Ernie Coombs

Date of birth

1927

Point of origin

United States

Coombs came to theatre through painting scenery, eventually meeting Fred Rogers (of the children's show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood).

Culture

a colourful graphic of a house and flowers, with Ernie Coombs' Mr Dressup and two puppets.

A graphic used by CBC for Ernie Coombs' celebrated children's show, Mr. Dressup.

CBC Still Photo Collection

Ernie Coombs and another man with guitars, both wearing Stetsons and dressed in a Western style.

Celebrated children's entertainers, Ernie Coombs and Fred Penner, in performance.

CBC Still Photo Collection/Fred Phipps

Ernie Coombs, "Mr. Dressup," with a few of the puppets used in his long-running children's show, Mr. Dressup.

CBC Still Photo Collection/Fred Phipps

Ernie Coombs and a woman with two puppets.

Ernie Coombs, "Mr. Dressup," with his puppeteer Judith Lawrence, and puppets Casey and Finnegan.

Ron Bull via Getty Images

Ernie Coombs as Mr. Dressup in pyjamas pulling a Santa hat from a trunk in a room lined with shelves of toys.

Ernie Coombs, “Mr. Dressup,” checking his "tickle trunk" of costumes, 1995.

Dick Loek via Getty Images

Ernie Coombs, 1927-2001, United States.

Coombs came to theatre through painting scenery, eventually meeting Fred Rogers (of the children's show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood). Coombs accompanied Rogers to Canada in 1963 as a puppeteer for children's programming. In 1967 he started his own children’s show, Mr. Dressup. He included crafts, reading, and imaginative play. After more than 4000 episodes, Coombs retired from his show in 1996. Coombs became a Canadian citizen in 1994 and a member of the Order of Canada in 1996.