{"id":2371344,"date":"2026-04-13T15:57:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T15:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2371344"},"modified":"2026-04-13T15:57:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T15:57:23","slug":"sid-krofft-co-creator-of-land-of-the-lost-and-h-r-pufnstuf-dies-at-home-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/sid-krofft-co-creator-of-land-of-the-lost-and-h-r-pufnstuf-dies-at-home-exclusive\/","title":{"rendered":"Sid Krofft, Co-Creator of \u201cLand of the Lost \u201dand\u201c H.R. Pufnstuf\u201d, Dies at Home (Exclusive)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sid Krofft, a popular puppeteer and TV producer known for kids shows including <em>H.R. Pufnstuf <\/em>and <em>Land of the Lost<\/em>, has died at age 96<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He and his brother, Marty, received a Lifetime Achievement Emmy and a Hollywood Walk of Fame star for their work<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sid was developing new projects and sharing stories on Instagram before his death, continuing his creative legacy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/puppeteer-sid-krofft-early-career-included-adults-only-topless-puppet-show-exclusive-8710032\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Sid Krofft;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Sid Krofft&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Sid Krofft<\/a>, whose award-winning career as a children&#8217;s television producer and puppeteer stretched across half a decade \u2014 even inspiring a theme park \u2014 has died, PEOPLE can exclusively confirm. He was 96.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sid \u201cpassed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, April 10 at the home of his friend and business partner Kelly Killian,\u201d according to a spokesman. The cause was natural.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">He was best known, alongside brother Marty Krofft, as the creative mind behind and co-producer of <em>H.R. Pufnstuf<\/em>, <em>Land of the Lost<\/em> and <em>The Donny and Marie Show<\/em> among other programs from the 1960s through the mid 2010s. <em>Land of the Lost <\/em>was also adapted into a 2009 film starring <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/will-ferrell\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Will Ferrell;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Will Ferrell&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Will Ferrell<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In a statement, Killian said she \u201cloved Sid with my whole heart,\u201d adding that he \u201ctaught me more than I could ever put into words.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI didn\u2019t know Sid for his shows \u2014 I only knew the man who created them. And that man was extraordinary,\u201d Killian said. \u201cI wish so very much that I had more time with him. I will miss his big blue eyes, his cheerful smile with his dimples, and the warmth that seemed to follow him everywhere he went.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Adam Fenton, Sid\u2019s publicist, described him as \u201can icon who did what he loved most until the very end &#8211; being out in public with his legions of fans.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cSid never slowed down, attending his final show where it all began just last November in his home state of Rhode Island,\u201d Fenton said, \u201cSid was a beacon of light and will be greatly missed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Sid Krofft with H.R. Pufnstuf in 2004<br \/>Credit: Jim Smeal\/BEI\/Shutterstock<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Born in Montreal, Canada, on July 30, 1929, Sid immigrated to the United States in 1938. He purchased his first puppet at age 10 and performed on the street \u2014 and by age 16, he had performed in vaudeville and burlesque shows in addition to appearances with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum &amp; Bailey Circus.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sid spent much of the 1950s touring his marionette act in Europe, and even appeared with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/judy-garland\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Judy Garland;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Judy Garland&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Judy Garland<\/a> as her opening act during the latter part of the decade.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe sold out everywhere, and it gave me another elevation,\u201d he <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/puppeteer-sid-krofft-early-career-included-adults-only-topless-puppet-show-exclusive-8710032\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:told PEOPLE;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;told PEOPLE&quot;}\" class=\"link \">told PEOPLE<\/a> in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sid and Marty, his younger brother, who <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/marty-krofft-creator-hr-pufnstuf-land-of-lost-dead-at-86-8406676\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:died of kidney failure in November 2023;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;died of kidney failure in November 2023&quot;}\" class=\"link \">died of kidney failure in November 2023<\/a> at 86, eventually teamed up to create shows that played at World Fairs in Seattle, New York and San Antonio, including the adults-only musical review \u201cLes Poup\u00e9es de Paris.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIt was always the number one attraction because no one ever saw anything like it,\u201d Sid previously told PEOPLE. \u201cThat was my goal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sid and Marty went on to open the \u201cShowbusiness Factory\u201d together and created various children\u2019s television programs that gained popularity in the 1970s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">They earned an Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award in 2018 and also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They also inspired a short-lived amusement park in Atlanta in 1976 called The World of Sid and Marty Krofft.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sid continued to tell stories late in life, including on his weekly Instagram livestream show \u201cSundays with Sid,\u201d which featured a number of high profile guests, including <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/paul-reubens-life-in-photos-movies-tv-shows-beyond-pee-wee-7567718\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Paul Reubens;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Paul Reubens&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Paul Reubens<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/dita-von-teese\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Dita Von Teese;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Dita Von Teese&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Dita Von Teese<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/theater\/joel-grey-says-he-has-no-regrets-as-he-turns-90-birthday\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Joel Gray;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Joel Gray&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Joel Gray<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/josh-holloway\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Josh Holloway;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Josh Holloway&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Josh Holloway<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/forms.dotdashmeredith.com\/people-news-inline\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:PEOPLE's free daily newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;PEOPLE'&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><strong>PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/strong><\/a><strong> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Prior to his death, Sid and Killian were finalizing two books recounting Sid\u2019s life and career prior to his death, his spokesperson tells PEOPLE. They were also developing two new children\u2019s shows \u2014 <em>Broomelda Snickelsnuff<\/em> and <em>Wonderwiggle<\/em>, which Kelly will continue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Additionally, Sid was working with Suzie Vignon and Joshua Disney as creative and visual producer on their project <em>Love Sucks<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Speaking with PEOPLE in September 2024, Sid compared his long career to a treehouse built in a eucalyptus tree at his Los Angeles home, where he lived for more than five decades.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe ladder going up is &#8230; a step at a time and it takes a long way to get to the top,\u201d he said. \u201cI still go up there at 95 years old. My life has been so exciting because every day I wake up and am grateful I was allowed to do all these incredible things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/sid-krofft-puppeteer-co-creator-of-land-of-the-lost-hr-pufnstuf-dead-at-96-exclusive-11948526\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;People&quot;}\" class=\"link \">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEED TO KNOW Sid Krofft, a popular puppeteer and TV producer known for kids shows including H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost, has died at age 96 He and his brother, Marty, received a Lifetime Achievement Emmy and a Hollywood Walk of Fame star for their work Sid was developing new projects and sharing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2371345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[461221,461224,461222,461220,314867,461223,365316,461225,461219],"class_list":["post-2371344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-adam-fenton","tag-burlesque-shows","tag-children39s-television-producer","tag-h-r-pufnstuf","tag-hollywood-walk-of-fame","tag-kelly-killian","tag-land-of-the-lost","tag-sid-and-marty","tag-sid-krofft"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sid-Krofft-Co-Creator-of-Land-of-the-Lost-and-HR.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2371344"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2371346,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371344\/revisions\/2371346"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2371345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2371344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2371344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2371344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}