Posted on 07/01/2018 5:38:45 PM PDT by eastforker
At age 17, Winters quit high school and joined the United States Marine Corps and served two and a half years in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Upon his return he attended Kenyon College. He later studied cartooning at Dayton Art Institute, where he met Eileen Schauder, whom he married in 1948.
(Excerpt) Read more at marines.togetherweserved.com ...
I enjoyed his impersonations of Norman Schwartzkoppf in the days after Desert Shield/Storm. More than a passing resemblance for sure...
On the Twilight Zone episode he was unrecognizingly good. He and Jack Klugman both.
Thanks, I got lots of them, some would really surprise you.
IIRC Jonny told Johnny that Jonny served as a Marine aboard the U.S.S. Princeton during WWII. Johnny served as a junior officer aboard the U.S.S. Pennsylvania.
When asked by George Gobel what it was like to be “an ensign on a battleship” Carson quipped that “it was like being a mousketeer at Disneyland”. Fun stuff!
Jonathan Winters made a comedy LP during the 1964 Presidential campaign that is classical gold.
Maude Frickert in the old folks home, Lance Loveguard the lisping liberal, Tick Bitterford the ultra conservative, Billy Bigbody the two fisted labor leader and Daniel Douglas Diddle the presidential candidate. Priceless!
And now I learn he was a Marine. Can’t get any better.
#22. The pool-hall scene. Excellent acting by both. I got Klugman’s autographed Twilight Zone card.
Winters was also in “Mork and Mindy”. Absolutely mind-blowing scenes with two of the funniest comics in history.
Just image a free-for-all ad hoc comedy show between Williams and Winters. All I’d want would be the DEPENDS concession in the theater. Could retire that night.
Up until the part where your ship gets torpedoed and nearly sinks at the end of the war. Poor Pennsy deserved better.
Clearly on of the best episodes I have seen, and I’ve watched them all.
The company I worked for in the 80’s hired Mr. Winters for a tv commercial. About fifty of us salespeople were attending what was suppose to be an after dinner sales meeting when shortly into the “meeting” Mr. Winters ambled onto the small stage and from that moment till he ambled off some hour later was absolute hilarity complete with him in one caricature or another. Mimicking our corporate officers and management some of whom were Japanese. What a surprise.
Early the next morning I happened into the hotel coffee shop and there sat Mr. Winters and his wife at a booth. No one else was in the place so I walk up to thank him for the previous evening’s entertainment. He introduced me to his wife and we shared a brief conversation. He was extraordinary gracious. I remember walking away thinking he was one of the nicest men I had ever met. He extruded kindness. Makes me feel good just remembering the encounter.
The company I worked for in the 80’s hired Mr. Winters for a tv commercial. About fifty of us salespeople were attending what was suppose to be an after dinner sales meeting when shortly into the “meeting” Mr. Winters ambled onto the small stage and from that moment till he ambled off some hour later was absolute hilarity complete with him in one caricature or another. Mimicking our corporate officers and management some of whom were Japanese. What a surprise.
Early the next morning I happened into the hotel coffee shop and there sat Mr. Winters and his wife at a booth. No one else was in the place so I walk up to thank him for the previous evening’s entertainment. He introduced me to his wife and we shared a brief conversation. He was extraordinary gracious. I remember walking away thinking he was one of the nicest men I had ever met. He extruded kindness. Makes me feel good just remembering the encounter.
He was excellently creepy in “The Loved One” as an Evil televangelist.
He talked about his mental problems in several comedy skits on record and even joked about his confinement: "Is it sunny out today? ---{harsh voice} Get back in there, kid!"
Thanks for posting that link. Absolutely fabulous. Winters was amazing.
My Father used to work on his Car back in the 70’s.
If I recall he owned an older Rambler or some other goofy Car.
They would drive around so Mr. Winters could show him what was wrong with the Car. They ended talking about anything and everything, except the Car of course. Really nice guy.
Believable.
Still love him.
Not only would Jonathan Winters not hesitate to defend the Corps, he would not hesitate to entertain his fellow Marines. I have read some great stories here from Freepers who met him while they were on active duty. I hope that they drop by this thread.
yes,
as is an original NBC David Letterman Show 1986
appearance chock full of belly laughs where JW never
relents, then Robin Williams joins the silliness...
(oh gawed!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAwTGuibBcQ
thank you Mr. Winters for the sacrifices
to our country and our culture.
“I’ve always been proud of being a Marine. “
As well you should. Once a marine always a marine.
From a USAF comrade in arms.
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