Comedian Jonathan Winters dies

The world of funny lost on of its star characters Jonathan Winters Thursday night in Montecito, California.

Winters, an actor, comedian, artist, author, had a tremendous comedic timing and a knack for developing outrageous characters like Maude Frickert and the hilarious son ‘Mearth’ on Mork and Mindy.

He also inspired the careers of many of today’s leading comics including Jim Carrey, Conan O'Brien, George Carlin, and his good friend Robin Williams.

"One of the few people able to make me laugh from my soul," Williams once said of Winters.

He was a favourite of the late Johnny Carson and was a regular guest on The Tonight Show, often appearing as one of his many alter-egos.

His credits include It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!, Moon Over Parador, The Flintstones, The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, and most recently the voice of Papa Smurf in The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2.

Winters received the coveted Mark Twain Prize for American Humour in 1999.

Winters, 87, died of natural causes.