Ventriloquist Paul Winchell, best known for creating the puppet Jerry Mahoney and for doing the voice of Winnie-the-Pooh's bouncy friend Tigger, died Friday at the age of 82.
Born Paul Wilchin, Winchell was an early television star in the 50s and 60s. He had his own show featuring Jerry Mahoney, his most well known dummy. He later added Knucklehead Smiff to his list of sidekicks.
Winchell was also a creative inventor. He developed 30 patents including one for an early artificial heart which he built in 1963. Winchell later donated the artificial heart to the University of Utah for research purposes.
In 1968, Winchell began a second career playing the voice of Tigger in 'Winnie-the-Pooh and the Blustery Day.' The effort won an Oscar for best animated short film. Winchell gave Tigger the perfect enthusiastic personality and was credited with inventing his now famous 'Tah-tah for now' goodbye greeting. He continued playing Tigger until 1999.
He later did cartoon voices in the Disney feature film 'The Aristocats' and performed the voice of Gargamel, the villain of the Saturday morning staple, 'The Smurfs.'
Winchell is was married three times. He is survived by his third wife Jean as well as five children.
