Ronnie Le Drew, puppeteer behind Zippy and David Bowie’s goblins, dies aged 78

Canadian-born British operator, president of the British Puppet Guild, passed away after a ‘short illness’

Ronnie Le Drew, best known for operating the puppet Zippy on the classic children’s television programme Rainbow has died aged 78, after a “short illness”. The news was confirmed by the British Puppet Guild, of which Le Drew was president.

The Canadian-born British puppeteer was also known for working on 1986’s Labyrinth alongside David Bowie as well as 1986’s Little Shop of Horrors and various Muppet movies including in 1992’s The Muppet Christmas Carol. He worked on various iterations of Sooty, alongside both Harry Corbett and Matthew Corbett, usually as Sweep, Sooty’s sidekick.
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