What happened to Marty Krofft? The legendary film producer dead at 86. How he died, movies and TV shows, fortune, spouse, kids, and biography facts explored.
The entertainment industry worldwide has lost a great personality, legendary film producer Marty Krofft.
He was known for building an empire alongside his brother, Sid. Collectively, the pair was called The Krofft Brothers.
The brothers were known for creating television shows like “H.R. Pufnstuf,” “Land of the Lost,” “Lidsville” and “The Bugaloos.”
Sadly, the world learned about Marty’s death in November 2023 after living a life of 86 years.
Here’s everything we know about the movie producer; his cause of death, net worth, marriage, children, movies, and achievements.
What was Marty Krofft’s cause of death?
Marty Krofft, the producer behind TV classics such as “Land of the Lost,” “H.R. Pufnstuf” and “Donny and Marie,” has died.
He passed at the age of 86.
He died in Los Angeles on Saturday due to kidney failure, according to a statement from his family provided to The Hollywood Reporter.
Who is Marty Krofft’s wife?
Marty Krofft was married to his wife, Christa Rogalski.
The pair tied the knot in 1965 and were together for more than 4 decades.
Before Marty died in 2023, his spouse, Christa, preceded him in death in 2013.
Did Marty Krofft have any children?
Marty Krofft, the producer behind TV classics such as “Land of the Lost,” “H.R. Pufnstuf” and “Donny and Marie, was a father before his death.
He reportedly had three children – all daughters.
The names of his daughters are Deanna (Randy), Kristina, and Kendra (Lou).
Aside from their names, nothing much is known of them.
The legendary entertainment icon was a grandfather before he passed. His kids had given him five grandkids namely Taylor, Karson, Griffin, Georgia, and Drake, and a great-grandchild Maddox.
Who is Marty Krofft’s brother Sid? The brothers built an empire
Best known as The Krofft Brothers, Marty, and Sid, both puppeteers, created several widely known children’s television shows.
Sid is the oldest and was born on July 30, 1929, while Marty was born on April 9, 1937, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
They are of Greek and Hungarian descent, with their original surname being Yolas.
Their father Peter was a clock salesman who moved from Canada to Providence, Rhode Island, and then to New York City.
For years, they claimed to have been the fifth generation of puppeteers in their family but revealed in 2008 that this story had been invented by a publicist in the 1940s.
During an interview for the Archive of American Television website in 2000, Sid gave his younger brother high praise.
“There’s nobody better on this planet,” Sid said.
“I get a dream, and Marty gets it done.”
Before they joined NBC’s The Banana Splits Adventure Hour in 1968 to design costumes for its live-action portion, the Krofft brothers were known for their theatrical puppeteering.
They added the characters Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky, all part of an animal rock band in the series.
The characters quickly became a hit on the show during its run until 1970.
It was their performance on The Banana Splits Adventure Hour that then seemingly allowed for more opportunities, as NBC asked Marty and Sid to create their own Saturday morning television show soon after.
That show then became H.R. Pufnstuf, following Jimmy, a shipwrecked young boy who landed on a magical island with the friendly dragon, Pufnstuf.
The first season, which included 17 episodes, performed well and NBC asked for a second.
Although the company allegedly increased the rights fees for the brothers only slightly — paying out less than what it was costing Marty and Sid to make the show, according to THR.
They declined the offer and moved on.
Putsnuf still became notable among college students and even The Beatles, who requested tapes of the show be sent to them overseas at one point.
The television series sets were said to be psychedelic, and despite rumors that the brothers took drugs while making it was denied in 2016 by Marty when he spoke with the publication.
“You can’t do a show stoned,” he said.
Marty and Sid released successful shows like The Bugaloos, Lidsville, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters in the following years, and Land of the Lost in 1974.
Land of the Lost gained considerable popularity and even saw a re-make in 2009 with Will Ferrell.
Marty said that he and his brother’s television shows had a certain “edge” that giants like Disney couldn’t compete with.
“We screwed with every kid’s mind,” Marty told THR in the 2016 interview.
“There’s a Krofft look — the colors. There’s an edge. Disney doesn’t have an edge.”
That edge became so sought after that the Krofft brothers ended up suing McDonald’s in the 1970s after the fast-food chain allegedly copied it to make McDonaldland and Mayor McCheese.
In 1977, Marty and Sid won the suit.
They would go on to create and produce several other kids shows through the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s.
Live-action series like The Brady Bunch Hour, The Donny & Marie Show, The Bay City Rollers Show, and Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters were all Krofft-developed projects.
They also had a hand in the 2015 Nickelodeon series Mutt & Stuff.
What was Marty Krofft’s net worth?
Marty Krofft, the creator of iconic children’s TV shows, accumulated an impressive fortune over the years.
Before he died, he was reportedly a multimillionaire.
Per reports, he had an estimated net worth of between $2 million and $5 million at the time he died. He accrued his money from his primary career as a film producer as well as other endeavors.