Jonathan Winters

Jonathan Winters (1925–2013) was an American comedian and actor known for spontaneous character improvisations, comic voices, and work in television, film, and animation.

Robin Williams: Robin Williams was an American comedian and actor known for rapid-fire improvisation and energetic performances. Winters was a major influence on Williams, who later paid tribute to him in performance.
The Jonathan Winters Show: The Jonathan Winters Show was a television variety program built around Winters’s comedy and character improvisations. The series gave Winters a recurring format for creating characters and sketches.
Improvisational theatre: Improvisational theatre is performance created spontaneously, often using audience suggestions or unscripted interaction. Winters brought improvisational principles into television and film comedy.
Mark Twain Prize for American Humor: The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is a Kennedy Center award honoring individuals who have influenced American comedy. Winters received the prize in 1999 for his impact on American humor.
George McFarland: George McFarland was an American actor and comedian best known as Spanky in the Our Gang short films. Winters served in the same wartime hospital ward as McFarland, who encouraged his early performances.
Mork & Mindy: Mork & Mindy was an American sitcom starring Robin Williams as an alien living on Earth. Winters joined the sitcom as Mearth, Mork’s son, extending his television career to a new generation.
Character comedy: Character comedy builds humor from a performer’s portrayal of a distinctive fictional personality. Winters turned recurring invented personalities into the framework for sketches and interviews.
Primetime Emmy Award: The Primetime Emmy Award recognizes excellence in American primetime television programming and performances. Winters won two Primetime Emmy Awards for his television performances.
Jack Paar: Jack Paar was an American radio and television host who presented The Tonight Show from 1957 to 1962. Paar’s television program helped introduce Winters’s eccentric characters to a national audience.
The Smurfs: The Smurfs is an animated television series based on the Belgian comic characters created by Peyo. Winters voiced Papa Smurf in the series, bringing his distinctive character voice to animation.

Linked from 2 pages

Bob NewhartCompared with: Winters’s expansive improvisation contrasts with Newhart’s carefully scripted, understated monologues.