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Ernest Arthur Coombs (a.k.a. Mr. Dressup), CM, television children's entertainer (born 26 November 1927 in at Lewiston, Maine; died 18 September 2001 in Pickering, ON). For his role as Mr. Dressup on the eponymous television show, Coombs was awarded a Best Program Award from ACTRA (1978), a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Children's Broadcast Institute (1989), and a Gemini Earle Grey Award for a body of work on TV (1994). In 1996, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
Career Highlights
After completing high school at North Yarmouth Academy in 1945, Ernie Coombs went on to receive a diploma from the Vesper George School of Art. Originally trained as a commercial artist, Coombs became involved in theatre as a scenery painter. Working as a scenery designer throughout the United States, Coombs eventually found himself with the Pittsburgh Miniature Theatre and with WQED-TV.
In Pittsburgh, Coombs met Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers fame. Coombs came to Canada in 1963 as Rogers' puppeteer and in 1964 began his long career as the inimitable Mr. Dressup. The gently-paced show primarily sought to stimulate the imagination and creativity of children. Mr. Dressup delighted generations of children and the name "Mr. Dressup" became part of the Canadian lexicon. After hosting the show for nearly thirty years, Coombs retired on Valentine's Day in 1996.
Honours and Awards
Ernie Coombs received a number of important awards for his show Mr. Dressup : the Gemini's Earle Grey Award for a body of work on TV in 1994, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Children's Broadcast Institute in 1989, and an ACTRA Best Program Award in 1978. He authored five children's albums and co-authored three books (with Shelly Tanaka).
