Jonathan Winters 80th Birthday Celebration
Friends, fellow comics and surprise star guests wished Hollywood legend Winters a very happy 80th birthday here at Goldenson Theatre. See story and pics
Tonight’s occasion would feature someone a bit off-center, somewhat offbeat, someone who had forsaken the mainstream path in favor of the whimsical and witty.
And so it was December 1, when the Television Academy saluted a comedic original with the program, “Jonathan Winters is Turning 80…and You’re Invited!”
Presented in association with the Bob Hope Comedy Collection of the Academy Foundation’s Archive of American Television, the evening brought together numerous Winters colleagues in person and on videotape for a laugh-filled, occasionally serious look at the comedian’s life and career.
“I chat with Jonathan five times a week,” said host Gary Owens, who has known Winters since 1959, “and he’s a different person each time. We’re all gathered here to celebrate an American original.”
Winters himself appeared early in the evening to thank everyone for coming, instructing the applauding crowd to “please remain standing throughout the evening” and noting that with the cane he was using, “I can pull myself off.”
He singled out various friends in the audience and made particular note of Karen Kramer, widow of director Stanley Kramer, whose casting of Winters in his feature It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World just after Winters was released from a lengthy stress-induced hospital stay was a major career break. “One of the greatest influences in my life was meeting Stanley Kramer,” he said.
He didn’t remain serious for long, though. A female fan recently told him, Winters recalled, “I’ve heard a lot of stories about you,” to which he replied, “They’re all true!”
Bonnie Hunt, who played Winters’ daughter in Davis Rules — the series for which the comedian won a best supporting actor Emmy in 1991 — was first up with her own stories, of his “wonderful heart” and kindness toward her. And, she said, “His attention to detail in improvisation blows me away. It never ceases to amaze me.”
Mad, Mad World co-star Marvin Kaplan shared the memory of how he and another actor tied up Winters with duct tape for a scene, then left him that way when lunch was called.
Upon their return, “He gave us a lecture on enforced potty training! … I’ve worked with two geniuses,” Kaplan added. “Charlie Chaplin, who I stage-managed for, and Johnny Winters. I’m a firm believer of, ‘If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage.’ He’s a complete exception to that rule. It was never on the page.”
Indeed, said George Schlatter, “Every comedian in the business has been inspired by you. You’ve affected them as far as freeing them up to do different things.”
Schlatter recalled a CBS special he and Winters did, celebrating the 100th birthday of Winters’ creation Maude Frickert, where their “adult-beverage”-induced behavior while taping led to what he termed “verité comedy” editing to try to salvage the show. “That show was the beginning of how we edited on Laugh-In,” Schlatter noted.
Others appearing included Regan Burns, Martin Guigui, Mark Hamill, Steve Landesberg, Jack Riley, Jo Anne Worley and Chuck Woolery. Paying tribute on tape were Dan Aykroyd, Tom Hanks, Don Knotts, Garry Marshall, Steve Martin, Carl Reiner, Fred Willard, Andy Williams and Paul Williams.
Throughout, clips showcased Winters’ variety show, sitcom and dramatic television appearances; characters such as Frickert and Ellwood P. Suggins; feature films and commercials.
The evening ended with — what else? — birthday cake and a heartfelt rendition of “Happy Birthday” sung by audience members. “If you turn 80,” Winters told the crowd in conclusion, “I hope you’ll have as much fun as I have.”
The event was produced by Richard Jones, Robert Kirk, Rob Lihani and Peter Hankwitz, in association with Digital Ranch/Midwich Entertainment/php&m. Karen Miller is chairman of the activities committee. Robert O’Donnell is director of activities for the Academy.