Many famed comedians took to Twitter today to pay tribute to Jonathan Winters, the round-faced and madcap jokester who died on Thursday at age 87.
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A celebrated improv artist who entered the comedy scene in the Fifties, Winters is most revered for his wild, groundbreaking ad-lib mastery and was well-known for his run on the sci-fi TV comedy Mork and Mindy in the early Eighties. Winters influenced an entire generation of comedians, from Robin Williams (who also starred in Mork and Mindy) to Jim Carrey. Read on to see the comedy communitys strong reaction to the death of a genuine original.
Jonathan Winters was the worthy custodian of a sparkling and childish comedic genius. He did Gods work. I was lucky 2 know him. =;o
Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) April 12, 2013
Jonathan Winters was wildly funny.
Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) April 12, 2013
I feel very lucky to have had the chance to know the great Jonathan Winters, who was funny from beginning to end
Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) April 12, 2013
I grew up worshiping Jonathan Winters! There was no one like him! A true comic legend #RIP twitter.com/kathygriffin/s
Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) 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
Jonathan Winters basically invented alternative comedy. RIP
Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) April 12, 2013
I was 5 yrs old, I had just had my tonsils removed so it really hurt to laugh! I watched Jonathan Winters on TV, it was pure painful joy!
Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) April 12, 2013
jonathan winters true comic genius i was lucky to work with him on the flintstones movie a wonderful man rip
Rosie ODonnell (@Rosie) April 12, 2013