Michael Winkelman
Encyclopedia
Michael L. Winkelman was an American
child actor
best known for his role as Little Luke McCoy from 1957 to 1963 in 157 episodes of the situation comedy
television series, The Real McCoys
, starring Walter Brennan
in the title role of Grandpa Amos McCoy, with Richard Crenna
as Luke McCoy, older brother of Winkelman's character.
After its five-year run on ABC
, The Real McCoys switched to CBS
for its final season in 1962-1963 without the services of Kathleen Nolan
as the young housewife, Kate McCoy. The series was created by Irving Pincus
and directed by Hy Averback
, with Richard Crenna later assuming some directing duties.
In the last season on CBS, Winkelman, Lydia Reed
as Hassie McCoy, and Tony Martinez as farmhand Pepino Garcia, all appeared less frequently than they had in the first years on ABC. Subsequently, Winkelman found few acting jobs and entered the United States Navy
during the Vietnam War
. He was later a groundskeeper at Universal Studios
in Los Angeles
, California
.
. That same years he also appeared in the Richard Boone
series Medic
on NBC
. Even while appearing in the first season of The Real McCoys young Winkelman was a guest star on NBC's Wagon Train
, on ABC's Telephone Time
, and on CBS's Lassie
during the Tommy Rettig
years and the fantasy drama, The Millionaire. He also appeared on Darren McGavin
's Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
and on The Lone Ranger
in the role of Chip Truett in the episode entitled "The Prince of Buffalo Gap." He also guest starred on two episodes in 1955 and 1956 of both NBC's The Loretta Young Show and CBS's Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
. Winkelman appeared in the ABC anthology, TV Reader's Digest
, in a 1955 episode entitled "Ordeal at Yuba Gap." In 1956, he appeared in two episodes of ABC's Cavalcade of America
anthology series, one entitled "The Boy Nobody Wanted."
Winkelman's film roles, some uncredited, were in The Big Knife
, Bobby Ware Is Missing, Sincerely Yours, and The Indian Fighter
(all 1955), and Ride Out for Revenge (1957).
Winkelman's last three television appearances were in 1963 on CBS's The Danny Thomas Show
, in 1964 on 1964 on NBC's Kraft Suspense Theatre
and in 1965 on CBS's unconventional comedy, The Munsters
, in which he played himself.He was a member of the Young Hollywood Hall of Fame.
in Riverside County
, California.
Winkelman was a brother of actress Wendy Winkelman.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
child actor
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
best known for his role as Little Luke McCoy from 1957 to 1963 in 157 episodes of the situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
television series, The Real McCoys
The Real McCoys
The Real McCoys is an American situation comedy co-produced by Danny Thomas' "Marterto Productions", in association with Walter Brennan and Irving Pincus's "Westgate" company...
, starring Walter Brennan
Walter Brennan
Walter Brennan was an American actor. Brennan won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on three separate occasions, which is currently the record for most wins.-Early life:...
in the title role of Grandpa Amos McCoy, with Richard Crenna
Richard Crenna
Richard Donald Crenna was an American motion picture, television, and radio actor and occasional television director. He starred in such motion pictures as The Sand Pebbles, Wait Until Dark, Body Heat, the first three Rambo movies, Hot Shots! Part Deux, and The Flamingo Kid...
as Luke McCoy, older brother of Winkelman's character.
After its five-year run on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, The Real McCoys switched to CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
for its final season in 1962-1963 without the services of Kathleen Nolan
Kathleen Nolan
Kathleen Nolan is an American actress. She is sometimes confused with actress Jeanette Nolan. From 1957 to 1962, she played the role of Kate McCoy, a housewife in her late twenties, in the Walter Brennan series The Real McCoys....
as the young housewife, Kate McCoy. The series was created by Irving Pincus
Irving Pincus
Irving Pincus was a film and television writer and producer who created the ABC and CBS situation comedy, The Real McCoys, which aired in prime time from 1957 to 1963 and subsequently in rebroadcasts over many years....
and directed by Hy Averback
Hy Averback
Hyman J. Averback, known as Hy Averback , was a radio, television, and film actor who eventually became a producer and director.-Radio:...
, with Richard Crenna later assuming some directing duties.
In the last season on CBS, Winkelman, Lydia Reed
Lydia Reed
Lydia Reed is an American former child actress best known for her role as Tallahassee "Hassie" McCoy from 1957 to 1963 in 145 episodes of the ABC situation comedy The Real McCoys, starring Walter Brennan in the title role of Grandpa Amos McCoy...
as Hassie McCoy, and Tony Martinez as farmhand Pepino Garcia, all appeared less frequently than they had in the first years on ABC. Subsequently, Winkelman found few acting jobs and entered the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He was later a groundskeeper at Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Other acting roles
Winkelman's first television appearance was as 9-year-old Bruce Fuller in the 1955 television series The Great GildersleeveThe Great Gildersleeve
The Great Gildersleeve , initially written by Leonard Lewis Levinson, was one of broadcast history's earliest spin-off programs. Built around Throckmorton Philharmonic Gildersleeve, a character who had been a staple on the classic radio situation comedy Fibber McGee and Molly, first Introduced to...
