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Bobby Banas, the actor, dancer and choreographer who played Joyboy in West Side Story and worked in such other famed movie musicals as Bye Bye Birdie, The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Mary Poppins, has died. He was 90.

Banas died Monday of pneumonia at an assisted living facility in Encino, his son, director and photographer Eden Tyler Banas, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Banas received newfound attention when a clip of him leading five others in a dance number to the song “The Nitty Gritty” on a 1964 episode of CBS’ The Judy Garland Show found its way on YouTube. It has since been viewed many millions of times.

Banas’ Joyboy was a member of the Jets in West Side Story (1959). Later, the performer was bowled over by a kiss from Marilyn Monroe in Let’s Make Love (1960), played a chimney sweep in Mary Poppins (1964) and danced in a nightclub with Ann-Margret in Made in Paris...

In the "Twilight Zone" episode "A Game of Pool", Jack Klugman plays a would-be pool champion named Jesse who feels that he would be more widely recognized for his billiard skills, were he not living in the shadow of the late pool champion James Howard "Fats" Brown. Jesse posits that if he had had the opportunity to play against Fats, he would definitely win. In a supernatural twist, Fats (Jonathan Winters) arrives from the afterlife to accept the challenge. The ensuing game, however, comes with a stipulation: if Jesse wins, he will indeed be granted the lifelong reputation as the greatest pool player of all time. If he loses, he'll die in obscurity. Jesse accepts.

Throughout their game, Fats points out that living well and happily is more important than the hard-edged fame of being a great pool player. Jesse doesn't listen. He wants fame.

Jesse, perhaps shockingly, wins the game.

Jonathan Winters, who was considered one of the top comedians of the 60s, 70s and 80s, has passed away of natural causes on Thursday at his home in Montecito, California. He was 87 years old. The actor has appeared on such shows as "The Carol Burnett Show," "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," "The Jonathan Winters Show," "Mork and Mindy," and "The Twilight Zone." He also starred in such movies as "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," "Smurfs" and the upcoming "Smurfs 2." Over the years, Winters received countless award nominations. He won a Grammy for his comedy albums and an Emmy for his supporting role in the "Davis Rules" sitcom. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe for "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."...

Los Angeles – Jonathan Winters, one of the most influential comedians of the past two generations, has died of natural causes on April 11th at his home in Montecito, California. His characteristic schizophrenic comic style inspired modern funnymen like Robin Williams, George Carlin and Jim Carrey. He was 87 years old.

The career of Jonathan Winters spanned from 1948 to the present, during which his freaky, energetic expression of humor had its own unique form. A fixture on such legendary television shows such as “The Tonight Show” (with both Jack Paar and Johnny Carson), “The Dean Martin Show” and “Hollywood Squares,” Winters would often appear as his alter ego Maude Frickert, a sharp tongued old lady character. It wasn’t just an act, as during his early career he spent time in mental institutions, and was diagnosed with manic depression.

Jonathan Winters as Lennie Pike in ‘It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad...

A true iconoclast and a real original, Jonathan Winters was considered one of the great improv comics of all and was a key inspiration of Jim Carry and Robin Williams, among others. His more famous films included It’S A Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Viva Max, and The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming. He was the master of ad lib. His ‘The Jonathan Winters Show’ was just him and a few props, no script. He also delivered an admirable dramatic performance as ‘fats’ Brown in The Twilight Zone episode “A Game Of Pool”, in which he co-stars with Jack Klugman. Winters recorded ten Grammy-nominated comedy albums, winning once, and he won an Emmy for best-supporting actor playing Randy Quaid’s father in the 1991 sitcom “Davis Rules”. Jonathan Winters died today at age 87 of natural causes.

In July, Wamg’s Michelle McCue attended a special screening of It...

Jonathan Winters - an improvisational genius and the comedic spiritual godfather to a generation of younger comics, including Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and the late Andy Kaufman - died of natural causes Thursday night. He was surrounded by family and friends at his home in Montecito, Calif., the Associated Press reports. He was 87. Known for the wild array of characters he could create in a flash - his naughty old lady Maude Frickert was a Tonight Show headliner who routinely broke up hosts Jack Paar and then Johnny Carson - Winters, playing doltish truck driver Lennie Pike, stole the all-star 1963 movie It's a Mad,...

