Marty Krofft, a renowned figure in children’s television, passed away on November 25 from kidney failure at the age of 86, his publicist Harlan Boll confirmed. 

Krofft, together with his brother Sid, transformed the landscape of children’s television with their unique, imaginative productions. 

Born in Montreal, Canada, the Krofft brothers created Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures, becoming pioneers in children’s fantasy television with their use of puppetry and special effects. Their work, marked by surrealistic storytelling, featured colorful designs and imaginative worlds, with shows like “H.R. Pufnstuf” and “The Bugaloos” becoming cultural icons. Krofft’s career was highlighted by influential shows such as “Land of the Lost,” “The Lost Saucer,” “Electra Woman and Dyna Girl,” “Wonderbug,” “Sigmund and the Sea Monsters,” and “Lidsville,” known for their large puppet characters and inventive plots. 

In addition to children’s programming, the Kroffts produced prime-time television shows, including “The Donny and Marie Show” and “The Brady Bunch Hour,” and opened an indoor amusement park in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1976, named “The World of Sid and Marty Krofft,” which closed after six months. They received numerous accolades, including Daytime Emmys and Saturn Awards, and were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 2018 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020, celebrating their significant contributions to children’s television.