Paul Winchell
Paul Winchell Winchell with Jerry Mahoney in 1951 Born Paul Wilchinsky (1922-12-21)December 21, 1922 New York City, New York, U.S. Died June 24, 2005(2005-06-24) (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Cause of death Natural causes Nationality American Occupation Ventriloquist, comedian, actor, humanitarian, inventor Years active 1938-1999 Known for The Paul Winchell Show The Speidel Show What's My Name? Winnie the Pooh Spouse(s) Dorothy "Dottie" Movitz Nina Russel (1961–1972) Jean Freeman (1974–2005) Paul Winchell (December 21, 1922 – June 24, 2005) was an American ventriloquist, actor, and comedian whose career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. From 1950-1954, 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 1965-1968, Winchell hosted the children's television series, Winchell-Mahoney Time. Winchell 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 Donna Reed Show, and two appearances as Homer Winch on The Beverly Hillbillies in 1962. In animation, he was the original voice of Tigger, Dick Dastardly, Gargamel, and other characters. Winchell, who had medical training, was also an inventor, becoming the first person to build and patent a mechanical artificial heart, implantable in the chest cavity (US Patent #3097366). He has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television.