Jonathan Winters, comedian and television and film actor, best remembered for his roles in It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and as the voice of Papa Smurf in The Smurfs, has died. He was 87. Winters’ show biz career began after he won a talent show in his native Dayton, Ohio. He went on to appear in dozens of television shows throughout his decades-long career, winning a supporting actor Emmy in 1991 for Davis Rules. His other TV credits include The Jonathan Winters Show, The Twilight Zone, Hee Haw, Rowan And Martin’s Laugh-In and Mork And Mindy. He was a veteran of the late night talk show circuit guesting frequently on The Jack Paar Show and later The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. His late night appearances continued into the ’90s with Jay Leno and David Letterman. His other film credits include Viva Max, The Loved One, Oh Dad Poor Dad,...

Longtime Hollywood actor and comedian Jonathan Winters has died at age 87. 

Longtime family friend Joe Petro III told the Associated Press that the Ohio native died Thursday night at his Montecito, CA, home of natural causes. He was surrounded by family and friends.

"He was just a great friend and I was very lucky to be able to work with him for all the years I did," said Petro, an artist and print maker who collaborated with Winters for decades on numerous art projects. "We've lost a giant and we're really going to miss him."

Related: Stars We Lost in 2012

Winters -- who appeared in countless movies and TV shows over the years -- was known for his improvisation skills and character creations that inspired A-list comic actors including Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and others.

In the mid-1950s, his The Jonathan Winters Show pioneered the emerging videotape technology that allowed stunts such as showing up as two...

Canadian television writer, producer and actor John Aylesworth has died of pneumonia, aged 81.

Aylesworth passed away in Rancho Mirage, California on 28 July.

He performed on radio in his native Toronto as a child, and went on to find success on U.S. television.

Aylesworth was perhaps best known for co-creating 1970s American country music television variety show Hee Haw with Frank Peppiatt and Bernie Brillstein. The programme featured famous guests in country, gospel and bluegrass music, including Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty.

In addition, he served as a writer or producer on TV shows such as Your Hit Parade, The Kraft Music Hall, The Judy Garland Show and The Jonathan Winters Show.

He was also among the writers who shared an Emmy nomination for The Julie Andrews Hour in 1973 and The Sonny and Cher Show in 1976.

Aylesworth is survived by his fourth wife, Anita, two children from his first marriage, three from his second marriage, and one grandson.

Peter Graves who starred as Jim Phelps on the hit TV series "Mission Impossible," and more recently served as alternating host of the A&E series "Biography," has died.

The actor died Sunday of an apparent heart attack outside his Los Angeles home, a week away from his 84th birthday.

Graves was the younger brother of "Gunsmoke" star James Arness, a TV icon from the '50s. Graves is perhaps also best remembered by Baby Boomers as the ranch owner on the popular Saturday morning TV series, "Fury," the adventures of a boy and his horse. More recently, Graves was featured in the opening scene of "Men in Black II."

Playing against his image as a tall, silver-haired authority figure, Graves co-starred as Captain Oveur in the zany comedies "Airplane!" (1980) and "Airplane II: The Sequel" (1982). Along with such serious acting figures as Robert Stack and, at the time, Leslie Nielsen,...

When I was a kid, I loved the cartoon Top Cat. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was the cool music or the fact it was set in New York City. I also really loved Top Cat's voice.

Arnold Stang, the voice of the clever feline, died earlier this week at the age of 91. Stang was in 75 gazillion TV shows and movies over the years (you'd know the face and/or the voice even if you couldn't place the name), including The Jonathan Winters Show, Broadside, Batman, Bonanza, The Red Skelton Show, December Bride, The Steve Allen Show, The Milton Berle Show, Emergency, and Mathnet.

He was also in several movies, including Hercules in New York, Dennis The Menace, and It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. He was also the original voice of Buzz Bee in Honey-Nut Cheerios commercials.

After the jump, an episode of Top Cat.

Continue reading Arnold Stang,...