Paul Winchell (December 21, 1922 – June 24, 2005) was an American voice actor and ventriloquist, among other occupations. He may be best known for his ventriloquist work with dummies Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff.
He is also famous for providing voices for characters such as Tigger from Disney's Winnie the Pooh, Fleegle from The Banana Splits, Dick Dastardly from Wacky Races, Fearless Freddy the Shark Hunter from Misterjaw, Gargamel and various Smurfs from The Smurfs, and Zummi Gummi on Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears. He has also portrayed several characters from the 1970s Dr. Seuss specials, Mr. Owl in the long running Tootsie Pops commercial from 1969, and Cap'n O.G. Readmore.
As an inventor, he built and patented several devices, including a cigar lighter without flame, an invisible garter belt, and an artificial heart. He had also attempted to patent to a disposable razor, an idea that was initially dismissed as absurd.
Paul Winchell was married three times. His second marriage, to British actress Jean Russell, produced his daughter April Winchell.
Voiceover roles[]
Garfield and Friends[]
- Gramps
- Mr. Baggett
- Toy shop owner ("Dummy Of Danger")
- Agent Kolak
- Supreme High Command ("Dummy Of Danger")
Trivia[]
- The Garfield Show character Dr. GoodieGood is named after Winchell's Mr. Goody-good from Winchell-Mahoney Time.