Jonathan Harshman Winters III, a renowned American comedian, actor, and artist, was born on November 11, 1925, in Dayton, Ohio. His father, Jonathan Harshman Winters II, was a banker who struggled with the aftermath of the Great Depression, eventually becoming an alcoholic. The couple divorced in 1932, and Jonathan and his mother moved to Springfield to live with his grandmother. His mother remarried and became a prominent radio personality.
Jonathan's life took a dramatic turn when he joined the United States Marine Corps during his senior year of high school. After his discharge, he attended Kenyon College and later transferred to the Dayton Art Institute. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Eileen Schauder, in 1948, and they married a month later. The couple remained together until Eileen's passing on January 11, 2009. They had two children, Jay, a contractor, and Lucinda, a talent scout for movies.
Jonathan's entry into show business began with a talent contest win, which led to a children's television show in Dayton in 1950. This early success paved the way for appearances on game shows and talk shows. However, after being denied a requested raise, Jonathan and his family moved to New York with only $56 in their pocket. Within two months, he secured night club bookings, marking a significant turning point in his career.
Despite struggling with two nervous breakdowns, one in 1959 and another in 1961, Jonathan continued to work in the entertainment industry. He came out of "retirement" to collaborate with director/writer Martin Guigui on the films Swing (2003) and Cattle Call (2006). Throughout his career, Jonathan made ten Grammy-nominated comedy recordings, winning one.
Jonathan Winters passed away at the age of 87 on April 11, 2013, in Montecito, California, due to natural causes.
