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David Winters on screen and stage

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David Winters (April 5, 1939 – April 23, 2019) was an English-American actor, dancer, choreographer, producer, film distributor, director and screenwriter.[1] Winters participated in over 150 television series, television specials, and motion pictures. His accolades include two Emmy Award nominations, a Peabody Award, a Christopher Award, and many more. At a young age, he was seen acting in film and television projects such as Lux Video Theatre, Naked City, Mister Peepers, Rock, Rock, Rock, and Roogie's Bump.[2][3] He received some attention in Broadway musicals for his roles in West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959).[4][5] In the film adaptation of West Side Story (1961) he was cast as A-rab.[6] It became the highest grossing motion picture of that year, and won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.[7][8]

While Winters continued acting, he gained recognition for his dance choreography. He was frequently seen on television with his troupe David Winters Dancers in various variety shows most notably Hullabaloo (1965-1966) where he'd choreograph popularized several dances in the 1960s.[9][10] He was a common collaborator of Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret including their hit film Viva Las Vegas (1964).[11] Other dance choreography credits include T.A.M.I. Show (1964), Send Me No Flowers (1964), Billie (1965), and A Star Is Born (1976).[12][13][14][15] For the TV movie Movin' with Nancy (1967), his choreography was nominated in the category Special Classification of Individual Achievements at the Emmys.[16]

Winters eventually became a director and a producer starting with a streak of star-studded TV specials including Raquel! (1970) and Once Upon a Wheel (1971).[17][18][19][20] His first theatrical release was the concert film Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare (1975) and his second the sport comedy Racquet (1979).[21][22] He also directed The Last Horror Film (1982), starring Joe Spinell.[23] Another directorial effort was the teenage romance skateboarding film Thrashin' (1986), starring Josh Brolin.[24] In the mid 1980s, Winters opened his own production and distribution specializing in action films company, Action International Pictures. Up to the mid-2000s Winters continued producing films.

In his final years Winters continued acting most notably the television series Blackbeard (2006) and the film Teddy Bear (2012).[25][26] He produced the historical epic The King Maker (2005).[27] He also produced, directed, and co-starred in Welcome 2 Ibiza (2003) and Dancin': It's On! (2015).[28][29]

Stage

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Actor

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Associate director

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  • Of Love Remembered (1967).[37]

Director and choreographer

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  • Goosebumps (1980).[38]

Selected filmography

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Actor

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Choreographer

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Director/Producer/Writer

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Film

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Year Film Director Producer Writer Notes
1975 Linda Lovelace for President No Yes No Erotic movie
Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare Yes Yes No Concert movie
1977 Young Lady Chatterly No Yes No
1979 Racquet Yes Yes Story Story uncredited
1982 The Last Horror Film Yes Yes Yes
1985 Mission Kill Yes Yes Yes[a]
1986 Thrashin' Yes No No
1987 Code Name Vengeance Yes Yes [a] No
Rage to Kill Yes Yes Yes
1988 Space Mutiny Yes [b] Yes Yes [a]
1994 Raw Justice No Yes No Also executive producer
1995 Body Count No Yes No
The Dangerous Yes[a] Yes No
1997 Fight and Revenge[39] Yes Yes No Lost film
2003 Welcome 2 Ibiza Yes Yes No
2005 The King Maker No Yes No
2015 Dancin': It's On! Yes Yes Yes Final film

Executive producer only

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Year Film Notes
1976 Once Upon a Girl... Erotic animated movie
1987 Killer Workout
Mankillers
Deadly Prey
1988 Night Wars
Death Chase
Phoenix the Warrior
Operation Warzone
Hell on the Battleground
Dead End City
1989 Order of the Eagle
Jungle Assault
Deadly Reactor
Rapid Fire
The Bounty Hunter
White Fury
Time Brust: The Final Alliance
Born Killer
Future Force
Shooters
1990 Deadly Dancer
The Lost Platoon
The Revenger Uncredited
Future Zone
Invasion Force
The Final Sanction
Lock 'n' Load
1991 Firehead
Raw Nerve
The Last Ride
Presumed Guilty
Maximum Breakout
Dark Rider
Cop-Out
1993 Night Trap
2000 Rhythm and Blues
2003 Devil's Harvest

Television

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Year Film Director Producer Notes
1966 Lucy in London No Co-producer TV movie
1967-1968 The Monkees Yes No TV series;

Directed 2 episodes

1968 Where the Girls Are Yes No TV movie
The Ann-Margret Show Yes Yes TV special
1969 The Spring Thing No Yes TV movie
The Leslie Uggams Show No Yes TV series
Ann-Margret: From Hollywood to Love Yes Yes TV special
1970 Raquel Yes Executive
The Darin Invasion No Executive
The Sonny and Cher Nitty Gritty Hour No Yes
The George Kirby Show No Executive
1970-1971 The Barbara McNair Show No Executive TV series
1971 Once Upon a Wheel Yes Yes TV documentary
The 5th Dimension Traveling Sunshine Show No Executive TV special
Story Theatre No Yes TV series;

