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Ernest "Ernie" Coombs, CM (November 26, 1927–September 18, 2001) was a children's entertainer, best known for the long-running Canadian television series Mr. Dressup.
Ernest Coombs was born in Lewiston, Maine, United States, and pursued a career in children's entertainment. As an understudy to Fred Rogers, he traveled to Canada in 1963 to work for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on an early version of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Rogers moved back to the United States the following year, but Coombs decided to stay in Canada, joining a new show called Butternut Square. Coombs was granted Canadian citizenship in 1994.
In 1967, Butternut Square was cancelled, which allowed Coombs to develop a new and improved show, Mr. Dressup, which became one of Canada's longest-running and most beloved children's programs. As Mr. Dressup, he presented arts and crafts, songs, stories and games for children with his friends Casey and Finnegan, a boy and a dog who lived in a treehouse in Mr. Dressup's back yard. Later in the series Casey and Finnegan were replaced by a small cast of anthropomorphic animal puppets. Coombs believed very strongly in gentle, wholesome children's programming that encouraged kids to use their creativity and imagination.
More on [ Ernie Coombs ]
Actors and Actresses :: Acting
Puppeteers :: Puppetry
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Canoe.ca - Mr. Dressup - A collection of articles on the performer, taken from various Canadian publications.
Meta Description: [ Entertainment and Showbiz from a Canadian angle ]
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CBC Personalities: Ernie Coombs - Features brief biography and a photo.
Have Tickle Trunk... Will Travel - Article by Andrew Burgess about the entertainer's retirement tour.
IMDb - Ernie Coombs - Filmography, biographical details, and links.
Meta Description: [ Ernie Coombs - Filmography, Awards, Biography, Agent, Discussions, Photos, News Articles, Fan Sites ]
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