Michael Winner started his career writing entertainment gossip for the Kensington Post at age fourteen, a precursor to a professional trajectory that spanned film production, directing, and journalism. Between 1935 and 2013, he operated across the shifting landscape of British and American cinema, moving from low-budget travelogues to high-profile thrillers and action pictures.
Formative Years and Education
Born in Hampstead to George Joseph Winner and Helen Rose, Winner attended St Christopher School in Letchworth. He later read law and economics at Downing College, Cambridge. During his university years, he served as the editor of the student newspaper, Varsity. His early experience in media began long before his feature film debut, as he authored columns for the New Musical Express and the Showgirl Glamour Revue.
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Winner’s first directorial efforts included the 1957 travelogue This is Belgium, funded by his father, and The Square, which featured A.E. Matthews. He transitioned into features with Shoot to Kill in 1960. Throughout the early 1960s, he directed a variety of genres, including the musical Play It Cool and the nudist-themed comedy Some Like It Cool, which was filmed at Longleat.
Collaboration and Genre Success
Winner became known for his collaborations with actors Oliver Reed and Charles Bronson. His directorial credits include the World War II comedy Hannibal Brooks, the hitman thriller The Mechanic, and the Revisionist Westerns Lawman and Chato’s Land. He achieved commercial attention for the 1974 film Death Wish, later directing its sequels, Death Wish II and Death Wish 3. His work also extended to supernatural horror with The Sentinel and neo-noir with The Big Sleep.
Public Profile and Later Life
Beyond his filmography, Winner maintained a significant public presence in the United Kingdom as a television personality and a restaurant critic for The Sunday Times. He founded the Police Memorial Trust to honor officers killed in the line of duty. He resided at Woodland House in London until his death in 2013 and is buried at Willesden Jewish Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1935, Hampstead, United Kingdom
- Died: 2013, Woodland House
- Education: St Christopher School, Downing College
- Notable films: Death Wish, The Mechanic, Hannibal Brooks
- Collaboration: Oliver Reed, Charles Bronson
- Professional roles: Film director, producer, screenwriter, food critic
- Organizations founded: The Police Memorial Trust
- Burial place: Willesden Jewish Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the Police Memorial Trust?
It was an organization founded by Michael Winner to commemorate police officers who died while performing their duties.
Did Michael Winner work in journalism?
Yes, he began writing gossip columns at age fourteen and later served as a restaurant critic for The Sunday Times.
Achievements
- Worked as film director, film producer and screenwriter
