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

straight man The straight man (or straight woman in the case of female characters), also known as a "comedic foil", is a stock character in a comedy performance, especially a double act, sketch comedy, or farce. When a comedy partner behaves eccentrically ...

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.

Early life

He was born at 15 Canonbury Lane,

Islington Islington ( ) is an inner-city area of north London, England, within the wider London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's #Islington High Street, High Street to Highbury Fields ...

north London North London is the northern part of London, England, north of the River Thames and the City of London. It extends from Clerkenwell and Finsbury, on the edge of the City of London financial district, to Greater London's boundary with Hertfordshi ...

, where his father was a

bookmaker A bookmaker, bookie, or turf accountant is an organization or a person that accepts and pays out bets on sporting and other events at agreed-upon odds In probability theory, odds provide a measure of the probability of a particular outco ...

. Mike won a scholarship to

Tottenham Grammar School Tottenham Grammar School (TGS) was a grammar school in North London, with local football connections. Its history goes back beyond the 1631 Sarah, fourth duchess of Somerset Seymour, bequest by the Duchess of Somerset. It closed in 1988, but ...

but was evacuated to Wiltshire with his younger brother where he eventually ended up at the

City of Oxford High School The City of Oxford High School for Boys (a.k.a. Oxford High School for Boys and City of Oxford School) was founded in 1881 by Thomas Hill Green to provide Oxford boys with an education which would enable them to prepare for University. History ...

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 one of the oldest music schools 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 firs ...

to study

clarinet The clarinet is a Single-reed instrument, single-reed musical instrument in the woodwind family, with a nearly cylindrical bore (wind instruments), bore and a flared bell. Clarinets comprise a Family (musical instruments), family of instrume ...

, where he was one of the founders of the Royal Academy of Music Jazz Quintet. In

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Winters, who was underage, joined the Merchant Navy. Following a medical discharge due to

sinusitis Sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis, is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinuses resulting in symptoms that may include production of thick nasal mucus, nasal congestion, facial congestion, facial pain, facial pressure ...

he enlisted in the Canadian Legion as a musician, reaching the rank of captain. He then played

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

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 The Grand Order of Water Rats is a British entertainment industry fraternity and charitable organisation based in London. Founded in 1889 by the music hall comedians Joe Elvin and Jack Lotto, the order is known for its high-profile membership an ...

. Winters was the owner of a 1965

Alvis Alvis is a given name and a surname (close to the uncommon Scottish surname Alves). Alvis may also refer to: *Alvi, a Muslim community in South Asia, who claims descent from the fourth Rashidun caliph, Ali ibn Abi Talib *Alvis Car and Engineering ...

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 Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

because his wife suffered from

arthritis Arthritis is a general medical term used to describe a disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, Joint effusion, swelling, and decreased range of motion of ...

. Winters opened the first theatre club in

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

and worked with legendary boxing manager,

Angelo Dundee Angelo Dundee (born Angelo Mirena; August 30, 1921February 1, 2012) was an American boxing manager, boxing promoter, boxing trainer and cornerman. Internationally known for his work with Muhammad Ali (1960–1981), he also worked with 15 other w ...

, 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 social activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "The Greatest", he is often regarded as the gr ...

Prince Michael of Kent Prince Michael of Kent (Michael George Charles Franklin; born 4 July 1942) is a member of the British royal family who is 53rd in line to the British throne as of 2025. The younger son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Gr ...

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 The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. Spurred by the success of ''The Monkees'' television series, they were one o ...

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 Ray Charles Leonard (born May 17, 1956), best known as Sugar Ray Leonard, is an American former professional boxer. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he competed professionally between 1977 and 1997, winning quintuple c ...

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, Winters 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.

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 ...

on 24 August, 2013 in

Fairford Fairford is a market town in Gloucestershire, England. The town lies in the Cotswold hills on the River Coln, east of Cirencester, west of Lechlade and north of Swindon. Nearby are RAF Fairford and the Cotswold Water Park. History I ...

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...

. 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 British 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 in England 20th-century English businesspeople Actors from the London Borough of Islington Male actors from London Comedians from the London Borough of Islington People from Islington (district)