. That same years he also appeared in the Richard Boone
Richard Boone
Richard Allen Boone was an American actor who starred in over 50 films and was notable for his roles in Westerns and for starring in the TV series Have Gun – Will Travel.-Early life:...
series Medic
Medic (TV series)
Medic is an American medical drama that aired on NBC beginning in 1954. Medic was television's first doctor drama to focus attention on medical procedures, establishing the style for later medical series.Created by its principal writer James E...
on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. Even while appearing in the first season of The Real McCoys young Winkelman was a guest star on NBC's Wagon Train
Wagon Train
Wagon Train is an American Western series that ran on NBC from 1957–62 and then on ABC from 1962–65...
, on ABC's Telephone Time
Telephone Time
Telephone Time is the title of a US TV drama series that aired from 1956 to 1958 featuring plays by John Nesbitt who hosted the first season. Frank C. Baxter hosted the 1957 and 1958 seasons...
, and on CBS's Lassie
Lassie (1954 TV series)
Lassie is an American television series that follows the adventures of a female Rough Collie named Lassie and her companions, human and animal. The show was the creation of producer Robert Maxwell and animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax and was televised from September 12, 1954, to March 24, 1973...
during the Tommy Rettig
Tommy Rettig
Thomas Noel "Tommy" Rettig was an American child actor,computer software engineer, and author. Rettig is best remembered for portraying the character "Jeff Miller" in the first three seasons of CBS's Lassie television series, from 1954–1957, later seen in syndicated re-runs as Jeff's Collie...
years and the fantasy drama, The Millionaire. He also appeared on Darren McGavin
Darren McGavin
Darren McGavin was an American actor best known for playing the title role in the television horror series Kolchak: The Night Stalker and his portrayal in the film A Christmas Story of the grumpy father given to bursts of profanity that he never realizes his son overhears...
's Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer is the title used for two syndicated television series that followed the adventures of fictional private detective Mike Hammer...
and on The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger (TV Series)
The Lone Ranger is an American western television series starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels as Tonto. The live-action series initially featured Gerald Mohr as the episode narrator...
in the role of Chip Truett in the episode entitled "The Prince of Buffalo Gap." He also guest starred on two episodes in 1955 and 1956 of both NBC's The Loretta Young Show and CBS's Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, is a weekly CBS anthology television series, was telecast on Friday nights from 1951 until 1959. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by Schlitz beer...
. Winkelman appeared in the ABC anthology, TV Reader's Digest
TV Reader's Digest
TV Reader's Digest is the title of a 30 minute American television anthology drama series which aired on the ABC from 1955 to 1956.Based on articles that appeared in Reader's Digest magazine, the episodes based on true stories which were varied in their themes, plots and content. Themes included...
, in a 1955 episode entitled "Ordeal at Yuba Gap." In 1956, he appeared in two episodes of ABC's Cavalcade of America
Cavalcade of America
Cavalcade of America is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company, although it occasionally presented a musical, such as an adaptation of Show Boat, and condensed biographies of popular composers. It was initially broadcast on radio from 1935 to 1953, and later on...
anthology series, one entitled "The Boy Nobody Wanted."
Winkelman's film roles, some uncredited, were in The Big Knife
The Big Knife
The Big Knife is a film noir directed and produced by Robert Aldrich from a screenplay by James Poe based on the play by Clifford Odets. The film stars Jack Palance, Ida Lupino, Wendell Corey, Jean Hagen, Rod Steiger, Shelley Winters, Ilka Chase, and Everett Sloane.-Plot:Charlie Castle, a very...
, Bobby Ware Is Missing, Sincerely Yours, and The Indian Fighter
The Indian Fighter
The Indian Fighter is a 1956 Western movie. It is from an original story by Robert L. Richards.-Plot:Johnny Hawks is a man who made his name fighting Indians...
(all 1955), and Ride Out for Revenge (1957).
Winkelman's last three television appearances were in 1963 on CBS's The Danny Thomas Show
The Danny Thomas Show
The Danny Thomas Show is an American sitcom which ran from 1953-1957 on ABC and from 1957-1964 on CBS...
, in 1964 on 1964 on NBC's Kraft Suspense Theatre
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Kraft Suspense Theatre, an anthology series, was telecast from 1963 to 1965 on NBC. Sponsored by Kraft Foods, it was seen three weeks out of every four and was pre-empted for Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall specials once monthly...
and in 1965 on CBS's unconventional comedy, The Munsters
The Munsters
The Munsters is a 1960s American family television sitcom depicting the home life of a family of monsters. It starred Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster and Yvonne De Carlo as his wife, Lily Munster. The series was a satire of both traditional monster movies and popular family entertainment of the era,...
, in which he played himself.He was a member of the Young Hollywood Hall of Fame.
Death at 53
Winkleman died at the age of fifty-three and is interred at the Riverside National CemeteryRiverside National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers , making it the third-largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration...
in Riverside County
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
, California.
Winkelman was a brother of actress Wendy Winkelman.