Wim T. Schippers passed away on June 10 in his hometown of Amsterdam. This was announced in a press release from his foundation. He gained fame with various TV programs, as an artist and as a voice actor, including Ernie (from Bert). Schippers was 83 years old.
Wim T. Schippers grew into one of the most influential and idiosyncratic artists and media makers in the Netherlands. He started his career in the visual arts in the late 1950s. As a representative of the Dutch branch of the international Fluxus movement, he initiated various actions (including the March through Amsterdam in 1962) and media events such as Manifestation on the beach in Petten in 1963.
In the 60s and 70s Schippers made legendary and controversial programs such as The Fred Haché show, Whoopla (with the first naked woman on Dutch television), Waldolalaand The smiling shaving brush. Characters such as Barend Servet and especially Sjef van Oekel (played by Dolf Brouwers) became icons of Dutch television history.
Sesame Street
Also as the voice of Ernie Sesame Street he left his mark on Dutch culture. For decades, Schippers provided the voice of Ernie, for whom he wrote and produced numerous children’s songs together with Paul Haenen, the voice of Bert. In addition to Ernie, Schippers was also the voice of Kermit the Frog, De Blauwe Mister, Henk Glimlach, Mumford, Simon Sound, Biff and Graaf Tel.
As an artist, the Amsterdammer managed to come into the public eye. For example, there was a lot of fuss about the Peanut Butter Floor, which he exhibited in Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in 2011. The artwork was 4 by 15 meters, 2.5 centimeters high and contained more than 1,100 liters of peanut butter.
Schippers remained active as an artist, writer and theater maker well into his old age. In 2024, the Wim T. Schippers Foundation was established to preserve and continue his artistic legacy.
Wim T. Schippers is buried privately.
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