was hilarious.

Chuck_Melville

kiwijase said:

I remember watching a skit he did where he was given two pencils and was asked to improvise a series of short routines with them. He did and was hilarious.

Winters had a short-lived variety show during the late 60's where he had a segment just for that sort of improvisation. Supposedly it was unrehearsed (and I've no reason to think it was otherwise) and a stage hand would just hand him any old thing to riff off of.

Winters did a lot of movies too, mostly comedic, but some straight dramatic roles as well, ranging from The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming and the classic It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (where he stole the show by single-handedly tearing apart a gas station) to appearing in The Shadow with Alec Baldwin. Just the other night, I happened to catch an old Twilight Zone episode where he co-starred with the late Jack Klugman, playing a ghostly version of Minnesota Fats, teaching Klugman's character the downside of being the champion.

He also did a score of cartoon voices, including playing Hampton Pig's father on Tiny Toon Adventures.

Mr_Cosmic

One of my all time favorites! :(

[Deleted User]

Man, in that video of the Carson roast... what a panel of talented guys... I think only Newhart is left, now.

When I was a kid, Jonathan Winters was my absolute favorite funny man. He will be missed.