Jonathan Winters

An accomplished abstract painter, he created a series of work which was collected into a book titled "Hang Ups".

Served in the Marines during World War II as gunner on the aircraft carrier Bon Homme Richard in the Pacific.

Wrote a collection of short stories entitled "Winters Tales".

Was voluntarily institutionalized twice in his life (and even made light of it in his stand-up comic act).

Considered by many to be one of the finest improvisational comics ever.

Much of the dialogue between he and close friend Robin Williams on "Mork & Mindy" was ad-libbed.

He made his semi-annual visit to the "Hollywood Collectors & Celebrities Show" for an autograph session and to meet his fans.

According to the book "Tomorrow I Die", Winters appeared in the short film "Screen Test of Mike Hammer" as a wino. This film also featured Jack Stang and Bettye Ackerman. Stills are found in the aforementioned book.

He was of German and British Isles/English ancestry.

Father, with Eileen Winters , of son Jay Winters and daughter Lucinda Winters.

In 2000 he won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, presented annually by the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

In a 1985 television special, named King Kong as the film that made the biggest impression on him in his youth.

Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6290 Hollywood Blvd.

His popular drag character Maude Frickert was inspired both by one of his aunts as well as by character actress Maudie Prickett , who also was billed occasionally as Maude Prickett.

Suffered from bipolar disorder.

Dropped out of high school to join the Marines.

Winters career started as a result of a lost wristwatch, about six or seven months after his marriage to Eileen in 1948. The newlyweds couldnt afford to buy another one. Then Eileen read about a talent contest in which the first prize was a wristwatch, and encouraged Jonathan to "go down and win it". She was certain he could, and he did.

Spent eight months in hospital in 1959 and 1961 undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder and nervous breakdowns.

He was said to have worshiped the work of Stan Laurel , and was very close, in his final years, with an admirer of his own, Richard Lewis.

As of November 2002, he was doing impromptu, free comedy routines the first Sunday of each month during the Ventura County Antique Fair Grounds and in November/December 2002 in San Francisco on the set of Swing (2003/I) , directed by Martin Guigui where he plays the character of Uncle Bill.

When Stanley Kramer offered him a part in Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World , he almost didnt take it because he had just recovered from a nervous breakdown. His wife talked him into it.

He was cremated.

He only did one serious role and that was "The Twilight Zone" {A Game of Pool (#3.5)} , a two-character show in which he played "James Howard (Fats) Brown", co-starring with Jack Klugman.

Finished recording his dialogue for The Smurfs 2 only nine days before his death.

Made his first appearance on "Ive Got a Secret" (1952) with his mother, Alice Bahman , who was a radio personality in her own right on WIZE in Springfield, OH. The episode, "Ive Got a Secret" (1952) {(1960-09-28)} , aired on September 28, 1960.

As a kid, I always wanted to be lots of things. I was a Walter Mitty,type. I wanted to be in the French Foreign Legion, a detective, a,doctor, a test pilot with a scarf, a fisherman who hauled in a,tremendous marlin after a 12-hour fight.

I couldn’t wait for success ― so I went ahead without it.

I began painting well before I started doing comedy. In fact, when I came out of the war in 1946, I enrolled in art school in Dayton, Ohio. I painted for three years, and then show business took hold.

I was always an observer, even as a child. I could be satisfied to sit in a car for 3 hours and just look at the street go by while my mother went shopping. .