NEW YORK — Mixed feelings of nostalgia and sadness filled the hearts of many as news spread of the passing of TV producer, Marty Krofft, at the age of 86. With imaginative children’s shows such as “H.R. Pufnstuf” and primetime hits like “Donny & Marie” in the 1970s, Krofft’s talent and passion for storytelling left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry.
Krofft’s publicist, Harlan Boll, announced his death on Saturday, revealing that the cause was kidney failure.
Along with his brother, Sid Krofft, the duo began as puppeteers and broke into television, eventually earning themselves stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They brought a unique and trippy sensibility to children’s TV and gave viewers unforgettable moments with the likes of Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond, as well as Barbara Mandrell and her sisters on primetime.
The Osmonds’ wholesome variety show, which featured the youngest hosts on TV at the time, has become a cultural phenomenon, even being rebooted in the ’90s and adapted into a Broadway Christmas show in 2010. The Kroffts continued their success with “Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters,” a musical variety show centered around the country music star, which ran from 1980-82.
One of their most beloved shows, “H.R. Pufnstuf,” may have only had 17 episodes, but its popularity has endured for over 45 years. In a 2007 TV Guide poll ranking of all-time cult favorites, the show landed the 27th spot. And in a touching tribute to the show’s lasting impact, the title character made an appearance on another Krofft brothers’ show, ”Mutt & Stuff,” which aired on Nickelodeon for multiple seasons.
Reflecting on their success in an interview with the Associated Press in 2015, Marty Krofft shared, “To make another hit at this time in our lives, I’ve got to give ourselves a pat on the back.” He also addressed the ongoing speculation that the surreal show was influenced by drug use, saying, “If we did the drugs everybody thought we did, we’d be dead today… You cannot work stoned.”
The World of Sid
Born in Montreal on April 9, 1937, Krofft first discovered his love for entertainment through puppetry. Along with his brother, they put together a risqué, cabaret-inspired puppet show called ”Les Poupées de Paris” in 1960, which eventually led to creating puppet shows for amusement parks. The duo even opened their own amusement park, the short-lived World of Sid & Marty Krofft, in Atlanta in the 1970s.
Their breakthrough in television came with “H.R. Pufnstuf,” which also spawned a feature film in 1970. The Kroffts continued to create memorable shows for different audiences, including ”Land of the Lost,” “Electra Woman and Dyna Girl,” “Pryor’s Place” with comedian Richard Pryor, and “D.C. Follies,” where puppets gave a comical spin on politics and the news.
In 2018, the brothers were honored with a Daytime Emmy for lifetime achievement, and two years later, they received their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In an emotional Instagram post, Sid Krofft expressed his sorrow over the loss of his younger brother, saying, ”All of you meant the world to him.”
Despite their many accolades and accomplishments, Marty Krofft showed no signs of slowing down, as he told the Associated Press in 2015, “What am I gonna do — retire and watch daytime television and be dead in a month?” He leaves behind a legacy of creativity, innovation, and joy that will continue to inspire generations to come.
