# Puppeteer who worked with Zippy and David Bowie dies at 78

Ronnie Le Drew, a veteran puppeteer best known for operating Zippy from the children's TV show "Rainbow" and performing as the goblins in David Bowie's film "Labyrinth," has died at age 78. His work brought beloved characters to life across stage and screen, influencing generations of puppetry fans and performers.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### World
- [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/jul/27/ronnie-le-drew-puppeteer-zippy-sweep-and-david-bowie-goblins-dies-aged-78) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 17:21:11 GMT