Burr Tillstrom was an American actor and producer who is best known for Kukla, Fran and Ollie, The Wizard of Oz, and That Was the Week That Was. He was born on October 13, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, and passed away on December 6, 1985, in Palm Springs, California.
Personal and Family Life
Burr Tillstrom, whose birth name was Franklin Burr Tillstrom, had a background in theater starting from high school. He briefly attended the University of Chicago before joining a puppet theater company supported by the Works Progress Administration. His mother’s family name was “Burr,” which he adopted as his first name.
Death and Legacy
Burr Tillstrom died from heart failure in 1985 at the age of 68. He left behind a significant legacy in puppetry and television, being recognized with the UNIMA Citation of Excellence award in 1979. His work continues to influence puppeteers and entertainers to this day.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Muppet Movie | 1979-06-22 | Additional Muppet Performer |
| Alice in Wonderland | 1955-10-22 | Mock Turtle / Cheshire Cat / Oysters |
| The Carpenters at Christmas | 1977-12-01 | Self / Kukla and Ollie |
| Grubbo’s Landing | 1988-06-14 | Grubbo (alien) |
| Hallmark Hall of Fame | 1951-12-24 | Mock Turtle |
| This Is Your Life | 1952-10-01 | Self |
| Kukla, Fran and Ollie | 1947-10-13 | Kukla, Ollie, etc. Puppeteer & voices |
| The Merv Griffin Show | 1962-10-01 | Self |