March 2009, was a sad month for Jonathan Winters. Eileen Winters, Jonathan’s beloved wife, passed away after a long struggle with cancer. They were married for over 60 years. Many comedians have built jokes and comedy routines around their wives (think Henny Youngman, Chris Rock, Lewis CK, Ron White). Jonathan is no exception. Some of his funniest material has to do with separate bedrooms. But he also credits Eileen with giving him his best professional advice. It was Eileen who bravely urged him to go to New York to seek his fortune, despite an infant son and little money at home. It was Eileen who resuscitated Jonathan’s flagging career by insisting he accept Stanley Kramer’s invitation to appear in IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD. It was Eileen Winters who, while ill in bed, generously supported the filming of CERTIFIABLY JONATHAN in her house. Thank you Eileen.
JP
Tags: Chris Rock, IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD, Lewis CK, Ron White, Stanley Kramer
February 21, 2010 at 6:21 am |
going back-yes 50 years-Jonathan was an extrordinary treat-I would look forward for days to his next appearance on Paar or wherever- A colmnist-Possible for the LA Times seemed to hit the target-he said that Jonathan was one of the most original talents (not just comedy) to emerge in the twentieth century-Chaplin was mentioned as another origianal. Even then I wondered why isn’t he the biggest star in the world-rather than being reduced to supporting some mediocre singer. He never got his due! Why? When he got his shotin some movies or his own tv show-they seemed afraid to let him rip-giving him a format that showed about 1/4 of one percent of his talent. Were talking a resourcefulness that is extrordinarily refreshing-he can create or n some instances destroy a premise or idea with a clever smirk -we have so many fake talents out there-even Woody Allen seems almost totally derivative-his talent as at the same time blessed us all and bewildered us at the same time
August 29, 2010 at 11:35 am |
Just found out about this and my prayer to God for you sir and your family for His comfort and peace
I look forward to getting the DVD