Paul Winchell (December 21, 1922 – June 24, 2005) was an American ventriloquist, voice actor, comedian, inventor, and humanitarian, whose entertainment career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s.
From 1950 - 1954, he hosted The Paul Winchell Show, which also used two other titles during its prime time run on NBC, The Speidel Show and What's My Name? From 1965-1968, Winchell hosted the children's television series, Winchell-Mahoney Time. Winchell also made guest appearances on television series such as the role of murder victim Henry Clement in the 1964 Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Nervous Neighbor"; and two appearances as Homer Winch on The Beverly Hillbillies in 1962.
Winchell, who had medical training, was also an inventor, becoming the first person to build and patent a mechanical artificial heart, implantable in the chest cavity (US Patent #3097366). He has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television. He is also widely known for being the original voice of Tigger.