Jerry Winsett

Jerry Winsett
Winsett as Epicure Mammon in The Alchemist
Born
Jerry Joe Winsett

(1950-07-19) July 19, 1950 (age 76)
Clarksville, Tennessee
EducationAustin Peay State University
OccupationActor

Jerry Joe Winsett (born July 19, 1950) is an actor, writer and singer who has appeared in numerous television shows including Coach, Mr. Belvedere, It’s Garry Shandling's Show and Newhart as well as such films as The Chosen, One Crazy Summer, Ragtime and Woody Allen's Radio Days. He has also had many theatre appearances and writing credits.

Biography

Winsett was born in Clarksville, Tennessee, the son of Bert and Marie Winsett. He graduated from Austin Peay State University in 1974, where he studied drama and was in the marching band.

He moved to Nashville where he appears in theatre before he got a role playing Sancho in the Man of LaMancha off-Broadway.

He has appeared in numerous television shows including Coach, Mr. Belvedere, It’s Garry Shandling's Show and Newhart as well as such films as The Chosen, One Crazy Summer, Ragtime and Woody Allen's Radio Days.

He starred in the nightclub act Schoch and Jerry in New York City with Tim Schoch, which was rated "Tops in Town" by Show Business magazine.

His many theatre appearances include Toby Belch in Twelfth Night at Nevada Shakespeare in the Park, Epicure Mammon in Mark Ringer's production of The Alchemist at the Globe Playhouse, Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival, Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha, Ragueneau in Cyrano de Bergerac, and Benjamin Franklin in 1776.

Winsett's writing credits include the plays Who Killed Mayor Stratton? and its sequel, Who Murdered the Mayor?, Gold's Fever, the musical Pssst! Tell 'Em Joe Sent Ya!, and an adaptation of Dracula in which he appeared as Renfield.

In 2017, he appeared in the independent film comedy "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri with Frances McDormand.

Personal life

His wife Sharon, was the box office manager at the Jenny Wiley Summer Music Theatre in Clarksville in 1973.

In 2017, Winsett was married to wife Diane. The same year, he was running his own murder mystery nights in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Critical reception

Of his performance in the Man of La Mancha performed at Santa Monic Pier, the LA Times said: "Winsett's Sancho Panza is a staunchly loyal retainer who knows he's there primarily to help Cervantes/Quixote, not to get laughs."

References

  1. 1 2 "Jerry Winsett In "Man Of La Mancha"". The Leaf-Chronicle. Clarksville, Tennessee. Aug 12, 1973. pp. 7E. Retrieved 26 October 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Smith Segovia, Stacy (Jan 21, 2001). "Bringing Back A Tree". Go!. The Leaf-Chronicle. Clarksville, Tennessee. p. 3. Retrieved 26 October 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Darnell, Cathy (Aug 21, 1983). "Jerry Winsett's Face Sells Chicken and Cat Food". The Tennessean. Nashville. pp. E1, E3. Retrieved 26 October 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Jerry Winsett Comes Back to Austin Peay". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. Mar 23, 1988. pp. 3D. Retrieved 26 October 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Actor, APSU Grad Winsett Returns for Reading of 'Constellations'". The Leaf-Chronicle. Clarksville, Tennessee. Mar 29, 1988. pp. 9A. Retrieved 26 October 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Shirley, Don (22 June 1989). "Stage Watch: The Bard on Boards at Santa Monica Pier". The Los Angeles Times. pp. F7. Retrieved 26 October 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Smaller Theaters (Hollywood, Westside & Downtown): Cyrano de Bergerac". LA Weekly. Nov 24, 1988. p. 103. Retrieved 26 October 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 Steelman, Ben (Nov 2, 2017). "Local actor lands role opposite Frances McDormand". Wilmington Star-News. Retrieved 2026-07-07.