Biography of Michael Leslie Winslow

Michael Leslie Winslow (born September 6, 1958) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and beatboxer billed as The Man of 10,000 Sound Effects for his ability to make realistic sounds using only his voice. He is best known for his roles in all seven Police Academy films as Larvell Jones. He has also appeared in Spaceballs, Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie and Nice Dreams, The Love Boat, and commercials for Cadbury and GEICO.

Winslow was born in Spokane, Washington. He grew up at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, and later attended the Lisa Maile School of Acting, Modeling and Imaging. To pass time, he would imitate the sounds of engines, animals, flatulence, anything that made noise. Following high school and college he performed in nightclubs and theaters, where his sound imitation skills won him positive appraisal and enough money to move to and perform his act in Hollywood.

His first television appearance was on The Gong Show in which he squeezed in sound-alikes of Benji the movie dog, Star Trek, and Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze”.
While talking to Rediscover the 80s, he shared that he was homeless for his first few months after moving to L.A. That changed when he appeared on The Gong Show and won.

He is best known for his role as Larvell Jones in the Police Academy series of movies and TV shows. He was cast in the role after he was seen opening for Count Basie.

In 1986, Winslow presented the Best Sound Effects Editing Oscar to Charles L. Campbell and Robert Rutledge for their work on Back to the Future During 1986 he played the role of Spencer, the Assistant Cruise Director on the ninth and final season of The Love Boat.

In 1987, Winslow appeared as a radar operator in the movie Spaceballs, in which he performs all the sound effects himself during one scene. Mel Brooks (who wrote, directed, produced, and co-starred in the film) stated that, by doing so, Winslow saved the film money. Winslow is also a motivational speaker. Since the fall of 2008, Winslow has hosted a motion-picture television series called Way Back Wednesday with Winslow on the cable superstation WGN America, which features movies mostly released in the 1980s. He continues to perform stand-up comedy around the globe.

Michael Winslow debuted his own iPhone and iPod Touch apps in 2010, bringing his sound effects and comedy to a mobile platform. ThatsKungFu generates Winslow’s kung fu fighting sounds when the device is swung in a fighting motion. NoizeyMan, billed as the “World’s Noiziest App”, contains video, ringtones, sound effects, and mini games, all created by Winslow.

In 2011, Winslow worked with Orlando, Florida-based game development studio Phyken Media on a mobile game for iOS and Android platforms entitled Wizard Ops Chapter 1, providing all the sound effects for the game. He also lent his voice on Wizard Ops Tactics, a turn-based tactical game and spiritual successor to the previous game.

He was also featured in a commercial for GEICO Insurance during their “we hired a celebrity” ad campaign.

In 2020, Winslow guest starred on the Dropout.tv show Game Changer as a substitute for Zachary Oyama. He won Episode 10 of Season 3, and the episode aired on 22 January 2021.

In 2021, Winslow auditioned for the sixteenth season of America’s Got Talent. Following the airing of his audition, he had a guest appearance on the Talent Recap Show where he showed viewers how to make some of his most signature noises. Winslow was eliminated during the semi-finals.

In 2022, Winslow was heavily featured in a videogamedunkey YouTube video entitled Video Game Sound.This video brought Winslow’s work to a broad audience of video game fans. Videogamedunkey has talked about Winslow since the start of his channel, seemingly being a fan.

Michael Winslow stepped away from his career after the death of his first wife, Belinda Church. He dedicated himself to raising his 3 children as a single father. But now that his kids are grown, Winslow is making a triumphant return.

“My life has changed again for the better, and I’ve gotten another blessing,” Winslow told Terry Crews after his flawless performance. “America’s Got Talent is the place for me to show I still have something to offer. I’ve still got some sounds to make, and there’s still room for a little more.”

VIDEO GAMES

Michael’s movie and TV roles are what he’s best known for, but his voice has also gotten him some other opportunities. He did some work on the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

FILMS

1980 Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie Welfare Comedian
1981 Underground Aces Nate
1981 Nice Dreams Superman Nut
1981 Space Stars Plutem (voice)
1982 Tag: The Assassination Game Gowdy
1982 Heidi’s Song Mountain (voice)
1984 Police Academy Cadet Larvell Jones
1984 Alphabet City Lippy
1984 Gremlins Mogwai / Gremlins (voice)
1984 Grandview, U.S.A. Spencer
1985 Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment Officer Larvell Jones
1985 Starchaser: The Legend of Orin Voice
1986 Police Academy 3: Back in Training Sgt. Larvell Jones
1987 Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol Sgt. Larvell Jones
1987 Spaceballs Radar Technician
1987 Three Crazy Jerks [de] Walker
1988 Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach Sgt. Larvell Jones
1988 Starke Zeiten Mike
1988 Buy & Cell Sly
1988 Three Crazy Jerks II [de] Ronny
1989 Police Academy 6: City Under Siege Sgt. Larvell Jones
1989 Think Big Hap
1990 New Kids on the Block Voice
1990 Far Out Man Airport Cop
1990 Going Under Reporter
1993 Extralarge Dumas
1994 Police Academy: Mission to Moscow Sgt. Larvell Jones
1995 Be Cool about Fire Safety
1997-1998 Police Academy: The Series Sgt. Larvell Jones
1999 Lycanthrope Lee Davis
1999 Michael Winslow Live Himself
1999 The Blur of Insanity Horner’s Friend 2
2000 He Outta Be Committed Jeremy
2001 The Trumpet of the Swan Chief (voice)
2002 The Biggest Fan Officer Man
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Pedestrian (voice)
2005 Lenny the Wonder Dog John Wyndham
2006 Robot Chicken Sgt. Larvell Jones
2008 The Great Buck Howard Himself
2008 Redirecting Eddie Vaughn
2009 RoboDoc Dr. Murphy
2010 The History of the Typewriter recited by Michael Winslow Himself
2010 Tosh.0 Himself
2013 Blunt Movie Coach Al Jefferson
2013 Gingerclown Stomachcrumble
2013 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Himself
2015 Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! Brian Jonesy Jones
2015 Lavalantula Marty
2016 Enter the Fist and the Golden Fleece The Argonaut
2016 Characterz Police Detective
2016 2 Lava 2 Lantula Marty
2015 The Jack and Triumph Show Himself
2016 Renaissance Man Mike
2016 Hospital Arrest Judge Collaway
2017 Killing Hasselhoff Himself
2020 Game Changer Himself
2020 A Wrestling Christmas Miracle Judge Collaway
2021 America’s Got Talent (Season 16) Himself
2021 Todd Jake
2022 Video Game Sound Himself