Ronnie Le Drew has died at 78 after a short illness, the British Puppet Guild said on Monday, July 27. Best known as the man behind Zippy in Rainbow, the Canadian-born British puppeteer and actor had been a visible part of the guild’s life for years.
British Puppet Guild and Zippy
“We are saddened to announce the death of our President and friend Ronnie Le Drew, following a short illness.” The guild said he had been its president for 10 years, and that he was “possibly the most active and supportive president we have ever had or will have.”
“Attending nearly every event, whether it be online or in person, often performing when asked and always willing to chat, tell stories and entertain in whatever way he could.” That was the guild’s portrait of his role, and it explains why his death lands as more than a simple obituary: he was part of the group’s working fabric, not just its public face.
Trooper Events UK and Abbey-Con
Trooper Events UK added its own tribute, saying, “We are deeply saddened to announce the loss of a dear friend and supporter of our events, Ronnie Le Drew.” It said he “was due to return to Abbey-Con this year,” but that “his health suddenly took a turn for the worse.”
Abbey Con was a comic convention in Abingdon, and the planned return shows how recent his public presence still was before the illness changed the schedule. Trooper Events UK also said, “He always brought warmth and kindness with him, and he will be missed dearly,” a blunt reminder that the loss hits both the guild’s community and the event circuit around it.
Ronnie Le Drew legacy
“Ronnie was, of course, known for Zippy, but his legacy in the puppetry world stretches far more than that,” the British Puppet Guild said. That matters because the public memory of a performer can flatten into one role, while the guild’s own tribute points to a longer working life built on attendance, performance, and repeat trust from peers.
“He meant so much to so many, and the legacy of his life will live on.” That is the clearest reading of where things stand now: the death has been announced, the tributes are in, and the open question is the short illness itself, which has not been described in more detail.
