Charles Winninger, a veteran vaudevillian, was born Karl Winninger on May 26, 1884, in Athens, Wisconsin, to Austrian immigrant parents, Rosalia and Franz Winninge, a violinist. He left school at the age of 8 to join his parents' vaudeville family act, the Winninger Family Concert Co. After his parents retired, he and his five brothers performed in various stock and repertory companies.
On Broadway, Winninger made his debut in 1910 with "The Yankee Girl," which also featured actress Blanche Ring. The couple married in 1912 and frequently starred together in vaudeville and on Broadway, including the musical "When Claudia Smiles" in 1914.
Throughout the 1920s, Winninger had numerous roles on Broadway, including the Ziegfeld Follies in 1920, Winter Garden productions, and musical comedy showcases like "The Broadway Whirl" and "Showboat" in 1927. He originated the role of beloved Cap'n Andy in "Showboat," playing it for two years straight and returning to the role on Broadway in 1932.
With the success of "Show Boat," Hollywood took notice of Winninger for character roles. He appeared in early talking movies like "Soup to Nuts" with Ted Healy and The Three Stooges, and also played slapstick comedy and heavier roles, including the melodramas "Bad Sister" and "The Sin of Madelon Claudet."
Wininger became associated with the character of Cap'n Andy, playing him in the 1936 film remake of "Show Boat" and creating several variations of the character on radio. He continued to work in film, playing benign, errant dads, old-theater entertainers, lovable drunks, and other wanderlust types.
In the 1940s, Winninger brightened up a number of MGM comedies and musicals, including "Babes in Arms," "Little Nellie Kelly," and "Ziegfeld Girl." One of his last important roles was playing Will Rogers' Judge Priest role in director John Ford's film "The Sun Shines Bright" in 1953, his only leading film role.
Winninger and his wife Blanche never appeared together in a film, although Blanche did play herself in "If I Had My Way" in 1940, a film that featured Charlie. His final film was "Raymie" in 1960, and he also played Santa Claus in "The Miracle of the White Reindeer" that same year.
In the 1950s, TV roles dominated Winninger's work, including a stint on "The Charles Farrell Show" in 1956. He was divorced from Blanche in 1951 and married stage actress-turned-novelist and screenwriter Gertrude Walker in 1951. Winninger retired for many years and passed away in 1969 at the age of 84 following an extended illness.
