Net Worth Ranker
What Is Michael Winslow’s Net Worth?
Michael Winslow, the American actor and comedian renowned for his extraordinary talent in sound effects, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $1.5 million. This financial standing is primarily attributed to his extensive career in film, television, and his unique performance art. His most notable role as Larvell Jones in all seven “Police Academy” films significantly contributed to his wealth, alongside appearances in other comedy films such as “Spaceballs,” “Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie,” and “Nice Dreams.”
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on September 6, 1958, in Spokane, Washington, Michael Leslie Winslow is the son of Robert and Verdie Winslow. His upbringing at Fairchild Air Force Base laid the foundation for his future career. With limited social interactions, Winslow honed his skills in imitating a wide array of sounds, from animals and engines to distinctive noises. His early training at the Lisa Maile School of Acting, Modeling and Imaging further refined his performance abilities. After completing high school and college, he started performing in theaters and nightclubs, where his talent for sound imitation quickly gained recognition. This early success enabled him to relocate to Hollywood and pursue professional opportunities. One of his earliest television appearances was on “The Gong Show,” where he showcased his sound imitation skills, mimicking sounds from “Star Trek” and the movie dog Benji, in addition to Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.”
Film Career in the ’80s and ’90s
Winslow’s film debut was in 1980 with “Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie,” where he appeared alongside Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. Following this, he also appeared in “Nice Dreams,” another film by Cheech and Chong, which co-starred Stacy Keach. He then starred in “TAG: The Assassination Game” alongside Robert Carradine and Linda Hamilton. In 1984, Winslow secured his iconic role as Cadet Larvell Jones in “Police Academy.” The film, featuring Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, Bubba Smith, Donovan Scott, and Andrew Rubin, became a massive box-office hit, grossing $149 million against a production budget of about $4.5 million. This success led to six sequels between 1985 and 1994, cementing the franchise as a cult classic. In the same year as “Police Academy,” Winslow appeared in four other films. He played an eccentric cocaine dealer named Lippy in “Alphabet City,” a mobster drama set in New York City. He also appeared in the dramedy “Grandview, U.S.A.,” which featured Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Troy Donahue, and M. Emmet Walsh. Additionally, he was in “Lovelines,” where he played a romance telephone service operator, and provided the voice of Mogwai in “Gremlins.” In 1985, Winslow lent his voice to the animated fantasy film “Starchaser: The Legend of Orin.” In 1987, he portrayed a radar operator in Mel Brooks’ “Spaceballs,” performing all of his sound effects during his scene. Winslow concluded the decade with roles in “Buy & Cell” and the West German films “Zärtliche Chaoten” and “Starke Zeiten.”
Further Film Career
In the 1990s, Winslow’s film career continued with roles in the adventure comedy “Think Big” and Tommy Chong’s comedy “Far Out Man.” In the early 2000s, he provided voice work for the animated film “The Trumpet of the Swan” and played an officer in “The Biggest Fan,” featuring the band Dream Street. He also appeared in the family film “Lenny the Wonder Dog,” the comedy “The Great Buck Howard,” and the National Lampoon film “RoboDoc.” Winslow’s later film credits include the Hungarian horror comedy “Gingerclown,” the 2016 comedy “Characterz,” and the action comedy “Killing Hasselhoff,” where he appeared as himself.
Television Career
On television, Winslow provided voice work for the animated series “New Kids on the Block” in the early 1990s. During this time, he also starred in the short-lived series “Extralarge” alongside Bud Spencer and Philip Michael Thomas. Later in the decade, Winslow reprised his role as Sgt. Larvell Jones in “Police Academy: The Series,” a sitcom spinoff of the movie franchise. He reprised the role again in a 2006 episode of “Robot Chicken.” Winslow’s other television credits include the science-fiction horror films “Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!” and “Lavalantula,” both from 2015. In 2021, he auditioned for the 16th season of “America’s Got Talent” on NBC. Since 2008, Winslow has hosted “Way Back Wednesday with Winslow” on WGN, featuring movies primarily from the 1980s.
Other Media Involvement
Beyond film and television, Winslow has ventured into mobile app development. In 2010, he launched his own sound effects apps for iPhone and iPod Touch. The ThatsKungFu app generates kung-fu fighting sounds when the device is swung, and the NoizeyMan app contains sound effects, ringtones, games, and videos created by Winslow. He also collaborated with Phyken Media on the mobile game “Wizard Ops Chapter 1,” providing sound effects and lending his voice to “Wizard Ops Tactics.” Additionally, Winslow has appeared in commercials for GEICO and Cadbury.
Personal Life
In 1985, Winslow married Belinda Church, and they had two children together. Belinda passed away in 1993. In 1997, he married Angela Baytops, but they divorced in 2001. Winslow married Sharon in 2003, and they divorced in 2014.
While specific details about Michael Winslow’s real estate holdings, private aircraft, or luxury cars are not publicly available, it’s understood that his $1.5 million net worth is primarily composed of earnings from his acting roles, voice work, and other media engagements. The “Police Academy” franchise was a major contributor to his income, with each film providing substantial earnings. For instance, although specific contract details are not public, his involvement in all seven films likely provided a consistent and significant income stream over several years. Details of his endorsements and commercial appearances, such as the GEICO and Cadbury ads, are also not publicly available in terms of exact compensation. However, such endorsements typically provide a reliable source of income for celebrities, supplementing their earnings from acting roles. His forays into mobile app development represent entrepreneurial ventures that also contribute to his net worth. While the exact revenue generated by the ThatsKungFu and NoizeyMan apps is not disclosed, successful apps can provide a steady income stream through downloads, in-app purchases, and advertising revenue. Information on his investment portfolio, including stocks, bonds, or other financial assets, is not publicly accessible. These investments, if any, would play a role in the growth and preservation of his net worth. Details on his spending habits, lifestyle, and philanthropic activities are not publicly documented. Overall, Michael Winslow’s $1.5 million net worth reflects his long and varied career in the entertainment industry, driven by his unique talent for sound effects and his ability to capitalize on opportunities in film, television, and other media platforms.
