Charles Winninger
Charles John Winninger was an American stage and film actor, most often cast in comedies or musicals.
Life and career
Winninger was born in Athens, Wisconsin, the son of Rosalia and Franz Winninger. His parents were Austrian immigrants. He began as a vaudeville actor. His most famous stage role was as Cap'n Andy Hawks in the original production of Show Boat, the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II musical classic, in 1927. He played the role in the 1932 stage revival and the 1936 film version of the show. He became so identified with the role and with his persona as a riverboat captain that he played several variations of the role, notably on the radio program Maxwell House Show Boat, which was clearly inspired by the Broadway musical.
Winninger's pre-Code film career includes Night Nurse, a 1931 drama about two girls being systematically starved to death by the family chauffeur. Winninger portrays a kindly physician who attempts to save the suffering children. After the film of Show Boat in 1936, Winninger appeared in 1936's Three Smart Girls, 1937's Nothing Sacred, 1939's Destry Rides Again, 1941's Ziegfeld Girl, and 1945's State Fair. He returned to Broadway only once for the 1951 revival of Kern and Hammerstein's Music in the Air.
Winninger had the lead role in only one film, 1953's The Sun Shines Bright, John Ford's remake of Judge Priest. Winninger played the role that Will Rogers portrayed in 1934.
Winninger made a notable television appearance in 1954 in I Love Lucy as Barney Kurtz, the former vaudevillian partner of Fred Mertz in an episode titled "Mertz and Kurtz". He made his last film in 1960.
Personal life
On November 12, 1912, Winninger married actress Blanche Ring. They were divorced on June 12, 1951. He married Gertrude Walker later that year; they remained married until his death.
Winninger died in 1969 and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park-Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles.
Recognition
In 1960, Winninger received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his radio contributions.
Filmography
Mister Flirt in Wrong as Mr. RawsberryLizzie's Shattered Dreams as 2nd Stranger from the CityThe Doomed Groom as The GroomA September Mourning as The ArtistPied Piper Malone - Louie as the BarberThe Canadian as Pop TysonSummer Bachelors as Preston SmithSoup to Nuts as Otto SchmidtFighting Caravans as MarshallBad Sister as Mr. MadisonGun Smoke as Tack GillupGod's Gift to Women as John ChurchillNight Nurse as Dr. Arthur BellChildren of Dreams as Dr. Joe ThompsonThe Sin of Madelon Claudet as M. Novella, PhotographerFlying High as Doctor BrownHusband's Holiday as Mr. ReidSocial Register as JonesieShow Boat as Cap'n Andy HawksWhite Fang as Doc McFaneThree Smart Girls as Judson CraigWoman Chases Man as B.J. NolanCafe Metropole as Joseph RidgewayThe Go Getter as Cappy RicksYou Can't Have Everything as Sam GordonNothing Sacred as Dr. Enoch DownerEvery Day's a Holiday as Van Reighle Van Pelter Van DoonYou're a Sweetheart as Cherokee CharlieGoodbye Broadway as Pat MalloyHard to Get as Ben RichardsThree Smart Girls Grow Up as Judson CraigBabes in Arms as Joe MoranDestry Rides Again as Washington DimsdaleBarricade as Samuel J. CadyIf I Had My Way as Joe JohnsonBeyond Tomorrow as Michael O'BrienMy Love Came Back as Julius MaletteLittle Nellie Kelly as Michael NoonanPot o' Gold as C.J. HaskellZiegfeld Girl as 'Pop' GallagherThe Getaway as Dr. Josiah GlassMy Life with Caroline as BlissMister Gardenia Jones as John JonesFriendly Enemies as Karl PfeifferConey Island as FinniganHers to Hold as Judson CraigA Lady Takes a Chance as WacoFlesh and Fantasy as King Lamarr Broadway Rhythm as Sam DemmingSunday Dinner for a Soldier as Dudley 'Granfeathers' OsborneBelle of the Yukon as Pop CandlessState Fair as Abel FrakeShe Wouldn't Say Yes as Doctor LaneLover Come Back as William 'Pa' Williams, Sr.Living in a Big Way as D. Rutherford MorganSomething in the Wind as Uncle Chester ReadThe Inside Story as Uncle EdGive My Regards to Broadway as Albert NorwickFather Is a Bachelor as Professor Mordecai FordTorpedo Alley as Oliver J. PeabodyThe Sun Shines Bright as Judge William Pittman PriestA Perilous Journey as Captain Eph AllanChamp for a Day as Pa KarlsenThose Were the Days Las Vegas Shakedown as Ernest RaffRaymie as R.J. ParsonsThe Miracle of the White Reindeer as Zoo Keeper