Associated Press Jonathan Winters on the set of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World†in 1962.Jonathan Winters, the frenetic comedian who created many indelible characters and also had a nearly unmatched gift for wild comic improvisation, died on Thursday. He was 87.
Mr. Winters’s inspired riffs with even the most rudimentary props made him a favorite on late-night talk shows like “The Steve Allen Show†and “The Tonight Show.†Here, he entertains Jack Parr and his audience with a stick.
He was also a frequent participant in the “Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts,†such as this one skewering Frank Sinatra.
His own series were short-lived, but Mr. Winters took his characters onto all sorts of programs. His Maude Frickert, a saucy grandmother, was a favorite.
Though he never established a major Hollywood career, he gave memorable performances in films like “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.â€
Robin Williams revered Mr. Winters and was clearly inspired by his anarchic approach to comedy. He hired Mr. Winters to play his child on “Mork & Mindy.â€
Mr. Winters discussed his career in a lengthy interview with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:
