Ernie Coombs

Ernie Coombs was an American-Canadian, born in Lewiston, Maine, USA, on November 26, 1927, children's entertainment performer who, worked as an understudy to Fred Rogers. After Mr. Rogers decided to move back to the United States, Coombs, stayed in Canada as he was fascinated by the progressive ideas of the public broadcasting system. In 1967, Ernie then joined the cast of a new television show called Butternut Square, which was soon renamed Mister Dressup. He created his own style by introducing the pupppets Casey (a child) and Finnegan (a dog whose whispered words would be repeated by Casey). He also presented many arts and crafts on his show, along with dressing up by finding costumes in his Tickle Trunk, hence the nickname, Mr. Dressup. Mr. Dressup retired in 1996 and later died on September 18, 2001, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, of a stroke.

Internet Movie Database Entry: http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0177672/