Ronnie Le Drew, the distinguished puppeteer whose hands brought to life iconic characters such as Zippy from the beloved children's television show 'Rainbow', has died at the age of 78 following a short illness. The news was confirmed by the British Puppet Guild, an organisation Le Drew led as president for the past decade.
Born in Canada, Le Drew's extensive career spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on both British television and major Hollywood productions. Beyond his most famous role with the boisterous orange Zippy, he was instrumental in creating the magical creatures for the 1986 film 'Labyrinth', working alongside music legend David Bowie. His film credits also include 'Little Shop of Horrors' (1986) and several 'Muppet' movies, notably 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' in 1992. On British television, he frequently operated Sweep, Sooty's loyal sidekick, working alongside Harry and Matthew Corbett on various iterations of 'Sooty'.
Le Drew's passion for puppetry extended to education and advocacy. He trained at London's renowned Little Angel Theatre, with which he maintained a long association, later teaching there. Further cementing his commitment to the craft, he co-founded the London School of Puppetry with his partner, Caroline Astell-Burt. The British Puppet Guild, in announcing his passing, paid tribute to his active and supportive presidency, noting his frequent attendance at events, willingness to perform, and his gift for storytelling.
'Rainbow', conceived as a British answer to 'Sesame Street', first aired in 1972 and was produced by Thames Television until 1992. The programme, which aimed to explore educational topics through the interactions and occasional conflicts between Zippy, George the hippopotamus, and Bungle the bear, captured the hearts of a generation. Le Drew not only operated Zippy but also provided the puppet's voice during a revival of the show by Tetra Films from 1994 to 1997. He remained active in his field, having recently discussed his extensive career and his two-decade-long role as Zippy on the YouTube channel My 70s TV Childhood.