Ernie Coombs

Ernie Coombs was an American-Canadian, born in Lewiston, Maine, USA, on November 26th, 1927, children's entertainment performer who, ironically, worked as an understudy to Fred Rogers. After Mr. Rogers deciced to move back to the United States, Ernie, better known to children as Mr. Dressup, 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. He then created his own style by introducing his pupppets Casey and Finnegan. 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 18th, 2001, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, of a stroke.

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