Van Charles Snowden, a renowned puppeteer, was born on February 9, 1939, in San Francisco, California, to Wyatt Estes Snowden and Ortha Dufree. He spent his childhood on a farm in Branson, Missouri, where he developed a strong foundation for his future career.
Snowden's entry into the entertainment industry began in Hollywood, where he donned the iconic costume of H.R. Pufnstuf in the 1970 film "Pufnstuf." This marked the beginning of a long and illustrious career, during which he worked with the creators of "Pufnstuf," Sid and Marty Kroft, on various TV series, including "The Bugaloos," "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters," and "Land of the Lost."
One of Snowden's most notable roles was that of the Cryptkeeper, a ghastly host on the popular cable TV horror anthology series "Tales from the Crypt." He also appeared in the spin-off movies "Demon Knight" and "Bordello of Blood." His film credits include "Beetlejuice," "Bram Stoker's Dracula," and the first two "Child's Play" sequels.
Snowden's impressive career earned him a prime-time Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program for his work on "D.C. Follies." This was a significant milestone, as he was the first puppeteer to be nominated in this category.
In addition to his work in film and television, Snowden was the head of Hasbro's puppeteer division for the last three years of his life. During this time, he developed programming for popular toys such as Gizmo, E.T., Yoda, and Furby.
Sadly, Van Charles Snowden passed away on September 22, 2010, at the age of 71, due to cancer complications at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, California. He is survived by his brother, Nick, and sister, Deanna.
