Longtime ‘Sesame Street’ Puppeteer Dies of Stroke at 85

Noreen Young, the creative powerhouse behind Canada’s answer to Sesame Street, has passed away after suffering a stroke. She was 85.

Known for her sharp wit, artistic brilliance, and relentless dedication to children’s programming, Young was far more than a puppeteer—she was a cultural force who shaped generations of Canadian children, even if many south of the border never knew her name.

Her career spanned over five decades and included the creation of Under the Umbrella Tree, a hit CBC children’s series that ran from 1987 to 1993 and became a staple in homes across Canada. Young didn’t just produce the show—she voiced one of its most iconic characters, Gloria Gopher, a feisty rodent with a warm heart and an unshakable moral compass.

“She poured herself into that character,” her younger brother and fellow puppeteer Stephen Brathwaite said. “Gloria Gopher was Noreen. Sweet. Creative. And an unstoppable force when something needed fixing.”

Though largely unknown in the U.S., Young’s work was often compared to Jim Henson’s, with a uniquely Canadian twist. She lent her talents to Sesame Park, Canada’s localized version of Sesame Street, and was instrumental in reviving the fading art of puppetry when most of the entertainment world was shifting toward digital screens.

Young’s impact wasn’t confined to kids’ television. She also made satirical puppets of public figures, poking fun at politicians, media personalities, and Canadian elites—including CBC’s own Peter Mansbridge. Her work, while whimsical, wasn’t afraid to challenge authority. That kind of boldness has become rare in modern children’s programming.

“She wasn’t afraid to make people laugh—or think,” said Jane Torrance, chair of the Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival, which Young helped launch. “She brought community values and humor into everything she created. That was her quiet form of rebellion.”

Born in Almonte, Ontario, Young began experimenting with puppets at just 12 years old. She studied art and design but quickly realized her true voice came through foam and fabric, not paint or canvas. Puppetry, she believed, had the power to connect communities and teach life lessons in ways that lectures never could.

Republican-leaning audiences might appreciate that Young’s style of storytelling was grounded in old-school values—hard work, honesty, and personal responsibility. Her characters didn’t whine or make excuses. They learned lessons. They worked through problems. They grew up a little wiser by the end of each episode. In today’s world of sanitized, corporate-approved children’s shows, that kind of message is practically revolutionary.

“She believed kids could handle the truth,” Brathwaite said. “She never talked down to them.”

Her death marks the end of an era when children’s television was personal, handcrafted, and deeply connected to the communities it served. And though she may have lived and worked in Canada, Noreen Young’s legacy echoes far beyond the border. In a time of synthetic content and AI-generated voices, her puppets reminded us that sometimes, the most human stories are told with a hand inside a puppet.

She is survived by her brother, her beloved puppets, and a generation who still remember how it felt to grow up under the umbrella tree.