Legendary children’s TV star Ronnie Le Drew who voiced puppet Zippy dies aged 78
‘He meant so much to so many,’ a tribute to the late Ronnie Le Drew read (Picture: Tom Dymond/Rex Features/Shutterstock)
Ronnie Le Drew, the celebrated children’s TV star who operated and later voiced the puppet Zippy on the show Rainbow, has died aged 78.
His death was announced by the British Puppet Guild in a statement that honoured his legacy, including the fact that he’d been the President of the organisation for a decade.
‘We are saddened to announce the death of our President and friend Ronnie Le Drew, following a short illness,’ the announcement read.
‘Ronnie has been our President for 10 years, possibly the most active and supportive President we have ever had or will have.’
The Guild outlined how Le Drew would attend ‘nearly every event whether it be online or in person, often performing when asked’, and was ‘always willing to chat, tell stories and entertain in whatever way he could’.
‘Ronnie was of course known for Zippy, but his legacy in the puppetry world stretches far more than that and there will be countless puppeteers mourning the loss of our dear friend,’ the statement continued.
Le Drew took over puppeteering Zippy from 1974 (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Rex Features/Shutterstock)
‘He meant so much to so many and the legacy of his life will live on.’
Tributes have poured in for Le Drew, with people remembering how he ‘always had a smile on his face’ and how much he meant to the puppetry community.
Le Drew was one of the voices behind Zippy, a character originally voiced by Peter Hawkins from 1972.
Le Drew took over puppeteering the character from 1974, while Roy Skelton – who voiced the Daleks in Doctor Who – voiced Zippy from 1973 to 1992, in addition to special revivals.
Le Drew also provided the voice for Zippy from 1991.
In addition to Rainbow, the performer also worked on several Muppet movies, Labyrinth, Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast and appeared in A Quiet Place: Day One.
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