Marty Krofft, co-creator of H.R. Pufnstuf and other iconic children's shows, dies at 86

Marty Krofft, TV creator behind iconic children's shows, died at 86, leaving a legacy of whimsical and heartwarming TV magic.

Marty Krofft, the beloved TV creator behind the iconic children's shows "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour," "H.R. Pufnstuf," and "Land of the Lost," passed away from kidney failure in Los Angeles at the age of 86. Marty and his brother Sid were puppeteers-turned-producers whose kids shows, featuring elaborate dolls and puppets, revolutionized children's TV. Their work also extended to classic series like "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters" and "D.C. Follies," as well as primetime variety shows "Donny and Marie" and "Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters."

The Krofft brothers returned to TV in 2016 with the Nickelodeon show "Mutt & Stuff" and were known for their business acumen and creativity. Born in Montreal in 1937, Marty was the youngest of four brothers. Sid's puppet show in the 1940s led to a career in vaudeville, and Marty joined him in Hollywood in the 1950s after working with puppets in New York. They premiered "Les Poupees de Paris," an adult-themed puppet show, in 1961, and their expertise brought them to TV, where they became prolific producers for decades.

After designing the sets and costumes for NBC's "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour," the network asked them to create a Saturday morning kids show, leading to the creation of "H.R. Pufnstuf." The show only aired 17 episodes from 1969-70 but lived on in reruns. Marty was known as the business brain of Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, ensuring that shows were inventive and on budget.

Their other whimsical series include "The Bugaloos," "Lidsville," "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters," "Electra Woman and Dyna Girl," and "Wonderbug." The brothers' reputation for creating shows with heart led to collaborations with contemporary names like Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken and "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes on remakes of "Lidsville" and "H.R. Pufnstuf."

The Krofft brothers' legacy was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Daytime Emmys in 2018, and they received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020. Marty is survived by brother Sid, brother Harry, three daughters, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

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