April 14 (UPI) — Famed puppeteer and TV producer Sid Krofft has died of natural causes at the age of 96.
Krofft created, along with his late brother Marty, several iconic family TV programs of the 1960s and ’70s such as Land of the Lost, H.R. Pufnstuf and Donny & Marie.
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His friend and business partner Kelly Killian confirmed Monday on Instagram that Krofft died at her Los Angeles home on Friday.
“I loved Sid with my whole heart. The last six years of my life were devoted to him, and his to me. In that time, he taught me more than I could ever put into words — about the art of Hollywood, the magic of the stage, and the depth and complexity of human nature,” she said.
“I wish so very much that I had more time with him.There is no way I could ever repay the life lessons he gave me, both the beautiful and the difficult. Even now, I find myself instinctively checking in on him, walking into a room ready to ask him a question about a piece of history or a person that no longer exists.I didn’t know Sid for his shows-I only knew the man who created them,” she added. “And that man was extraordinary.Last Thursday night, he grabbed my arm and said, “Kelly, I need you to know something… I love you.” Those words will stay with me forever. I will miss his big blue eyes, his cheerful smile with his dimples, and the warmth that seemed to follow him everywhere he went.That man embodied love, life, and happiness — right to the very end.”
His other credits include The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, The Bugaloos, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and Lidsville.
Puppets the Kroffts created also appeared in shows with entertainers such as Judy Garland, Liberace, The Mills Brothers, Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse, and Frank Sinatra.
At the time of his death Krofft was working on two books and had an Instagram Live podcast with Killian called Sundays with Sid.