Former 1950s child star George "Foghorn" Winslow died at the age of 69, the Hollywood Reporter reports. The blond-haired blue-eyed child actor with the unusually deep voice charmed his way onscreen with roles alongside classic Hollywood's biggest stars.
The Los Angeles native, born George Karl Wentzlstaff, suffered a heart attack on June 13, according to local paper The Santa Rosa Press Democrat. He was found dead in his Camp Meeker, Calif. home by a long-time friend.
According to his IMDB biography, Winslow broke into the entertainment business on "People Are Funny," an early 1950s family-friendly radio show. After host Art Linkletter asked the child his name, he answered "George Wentzlaff, but I'd rather be Casey Jones," and was a hit with listeners.
Among those listeners was Hollywood actor Cary Grant, who was impressed with Winslow. Grant introduced him to director Norman Taroug, and Winslow was cast in his first role opposite Grant in the 1952 film "Room For One More." Winslow would go on to co-star with Ginger Rogers in "Monkey Business," and steal the scene from Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 hit "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."
Winslow was nicknamed "Foghorn" early on because of his trademark raspy voice. But he left acting at the age of 12 after he lost his baritone voice. He went on to serve in the Vietnam war and retired from the Postal Service shortly before his death.
