Winner was born on 30 October 1935 in Hampstead, London, England. His parents were Jewish immigrants: his mother was Polish and his father was of Russian descent. He studied at St Christopher School, Letchworth, and Downing College, Cambridge. He was married to Geraldine Lynton-Edwards from 2011 until his death in 2013. Winner retired in December 2012 and died on 21 January 2013 in Kensington, London, England from a liver illness, aged 77.