Mel Winkler

Mel Winkler
Born(1941-10-23)October 23, 1941
DiedJune 12, 2020(2020-06-12) (aged 78)[1]
Burial place
Riverside National Cemetery
OccupationActor
Years active1969–2008

Mel Winkler (October 23, 1941 – June 12, 2020) was an American actor. He voiced Aku Aku in the Crash Bandicoot video games, from Crash Bandicoot: Warped to Crash Twinsanity.

Early life

Winkler was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 23, 1941.[1]

Career

Between the 1970s and 1980s, he moved to his home town St. Louis and New York City. Though Winkler mostly appeared in minor live-action roles, such as Melvin in Doc Hollywood,[2] He also spent time on Broadway, appearing in The Great White Hope in 1968, in August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone in 1988 and in Neil Simon's Proposals from 1997 to 1998.[3][4] He voiced of the guardian mask Aku Aku in the Crash Bandicoot series, Lucius Fox in The New Batman Adventures and Johnny Snowman in the TV series Oswald.

Death

Winkler died in his sleep from unknown causes in Los Angeles, California, on June 12, 2020, at the age of 78.[1] Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time was dedicated in his memory.[1]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1972Across 110th Street7-11 Club Manager
1973The Filthiest Show in TownMan from FecesSegment: "Commercials"
1977The Day the Music DiedJ.J.Documentary film
1991ConvictsJackson Hall
1991Doc HollywoodMelvin
1995Devil in a Blue DressJoppy
1996City HallDetective Albert Holly
1997A Life Less OrdinaryFrank Naville
2005Coach CarterCoach White
2008The DiscipleFatherFinal film role

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969–1970The DoctorsDr. Simon Harris[5]
1986As the World TurnsLeonard Franklin1 episode
1994Madman of the PeopleSandmanEpisode: "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Christmas"
1995Star Trek: VoyagerJack Hayes[6]Episode: "The 37's"
1996Babylon 5Reverend Will DexterEpisode: "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place"
1996Superman: The Animated SeriesCommissioner Henderson[7] (voice)Episode: "Feeding Time"
1997–1999The New Batman AdventuresLucius Fox[7] (voice)4 episodes
2001The Invisible ManWalterEpisode: "Going Postal"
2001–2003OswaldJohnny the Snowman[7] (US voice)
2004NYPD BlueLonnie ParkerEpisode: "Common Knowledge"
2005Their Eyes Were Watching GodLogan KillicksTV movie
2005NumbersVincentEpisode: "Counterfeit Reality"
2005The ShieldMaurice WebsterEpisode: "Doghouse"
2005Blind JusticeLesterEpisode: "In Your Face"
2007GirlfriendsFosterEpisode: "Operation Does She Yield"
2007The UnitAvery FlowersEpisode: "Gone Missing"

Video games

YearTitleVoice roleNotes
1998Crash Bandicoot: WarpedAku Aku[7]
1999Crash Team Racing[7]
2001Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex[7]
2003Crash Nitro Kart[7]
2004Crash Twinsanity[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Mel Winkler, Actor in 'Devil in a Blue Dress' and 'Doc Hollywood,' Dies at 78". Hollywood Reporter. June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  2. ↑ Maslin, Janet (August 2, 1991). "Review/Film; A Hollywood Doctor In American Squashland". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Stars We've Lost in 2020". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  4. ↑ Shafer, Ellise (June 11, 2020). "'Devil in a Blue Dress' Actor Mel Winkler Dies at 78". Variety. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Mel Winkler". IMDb.
  6. ↑ Gross, Edward; Altman, Mark A. (1996). "Voyager: Season Two Episode Guide". Captains' Logs Supplemental: The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages. London: Little, Brown and Company. p. 154. ISBN 0-316-88354-9.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Mel Winkler". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 18, 2019.