Mike Winters (born Michael Weinstein; 15 November 1926 – 24 August 2013), was an English comedian, musician, businessman and writer who was the straight man of the comedy double act

Mike & Bernie Winters Mike and Bernie Winters were an English comedy double act, consisting of brothers Mike Winters, born Michael Weinstein (15 November 1926 – 24 August 2013) and Bernie Winters, born Bernard Weinstein (6 September 1930 – 4 May 1991). The act ...

with his younger brother, Bernie.Daily Telegraph Obituary
Retrieved 27 August 2013

Early life

He was born at 15 Canonbury Lane,

Islington Islington () is a district in the north of Greater London, England, and part of the London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the ar ...

, North London, where his father was a bookmaker. Mike won a scholarship to

Tottenham Grammar School Tottenham Grammar School (TGS) was a renowned grammar school in North London, with local football connections. History A Tottenham grammar school had existed for centuries. Its origins are unclear, possibly dating back to 1456 but in 1631 a le ...

but was evacuated to Wiltshire with his younger brother where he eventually ended up at the City of Oxford High School for Boys. At 15 Winters won a scholarship and grant to the

Royal Academy of Music The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is the oldest conservatoire in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the first Duke of ...

to study

clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...

, where he was one of the founders of the Royal Academy of Music Jazz Quintet. In World War II, Winters,who was underage, joined the Merchant Navy. Following a medical discharge due to sinusitis he enlisted in the Canadian Legion as a musician, reaching the rank of captain. He then played jazz with his brother on drums and performed as a musician at dances and weddings. In 1964 Winters and his brother were inducted into the show business fraternity, the Grand Order of Water Rats. Winters was the owner of a 1965

Alvis Alvis may refer to: *Alvis Car and Engineering Company, British luxury car and military vehicle manufacturer which later became Alvis plc * Alvis plc (formerly United Scientific Holdings plc), a defence contractor which acquired Alvis Cars and bec ...

TE21 sports coupe in white, which he purchased at the Earls Court Motorshow.

Solo career

After the double act with his brother ended in 1978, Winters moved to Florida because his wife suffered from

arthritis Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In som ...

. Winters opened the first theatre club in Miami and worked with legendary boxing manager, Angelo Dundee, presenting black-tie boxing events. Winters was also active in charity work, with visits to Miami from

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, a ...

, Prince Michael of Kent and Prince Edward and was awarded the city of Miami keys by the mayor. Winters also co-produced with Jude Parry, directed, performed and wrote the first British professional pantomime to appear in Florida, it was such a success that they continued for five years, starring not only local young talent but also Davy Jones of the Monkees.

Writer

He published five books including a biography of Angelo Dundee and ''The Axis of Greatness'' about the relationship between Angelo and his boxers Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali. His two novels are ''Miami One Way'' and ''Razor Sharp'' and his last book was a light-hearted memoir called ''The Sunny Side Of Winters''.

Personal life

On 21 October 1955, at Kensington register office, Mike married Cathelene Mary (Cassie) Chaney (b. 1931), a Roman Catholic and an art student, daughter of Horace Vernon Chaney, french polisher. Three years later they had a Jewish ceremony. They had two children, Chani and Anthony.

Death

Mike Winters died of

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of t ...

on 24 August 2013 the Old Rectory, Edgeworth, near

Stroud Stroud is a market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District. The town's population was 13,500 in 2021. Below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills, at the meeting point of the Five ...

, Gloucestershire. He was survived by his wife Cassie and their two children.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Winters, Mike Winters 1926 births 2013 deaths English male comedians Jewish English male actors Jewish English comedians English male television actors Music hall performers People educated at the City of Oxford High School for Boys People educated at Tottenham Grammar School Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music English jazz clarinetists English biographers Nightclub owners British Merchant Navy personnel of World War II Deaths from pancreatic cancer Deaths from cancer in England 20th-century English businesspeople