This critically acclaimed TV and stage performer's occasional films have been offbeat and of mixed quality. A fresh-faced, sandy-haired actress, Winningham made her TV debut at 16 singing on the infamous "The Gong Show", but copped a bigger break when her senior class performance as Maria in "The Sound of Music" impressed Hollywood agent Meyer Mishkin. The TV Western series "The Young Pioneers" (1978) lasted only three episodes, but Winningham made a favorable impression in the TV-movie "Special Olympics/A Special Kind of Love" (CBS, 1978), and two years later won an Emmy for her delicately
Stage debut at age 12 in "Hansel and Gretel" with the Teenage Drama Workshop at California State University (date approximate)
Performed with Los Angeles Free Shakespeare Company for two seasons while in high school
1976
First appeared on TV at age 16 singing on "The Gong Show" (date approximate)
1977
Played the leading role of Maria in her senior class production of "The Sound of Music"; was seen by agent Meyer Mishkin, who signed her as a client (date approximate)
