Comedic genius Jonathan Winters died of natural causes Friday at age 87 in his California home with family and friends by his side. News of his death sparked a worldwide topic on Twitter as fans and comedians posted their condolences and remembered Winters' career.
Winters, who entered the entertainment industry in the 1950s after winning a local talent show, had inspired a flock of comedians such as close friend Robin Williams (pictured) and Jim Carrey. He was known for his memorable improvs, voice-overs and character roles (i.e. Maude Frickert) on TV series, movies and commercials.
Among the colleagues tweeting about Winters were Steve Martin, Pee-wee Herman, Steve Carell, Joe Rogan, Patton Oswalt, Carl Reiner, Sarah Thyre and Albert Brooks.
"Beyond funny, He invented a new category of comedic genius," Brooks wrote.
Goodbye, Jonathon Winters. You were not only one of the greats, but one of the great greats.— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) April 12, 2013
Comedy loses a KING! Jonathan Winters was an influence on so many and there was nobody like him. Loved you, Jonathan! twitter.com/peeweeherman/s…— Pee-wee Herman (@peeweeherman) April 12, 2013
Jonathan Winters was wildly funny.— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) April 12, 2013
RIP to Jonathan Winters.A truly hilarious and silly man.The world just got a little bit les funny.— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) April 12, 2013
No him, no me.No MOST of us, comedy-wise, come to think of it.#RIP Jonathan Winters— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 12, 2013
Johathan Winters was the comedian's comedian's comedian's Cheif Jetster!— carl reiner (@carlreiner) April 12, 2013
Goodbye, Jonathan Winters, and thank you. You taught me that being a weirdo could be a vocation.— Sarah Thyre (@SarahThyre) April 12, 2013
I don't say RIP because I want the people I love who die to come back and haunt me.— Sarah Thyre (@SarahThyre) April 12, 2013
RIP Jonathan Winters. One of the real greats. Met him a few years ago. I said, "Hello", he did twenty minutes. A great twenty minutes.— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) April 12, 2013
R.I.P Jonathan Winters. Beyond funny, He invented a new category of comedic genius.— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) April 12, 2013
Jonathan Winters RIP Happy to have talked to you. #Genius #TrueOriginal— marc maron (@marcmaron) April 12, 2013
"Nothing is impossible. Some things are just less likely than others." RIP Jonathan Winters— Mario Candelaria (@TheOtherMarioC) April 12, 2013
I thought the world seemed less funny when I woke up this morning. Turns out I was right.RIP Jonathan Winters— Josh Weinstein (@JElvisWeinstein) April 12, 2013
One of my favorite xomedians. rip. Jonathan Winters, Funny Man and Comedic Inspiration, Dies at 87 nyti.ms/ZlXFN4— matt walsh (@mrmattwalsh) April 12, 2013
Comedians weren't the only ones leaving remarks on Twitter, though:
"I've always been proud of being a Marine. I won't hesitate to defend the Corps." - Jonathan Winters— U.S. Marines (@USMC) June 18, 2012
My condolences to family, friends and fans of the immortal Jonathan Winters. The influence he had cannot be underestimated.— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) April 12, 2013
Also, Jonathan Winters' openness about fighting depression and related problems was rare and brave in the '60s.— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) April 12, 2013
Admittedly, getting arrested while trying to pirate a ship was a motivator in publicly facing his demons, but Winters even had fun with that— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) April 12, 2013
Lastly, it was before I grew up there, but all of us in Hastings-On-Hudson NY were proud that he had lived there #ThankYouJonny— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) April 12, 2013
Farewell Jonathan Winters.. thanks for inspiring generations of improvisational comedians: Robin Williams and Jim Carrey to name a few— trey wingo (@wingoz) April 12, 2013