Jonathan Winters has passed on

[sonnymax]

I'm sorry to report that one of the most creative and influential comedians of our time has died. Jonathan Winters died last night at the age of 87.

Rest in peace, Mr. Winters, and thank you for all the laughter you shared with us. NYT

Edited April 12, 2013 by sonnymax

[Tim McG]

Jonathan Winters was one of my all-time favorite comedians.

I am very sorry to see him go.

Rest in Peace, Jonathan.

[fasstrack]

Wow. One of a kind. So long, Maude Frickert, et. al.

[fasstrack]

You know someone that great deserves a tribute thread. I guess this is it. Memories?

I remember him on Carson telling a story about trying to cheat in 2nd grade math class and his classmate refused to help him, saying 'we learn by doing'.

[Larry Kart]

Did an interview with him in about 1987 or '88 in his Palmer House hotel suite when he was promoting the strange short semi-autobographical book he wrote; he was really "on," very free form. The tape of that 90 minute or so interview, judiciously edited, might be the best Winters comedy album ever. Only problem might be that our photographer was so convulsed with laughter at times that he obscured some of what Winters was saying.

[Scott Dolan]

Good lord...

Extremely sad news. Outside of Carlin and Hackett, he was one of the my favorites.

Jealous, Larry. But glad you were able to have that experience. Does the recording still exist?

R.I.P., Mr. Winters. I'm thinking you were appreciated even more than YOU know.

[paul secor]

A very, very, very, funny man. First saw him on television in the 1950s when I was a kid and remained a fan

Thanks, Mr. Winters.

[Larry Kart]

Good lord...

Extremely sad news. Outside of Carlin and Hackett, he was one of the my favorites.

Jealous, Larry. But glad you were able to have that experience. Does the recording still exist?

Yes, it does -- on two tape cassettes.

[GA Russell]

RIP. He was one of my favorites.

As I recall, he was a favorite of Jack Paar's, and Paar would let him do whatever he wanted for as long as he wanted.

[JSngry]

That was one crazy dude. Much love here. So, long.

[AfricaBrass]

He was one of my favorites too! He made the world a better place.

He was so great in It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. I watch it every year or so. I love when he rides into the gas station on the little girl's bike and proceeds to tear the place apart. He was so silly!

[ejp626]

He was one of my favorites too! He made the world a better place.

He was so great in It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. I watch it every year or so. I love when he rides into the gas station on the little girl's bike and proceeds to tear the place apart. He was so silly!

I put it on this evening, though I didn't realize it is over 2.5 hours, so we're watching it in phases. Made it through the gas station scene.

[JSngry]

[AfricaBrass]

He was one of my favorites too! He made the world a better place.

He was so great in It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. I watch it every year or so. I love when he rides into the gas station on the little girl's bike and proceeds to tear the place apart. He was so silly!

I put it on this evening, though I didn't realize it is over 2.5 hours, so we're watching it in phases. Made it through the gas station scene.

I'm watching it tonight too! It's such a great movie.

[JSngry]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XBbghqzxtE

[medjuck]

I used to see him around town in Montecito where he and I lived. He once sat down with us at lunch and talked non-stop for 45 minutes. (He did say he was off his meds.)

[JSngry]

[GA Russell]

LA Times obit...

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-me-winters-20130413,0,5124637,full.story

[Kevin Bresnahan]

He was one of my favorites. I loved him in "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World". The world is a little less funny place with his passing.

[paul secor]

Dizzy Gillespie supposedly said of Louis Armstrong: "No him, no me." Robin Williams could, and I'm sure would, say the same about Jonathan Williams.

[ejp626]

Good lord...

Extremely sad news. Outside of Carlin and Hackett, he was one of the my favorites.

Jealous, Larry. But glad you were able to have that experience. Does the recording still exist?

Yes, it does -- on two tape cassettes.

Sounds like the kind of thing that should be archived.

Nudge nudge wink wink.

[alocispepraluger102]

his was the funniest wit i've ever experienced . prodigious mind and talent............... RIP, Mr. Winters

[paul secor]

Robin Williams on Jonathan Williams: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/16/arts/television/robin-williams-recalls-the-lessons-of-jonathan-winters.html?_r=0

[gmonahan]

I've been out of town for a few weeks and somehow missed this very sad news. He was a genius. I loved this little paragraph from the LA Times obit:

"On movie sets, he was known to ad-lib 30 minutes for the crew at lunch. Ever-playful, he once turned to fellow comic Pat McCormick in a crowded elevator and said, 'You don't think we tied him up too tight?'"

gregmo

[robertoart]

I've been out of town for a few weeks and somehow missed this very sad news. He was a genius. I loved this little paragraph from the LA Times obit:

"On movie sets, he was known to ad-lib 30 minutes for the crew at lunch. Ever-playful, he once turned to fellow comic Pat McCormick in a crowded elevator and said, 'You don't think we tied him up too tight?'"

gregmo