Wim T. Schippers, Voice of Ernie on Sesamstraat, Dies at 83

Wim T. Schippers, the Dutch television maker, artist, comedian, and voice actor best known as the voice of Ernie on Sesamstraat, died on 10 June 2026 in Amsterdam at the age of 83. His death was announced on 15 June by the Stichting Wim T. Schippers, as reported by De Morgen. Schippers was one of the most influential and original figures in Dutch cultural history, with a career spanning more than six decades across visual arts, television, radio, theater, and voice acting.

A Multifaceted Career

Born Willem Theodoor Schippers on 1 July 1942 in Groningen, he studied at the Kunstnijverheidsschool (later the Gerrit Rietveld Academie) in Amsterdam but did not graduate. His artistic breakthrough came early: in 1959, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam purchased his drawings, launching his career as a visual artist. He became associated with the international Fluxus movement in the 1960s, influenced by Dada artists Marcel Duchamp and Kurt Schwitters, according to Wikipedia.

Schippers joined the VPRO broadcasting organization in 1967 and created Hoepla, a program that made history by featuring the first nude woman on Dutch television — actress Phil Bloom — sparking questions in the Dutch parliament. When the VPRO edited episodes without his knowledge, Schippers left in protest.

He returned in 1971 with De Fred Haché Show, followed by Barend is weer bezig and Van Oekel’s Discohoek, which made a star of actor Dolf Brouwers as the character Sjef van Oekel. These shows pushed the boundaries of taste and social convention on Dutch television, featuring absurdist comedy that included content previously unseen on the medium.

The Voice of a Generation

From the very first episode of Sesamstraat on 4 January 1976, Schippers provided the Dutch voices for Ernie, Kermit the Frog, Count von Count, Guy Smiley, and other characters. Together with Paul Haenen — the voice of Bert — he wrote and produced numerous children’s songs. For multiple generations of Dutch and Flemish children, Schippers’ voice was the warm, familiar presence of Ernie in countless households, as noted by VRT NWS.

Linguistic and Cultural Legacy

Schippers’ contribution to the Dutch language is considered second only to Marten Toonder, Kees van Kooten, and Wim de Bie. Phrases he coined on his radio show Ronflonflon avec Jacques Plafond (1984–1991) — such as “Jammer maar helaas” (“Pity, but unfortunately”) and “Verdomd interessant, maar gaat u verder” (“That’s damn interesting, but please continue”) — entered everyday Dutch usage. A book documenting his linguistic innovations was published in 2000 under the title Verdomd Interessant, Maar Gaat U Verder: De Taal van Wim T. Schippers.

Visual Art and the Peanut Butter Floor

Beyond television, Schippers remained a significant visual artist. His most famous work, Pindakaasvloer (Peanut Butter Floor), involved covering a 4-by-12-meter surface with peanut butter. The work was acquired by Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam and installed in 2011, where at least three visitors accidentally walked onto it. RTL Boulevard reported that Schippers remained active until late in life, working on new art projects and exhibiting in museums earlier this year.

Final Project and Farewell

Schippers’ final art project, Wim is weg (“Wim is gone”), is scheduled to be presented at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam on 1 July 2026. The Stichting Wim T. Schippers, founded in 2024 to preserve his artistic legacy, announced his passing with a statement that included one of his own earlier remarks: “Geboren worden vind ik onzin, maar doodgaan vind ik nog veel grotere onzin” (“Being born I think is nonsense, but dying I think is even greater nonsense”).

Schippers is survived by his wife Ellen Jens, a producer who worked with him throughout his television career. He will be buried in a private family ceremony, as confirmed by RadioWereld.NL.

A Lasting Impact

By the 1990s, Schippers had transitioned from “enfant terrible” of Dutch television to an acknowledged master in multiple genres. His early shows were collected by museums as video art. He received numerous awards including the Lira award for television drama and the Jacobus van Looy Prize (2005) for combined achievements in painting and writing. A square on the Media Park in Hilversum — the Wim T. Schippersplein — was named after him, near the VPRO offices.

Schippers’ death marks the end of an era in Dutch cultural history. He was one of the last surviving figures from the generation that transformed Dutch television in the 1960s and 1970s. His extraordinary multifaceted legacy — spanning television, language, music, visual art, and children’s entertainment — ensures that his influence will be felt for generations to come.

Wim T. Schippers, born 1 July 1942, died 10 June 2026.