Marty Krofft: H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost Creator Dies at 86

Marty Krofft was a Canadian-American television producer, puppeteer and creator, who with his brother Sid created some of the most colorful and fondly remembered children's shows of the 1970s. Born on April 9, 1937, in Montreal, Quebec, he began his career in puppetry before turning to television.

The Kroffts' breakthrough was H.R. Pufnstuf (1969), which established their psychedelic style. They followed with Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1973-1975) and Land of the Lost (1974-1976), which was revived in 1991 and adapted as a 2009 film. In 2018 the brothers received a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Kroffts' 1976 indoor amusement park in Atlanta, The World of Sid and Marty Krofft, closed after six months, and its building later became the CNN Center. Marty Krofft died of kidney failure in Los Angeles on November 25, 2023, at age 86. Remembered for a vivid imagination, he and his brother filled Saturday mornings with wonder.

Achievements: Co-created H.R. Pufnstuf (1969), created Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1973-1975), created Land of the Lost (1974-1976), received the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award (2018).

Birth: April 9, 1937 - Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Profession: Television producer and puppeteer.

Interesting Facts: For years the brothers claimed to be fifth-generation puppeteers, but later said a publicist had invented the story. Their short-lived amusement park building was later home to CNN.