R.I.P. William Wintersole of The Young and the Restless, Star Trek and more

The television actor was 88.

Longtime soap star William Wintersole died on November 5, according to The Hollywood Reporter and his family. On her Facebook Wednesday morning, Wintersole’s daughter Tiffany Harmon wrote, "My beautiful father, William Wintersole, passed in the stealth of the night at age 88... I’m so glad that I got to share him on my show with my listeners."

She added, "As a Hollywood actor for 60 years, he touched many [people's] lives. I did EVERYTHING I could for him… and that brings me peace. But alas… I miss him so. One love!"

Wintersole was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1931. Longtime fans will be familiar with his role in the daytime soap opera Young and the Restless, on which he played attorney Mitchell Sherman for more than 20 years (1986-2011). 

Wintersole was no stranger to the shows on MeTV.

One of his earliest roles was as Dr. Sturdivant in a season-seven episode of Rawhide, "Mrs. Harmon." He continued appearing in popular Westerns, taking on roles in both Gunsmoke (as Will Standish in season 17, "Lijah") and Bonanza (Frank Schulte in season 14, "The Witness").

Wintersole on 'Bonanza' and 'The Mod Squad'
 

Trekkies will recognize him as Abrom in the season-two Star Trek episode "Patterns of Force" (picture at the top of this post). In that tale, Kirk and Spock go looking for a missing Federation cultural observer on a planet that has been structured like the Third Reich. Abrom plays the leader of an underground rebel force, and he helps the Captain take down the Führer

Wintersole also made appearances on The Invaders (season one, episode three and season two, episode eight), The Waltons (season two, "The Braggart") and even on Columbo ("A Deadly State of Mind").

The actor was 88 when he passed on Tuesday.

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6 Comments

jacko3 54 months ago
William Wintersole ~ Our Blessed LORD watch over him ...
msdoni 54 months ago
He was also memorable in "Mission: Impossible's" first season two-parter "Old Man Out," as a prison officer who was very conflicted about the impending execution of Cardinal Vossek, especially in the scene where the cardinal gives him absolution. At the end of Part Two, the look on his face when it is learned that the cardinal has escaped suggests that he was secretly glad it happened.
MarkSpeck 57 months ago
He also appeared on the original Outer Limits, inadvertently credited as 'William Winterside'.
Popups 59 months ago
Yes, he was a regular on Y&R, awe the good olé days! RIP, say hi to Mrs. C. 💖
Jeremy 60 months ago
Luckily enough, I do remember this guy. He was in two episodes of "Insight."
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