Mel Winkler (October 23, 1941 – June 11, 2020) was an American actor. He voiced Aku Aku in the Crash Bandicoot video games, from Crash Bandicoot: Warped to Crash Twinsanity.

Mel Winkler
Born(1941-10-23)October 23, 1941
DiedJune 11, 2020(2020-06-11) (aged 78)[1]
Burial placeRiverside National Cemetery
OccupationActor
Years active1969–2008

Early life

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

Career

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In 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

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Winkler died in his sleep on June 11, 2020. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time was dedicated in his memory.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1972 Across 110th Street 7-11 Club Manager
1973 The Filthiest Show in Town Man from Feces Segment: "Commercials"
1977 The Day the Music Died J.J. Documentary film
1991 Convicts Jackson Hall
1991 Doc Hollywood Melvin
1995 Devil in a Blue Dress Joppy
1996 City Hall Detective Albert Holly
1997 A Life Less Ordinary Frank Naville
2005 Coach Carter Coach White
2008 The Disciple Father Final film role

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1969–1970 The Doctors Dr. Simon Harris [5]
1986 As the World Turns Leonard Franklin 1 episode
1994 Madman of the People Sandman Episode: "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Christmas"
1995 Star Trek: Voyager Jack Hayes[6] Episode: "The 37's"
1996 Babylon 5 Reverend Will Dexter Episode: "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place"
1996 Superman: The Animated Series Commissioner Henderson[7] (voice) Episode: "Feeding Time"
1997–1999 The New Batman Adventures Lucius Fox[7] (voice) 4 episodes
2001 The Invisible Man Walter Episode: "Going Postal"
2001–2003 Oswald Johnny the Snowman[7] (US voice)
2004 NYPD Blue Lonnie Parker Episode: "Common Knowledge"
2005 Their Eyes Were Watching God Logan Killicks TV movie
2005 Numbers Vincent Episode: "Counterfeit Reality"
2005 The Shield Maurice Webster Episode: "Doghouse"
2005 Blind Justice Lester Episode: "In Your Face"
2007 Girlfriends Foster Episode: "Operation Does She Yield"
2007 The Unit Avery Flowers Episode: "Gone Missing"

Video games

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Year Title Voice role Notes
1998 Crash Bandicoot: Warped Aku Aku [7]
1999 Crash Team Racing [7]
2001 Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex [7]
2003 Crash Nitro Kart [7]
2004 Crash Twinsanity [7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d e f g h "Mel Winkler". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
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