About
Jonathan Winters, born November 11, 1925 in Dayton, Ohio, and died April 11, 2013 in Montecito, California, was an American comedian known for his improvisational and surreal humor. After serving in the Marines during World War II, he began in radio and then television, becoming the first comedian to appear in color in 1957. He created memorable characters like Maude Frickert and Elwood P. Suggins. He influenced generations of comedians, including Robin Williams. He received the Mark Twain Prize in 1999, an Emmy Award, and a Grammy Award. He also authored short story collections and paintings.
* 1925-11-11 — † 2013-04-11
Major works
- Winters' Tales (1987)short story collection
- Hang-Ups (1988)art book
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)film
- The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966)film
- The Smurfs (2011)animated film
Key milestones
- 1957First American comedian to appear on color television.
- 1999Receives the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
- 1996Wins a Grammy Award for the album 'Crank Calls'.
Themes
ImprovisationSurreal humorCharactersSocial satireVisual art
Sources: britannica.com · nytimes.com · kennedy-center.org