Schippers was born in Groningen in 1942 and became known to the general public as the voice of Ernie in the children’s program Sesame Street.
In the 60s and 70s he became known for controversial TV programs such as the Fred Haché Show, with well-known characters such as Fred Haché, Barend Servet and Sjef van Oekel.
For the radio he collaborated on programs such as De Suite, and he also had his own program: Ronflonflon with Jacques Plafond (1984–1991), which was characterized by his typical humor and the fact that he talked through all the records.
As a voice actor, he recorded several (children’s) programs, in addition to Sesame Street, he was also the voice for several Muppet characters, including Kermit the Frog.
“Oh, that’s what you call art?”
Schippers, born in Groningen, was also a visual artist. In 2022 he spoke with NH for the Icons series. “I like making things,” he said about his works of art. “Things that no one wants. But that I want to make myself, and it’s funny that you can sell them at some point.”
Schippers made his breakthrough in visual art in 1959 when the Stedelijk Museum purchased his drawings. Not all his works were equally well received. By this he was referring, among other things, to his Peanut Butter Floor, a conceptual work of art from 1969 that consisted of a meters-long, thick layer of peanut butter on the floor. “‘Oh, that’s what you call art,’ they would say,” said Schippers.
NH spoke with the artist in 2022 for the Icons series. You can watch that interview below.