Paul Winchell
Paul Winchell (né Wilchinsky; December 21, 1922 – June 24, 2005) was an American ventriloquist, comedian, actor, humanitarian, and inventor whose career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. From 1950 to 1954, he hosted The Paul Winchell Show, which also used two other titles during its prime time run on NBC: The Speidel Show, and What's My Name? From 1965 to 1968, Winchell hosted the children's television series Winchell-Mahoney Time.
Paul Winchell | |
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Winchell in 1951 | |
| Born | Paul Wilchinsky December 21, 1922 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | June 24, 2005 (aged 82) Moorpark, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1938–1999 |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy Movitz (divorced) Nina Russel
(m. 1961; div. 1972)Jean Freeman (m. 1974) |
| Children | 3, including April Winchell |
He made guest appearances on Emmy Award-winning television series from the late 1950s to the mid 1970s, such as Perry Mason, The Dick Van Dyke Show, McMillan & Wife, The Brady Bunch, The Donna Reed Show, and appearances as Homer Winch on The Beverly Hillbillies. In animation, Winchell was the original voice of Tigger, Dick Dastardly, Gargamel, Scrubbing Bubbles, and other characters.
He also had medical training and became the first person to build and patent a mechanical artificial heart, implantable in the chest cavity (US Patent #3097366 of 1963). Winchell has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television.