Jonathan Winters Biography

Fast Facts

• Won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Comedy Awards Association
• His wife encouraged him to enter a local talent contest, which won him a wrist watch and a job as an early morning disc-jockey on a Dayton, Ohio, radio station
• When he moved to New York in 1953 to try to make it big, he had only $56․46 in his pocket
• Is considered one of the pioneers of improvisational stand-up comedy
• Used mimicry, impersonations and various personalities in his comedy routines
• Published a collection of short stories called "Winter Tales" that hit the national best seller list
• Enjoyed painting during his free time, and created a collection of abstract works called "Hang Ups․"