Terence H. Winkless

Biography

Terence H. Winkless is an American director, producer, writer, and actor who played Bingo the Gorilla on The Banana Splits Adventure Hour. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, he moved with his family to Chicago's North Shore and then to Los Angeles, where he and his brothers portrayed three of the title characters. After studying at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and interning on Soylent Green at the AFI Conservatory, he directed the 1971 short Foster's Release, which screened at the Edinburgh Film Festival and L.A. Filmex. He worked on Gone in 60 Seconds (1974) as an editor, writer, and director, and earned his first writing credit with The Howling in 1981. His later features include The Nest (1988), Bloodfist (1989), Rage and Honor (1992), Nightmare City 2035 (2007), and the family drama Heart of Dance (2013). On television he directed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Pacific Blue, and he wrote the book The Assassin's Apprentice.

Movie Career

Films: 4
Career span: 27 years1980 to 2007

Every film, newest first

2007Lake Placid 2IMDb rating 3.2
2007Nightmare City 2035IMDb rating 3.3
1990A Cry in the WildIMDb rating 5.8
1980Heart BeatIMDb rating 5.7

Genres

Did you know?!

A change of course
Winkless was an editor on the original Gone in 60 Seconds (1974), a film with a 40-minute car chase. When the story needed refinement, he also became its writer and director.
A first
Winkless made Fire Over Afghanistan in 2003. He used a Sony PD-150, a prosumer digital camera, and the film pointed the way toward an all digital future.
Early training
Winkless attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts and also completed an AFI Conservatory internship, working with director Richard Fleischer on Soylent Green under AFI consultant Charlton Heston.