1 episode

1971-1973 Rollin' on the River No Yes TV series;

Also executive producer

1972 George No Executive TV series;

1 episode

The Special London Bridge Special Yes Yes TV movie
Half the George Kirby Comedy No Associate TV series
Timex All-Star Swing Festival No Executive TV special
1973 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Yes Executive TV movie
Old Faithful No Yes
Saga of Sonora No Yes
1976 The Lisa Hartman Show No Yes TV special
1984 Steadfast Tin Soldier Yes No TV movie

Video

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Year Film Director Producer Notes
1982 Yoga Moves No Yes
1984 That Was Rock Yes No Concert video compilation
Love Skills: A Guide to the Pleasures of Sex Yes No Erotic documentary
1985 Girls of Rock & Roll Yes No Video documentary
1990 Fatal Skies No Co-producer Direct to DVD film
That's Action No Executive Video documentary

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d Credited as Maria Danté
  2. ^ Upon the first shooting day, it was announced to director David Winters that his father passed. Being emotionally troubled and with the funerals to attend, Winters was unable to perform his duties and passed it on to his assistant director Neal Sundstorm. However, he was informed that the investors had agreed to the film only if Winters was its director, and could face litigation, hence his credit.

References

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  1. ^ Sandomir, Richard (2019-05-03). "David Winters, Energetic Dancer Turned Choreographer, Dies at 80 (Published 2019)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  2. ^ "Flatbush Boy, Gaining Fame On TV, Is Still A Kid A Home". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 62: 6. March 4, 1954.
  3. ^ "Roogie's Bump | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  4. ^ "Sondheim.com – Putting it together since 1994". www.sondheim.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  5. ^ "Sondheim.com – Putting it together since 1994". www.sondheim.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  6. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  7. ^ Pirie, David (1981). Anatomy of the Movies. Macmillan Publishing Co. p. 254. ISBN 0-02-597540-4.
  8. ^ Grant, Barry Keith (2012). The Hollywood Film Musical. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 100. ISBN 9781405182539.
  9. ^ Crosby, Joan (April 11, 1965). "The 'Watusi' Has A Choreographer?". Santa Cruz Sentinel.
  10. ^ Smith, Gary (July 21, 1965). "All The Hullaballoo To Return". The Salina Journal.
  11. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  12. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  13. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  14. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  15. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  16. ^ "Movin' With Nancy". Television Academy. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  17. ^ "Award-winning Producer Burt Rosen Dies". Television Academy. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  18. ^ "TEC, TV Packager Enter Tie". Billboard. April 26, 1969.
  19. ^ Brown, Les (1971). ""Raquel!"". Television: The Business Behind the Box. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. p. 187, 188. ISBN 978-0-15-688440-2.
  20. ^ Ingle, Zachary; Sutera, David M. (2013). Identity and Myth in Sports Documentaries: Critical Essays. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-8108-8789-3.
  21. ^ "Welcome To My Nightmare: Review". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  22. ^ "Racquet | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  23. ^ "Last Horror Film, The (1984) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2019-04-27.
  24. ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  25. ^ Marill, Alvin H. (October 11, 2010). Movies Made for Television: 2005–2009. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7659-0.
  26. ^ Dargis, Manohla (August 21, 2012). "'Teddy Bear,' With the Danish Bodybuilder Kim Kold". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  27. ^ "The King Maker (2005)". BFI. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  28. ^ "Welcome 2 Ibiza (2002) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  29. ^ SIMMONS, TONY. "At long last, 'Dancin' to shine on local screens". Panama City News Herald. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  30. ^ "On Your Toes Broadway @ 46th Street Theatre – Tickets and Discounts". Playbill. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  31. ^ "Sandhog Broadway @ Phoenix Theatre – Tickets and Discounts". Playbill. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  32. ^ "Shinbone Alley Broadway @ Broadway Theatre – Tickets and Discounts". Playbill. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  33. ^ "Sondheim.com – Putting it together since 1994". www.sondheim.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  34. ^ "Sondheim.com – Putting it together since 1994". www.sondheim.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  35. ^ "One More River Broadway @ Ambassador Theatre – Tickets and Discounts". Playbill. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  36. ^ "Tickets on sale for 'Liar'". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. January 23, 1963. pp. C-3.
  37. ^ "Of Love Remembered Broadway @ ANTA Theatre – Tickets and Discounts". Playbill. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  38. ^ "TGIF The Great Index to Fun". The San Francisco Examiner. June 25, 1980.
  39. ^ "Future action film hero to star in an indie movie". New Sunday Times. The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd. May 20, 1996. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
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