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Vale: Ernie Carroll

Legendary Australian entertainer Ernie Carroll, best known as the man behind Ossie Ostrich, has died.

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Legendary Australian entertainer and puppeteer Ernie Carroll, best known as the man behind Hey Hey It’s Saturday‘s Ossie Ostrich, has died, aged 92.

In a Facebook post Daryl Somers said, “God bless Ernie (Ossie Ostrich).

“It is with overwhelming sadness I announce the passing of my beloved friend and mentor Ernie Carroll.

Ernie passed away peacefully early this morning in the presence of his family. He was 92 and died of natural causes in his unit at a Mornington retirement village.

“Ernie was a pioneer of television starting back in the 50s, coming from a radio background to GTV9 when television was in its infancy.

“It was a voyage of discovery as no-one really knew how television worked. It called upon the many talents of all involved. In Ernie’s case he was a cartoonist, camera operator, sponsor liaison officer, producer, writer, on camera character playing Professor Ratbaggy and, as himself, illustrating and narrating the adventures of Joybelle in the kids shows he also produced out of GTV9 in the 60s. He wrote comedy for the King of variety television, Graham Kennedy, on ‘In Melbourne Tonight’.

“Of course he was best known for his creation of Oswald Q Ostrich (Ossie), my lovable and nonsensically funny ‘sidekick’ on Hey Hey It’s Saturday for 25 of its 30 year run. A tribute was paid to Ernie on our recent 50th anniversary special.

“I am so grateful for Ernie’s early guidance of my career. He auditioned me for the hosting role on Cartoon Corner back in early 1971.

“He was a man of few words with a quiet countenance but when he did speak he imparted great wisdom.

“I loved him very much and along with my wife Julie send our deepest sympathies to his daughter Lynne, son Bruce, his grandchildren and his partner of almost 50 years, Miffy Marsh. The family have requested privacy at this time.

“Rest in peace Ern,

“Forever in my heart,

“Daryl”

Michael Healy, Nine Director of Television said, “We at Nine are deeply saddened by the passing of Ernie Carroll today. Ernie was a pioneer of Australian television. As a member of the Nine family for several decades he bought immense laughter and joy to generations of Australians. Ernie will be most fondly remembered for his creation of Ossie Ostrich, a character he portrayed on Hey Hey It’s Saturday, alongside Daryl Somers, for 25 years. We express our deepest condolences to Ernie’s extended family including Daryl and the Hey Hey family.”

This post updates.

14 Responses

  1. Another great loss to the Aussie entertainment industry of which there have been too many in recent times. He brought so much joy to us as kids across Australia with his iconic character Ossie & through the years as we grew up watching him. What a great innings at 92, means he’s been around longer for his family to miss him even more though, condolences to them & all that worked with him.

  2. Very sad.A great character played and will never see this type of stuff on our television screens again and certainly very funny.Gonna miss you Ossie,and thank you Ernie for creating such great entertainment.Still my #1 favourite show ever

  3. This brings a tear to the eye. He lived a long life, but Ernie made such a memorable character and contribution to our screens. He will be missed, but always remembered for Ozzie. My best to his family.

  4. So many fond memories growing up watching Oswald Q Ostrich on TV. Ernie’s rapport and quick one liners with Daryl Somers looked so easy and we took it for granted at the time, but there was so much skill and mastery of comic timing between the both of them. Each one setting up punchlines for the other and not caring which one got the laugh. Daryl always played his part that Ossie was real, which let the puppet and his master Ernie take on a life of their own. It shouldn’t be under estimated the performance skill involved in taking some fibreglass, felt and feathers and making it into a very simple puppet and bringing it to life. Ossie could only move his beak but with Ernie skilfully guiding him, Oz could convey so much. Thoughts to Ernie’s family, Daryl and all those who were lucky enough to work with him. RIP to a wonderful performer and man, Ernie Carroll ❤️

    1. Yer as a kid way before Hey Hey I remember watching Ernie after school as (prof ratbaggery on the Tarax show. Ernie had such a great sense of humour playing all his characters. Always made me laugh. RIP

  6. So sad.

    Had hoped to somehow hear from Ossie again but I don’t think he can be much like the Muppets where their handlers get replaced at times. 🙁

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ernie as himself. Only photos, never movement or heard his regular speaking voice, only Ossie’s.

    1. Track down “The Real Graham Kennedy” documentary on DVD. While it’s a very intimate and personal look at Kennedy’s life with home video footage and photos, Ernie Carroll is in it simply as himself, talking about working with Kennedy.

  9. So many Laughs and Fond memories of Ossie and Erni on Hey Hey….A Show on Saturday Morning, and then on Saturday Night, Not to be Missed when I was young…
    TV is just Not the Same these days, the young miss out on so much of Great Australian, Home Grown, Original Entertainment like Hey Hey…So Sad…

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