Dick Winslow; Actor, Musician

Dick Winslow, an actor, co-writer of the California Angels fight song and a “one-man band” performer, has died at a North Hollywood convalescent hospital. He was 75.

A resident of Studio City, Winslow died Thursday of complications of diabetes, said his wife, Shirley Winslow.

He was born Dick Winslow Johnson in Jennings, La., in 1915. As a child, he appeared in “Our Gang” comedies in the 1920s and acted as a reporter on a KHJ children’s radio program in 1924.

He was a graduate of Belmont High School in Los Angeles. In 1966, he penned the “California Angels’ A-OK!” fight song with his wife.

As a character actor, Winslow had parts in dozens of movies. He portrayed Joe Harper in “Tom Sawyer” (1930), a midshipman in “Mutiny on the Bounty” (1935), the late composer Gil Rodin in “The Benny Goodman Story” (1955), the father of an unruly son in “Airport” (1970) and a streetcar conductor in John Wayne’s “The Shootist” (1976). He also appeared in television’s “I Love Lucy,” “The Red Skelton Show,” “Maude” and “Dallas,” among others.

A music lover, Winslow performed periodically at Disneyland from 1955 until the mid-1970s.

Throughout the 1950s he worked for a promotional tour for Hacienda Hotel in Las Vegas, playing the piano on 1,133 chartered airline flights from Burbank to Las Vegas.

In 1964, Winslow was selected to play a “one-man band” character created by Walt Disney for the premiere of “Mary Poppins.”

In the mid-1970s, he left Disneyland and performed at Knott’s Berry Farm until 1982. Until recently, he performed with his one-man band at private parties and in television commercials.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years; sons Rick Winslow of Oahu, Hawaii, and Kevin Winslow of Alexandria, Va.; daughters Kellie Kowalick of Canoga Park and Judie Winslow of Carmel; brothers Cullen Johnson of Santa Monica and Payne Johnson of San Diego; sisters Cammilla Jones of Sylmar and Carmencita Robertson of Ojai; and two grandchildren.

Memorial services are pending. Armstrong Family Mortuary in Los Angeles is handling the arrangements. Donations can be made in Winslow’s name to the Los Angeles Mission, 443 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles 90013.