Sid Krofft, John Nolan, Don Schlitz, and Walter Reeves Die

Four more losses to reflect on here in April of 2026…

These guys were a popular puppeteer and TV producer known for shows including H.R. Pufnstuf; an actor known of TV and Movies such as Batman Begins; a celebrated country music songwriter known for hits such as “The Gambler; and a radio and tv personality known for his gardening know how.

Sid Krofft

Sid Krofft was born Cydus Yolas on July 30, 1929, in what was then Czechoslovakia, into a traveling puppeteer family that provided his earliest education through hands-on performance experience rather than formal schooling, as he learned staging, design, and storytelling while touring Europe before immigrating to North America and eventually settling in the United States, where he and his brother Marty Krofft built an entertainment empire.

TV_Series

  • The Banana Splits (1968)
  • H.R. Pufnstuf (1969)
  • The Bugaloos (1970)
  • Lidsville (1971)
  • Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1973)
  • Land of the Lost (1974)
  • Far Out Space Nuts (1975)
  • The Lost Saucer (1975)
  • Donny & Marie (1976)
  • The Krofft Supershow (1976)
    • Kaptain Kool and the Kongs (1976)
    • Dr. Shrinker (1976)
    • Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (1976)
    • Wonderbug (1976)
    • Magic Mongo (1977)
    • Bigfoot and Wildboy (1977)
  • The Brady Bunch Hour (1977)
  • The Krofft Superstar Hour (1978)
    • Horror Hotel
    • The Lost Island
  • Pink Lady and Jeff (1980)
  • Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters (1980)
  • Pryor’s Place (1984)
  • D.C. Follies (1987)
  • Land of the Lost (1991)
  • Mutt & Stuff (2015)
  • Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (2016)

His career took off in the late 1960s and 1970s with the creation of imaginative children’s television programs such as H.R. Pufnstuf, Lidsville, and Land of the Lost, productions noted for their vivid costumes, puppetry, and surreal visual style, and he later expanded into variety television with shows like Donny & Marie while also producing live stage attractions and theme park entertainment,

earning lifetime achievement recognition for his influence on television; Krofft kept his personal life relatively private but remained closely connected to family and collaborators, and continued working into advanced age

before dying on Friday, April 10, 2026 at age 96. Sid Krofft is survived by his three nieces, who are the daughters of his late brother Marty Krofft: Deanna, Kristina, and Kendra.

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John Nolan

John Nolan was born May 22, 1938, in London, England, and received his education within the British system before training as an actor and gradually establishing himself through stage, television, and film work, developing a reputation as a dependable character actor

whose understated performances brought depth to supporting roles; over a long career he appeared in major productions including Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises, often collaborating within the creative orbit of his nephew Christopher Nolan.

Movies

  • 1973 Bequest to the Nation
  • 1978 Terror
  • 1979 The World Is Full of Married Men
  • 1998 Following
  • 2005 Batman Begins
  • 2012 The Dark Knight Rises
  • 2017 Dunkirk

TV

  • 1965 ITV Playhouse
  • 1967 The Prisoner
  • 1969 Hadleigh
  • 1969 Strange Report
  • 1970 Daniel Deronda (TV mini-series, all 6 Episodes)
  • 1970–1971 Doomwatch (10 episodes)
  • 1973 Shabby Tiger (TV mini-series, all 7 Episodes)
  • 1974 Thriller
  • 1974 Marked Personal (2 Episodes)
  • 1975 The Sweeney
  • 1975 Six Days of Justice
  • 1976 Dickens of London
  • 1977 Crown Court
  • 1977 ITV Sunday Night Drama
  • 1978 1990 Tomson
  • 1978 Target
  • 1979 Return of the Saint
  • 1980 Enemy at the Door
  • 1980 ITV Playhouse
  • 2001 Masterpiece Theatre
  • 2003 Silent Witness
  • 2013–2016 Person of Interest (27 episodes)
  • 2024 Dune: Prophecy

He gained wider recognition among television audiences for his role as John Greer in Person of Interest, a performance marked by quiet intensity. He continued acting into his later years before dying on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at age 87. John Nolan is survived by wife Kim and their two children.

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Don Schlitz

Don Schlitz was born August 7, 1952, in Durham, North Carolina, and developed an early passion for music that led him to attend Duke University before leaving to pursue songwriting in Nashville, where he immersed himself in the country music industry and refined a narrative-driven style that would define his career; his breakthrough came with “The Gambler,” recorded by Kenny Rogers,

a song that became one of the most iconic in country music history and established Schlitz as a premier songwriter, and he went on to write numerous hits for artists such as Randy Travis and Keith Whitley, earning multiple Grammy Awards and induction into both the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame, distinctions that reflected both commercial success and artistic influence.

Singles

Co-Written list from Wikipedia

  • “40 Hour Week (For a Livin’)” by Alabama
  • “Almost Goodbye” by Mark Chesnutt
  • “And So It Goes” by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with John Denver
  • “Ball and Chain” by Paul Overstreet
  • “The Battle Hymn of Love” by Kathy Mattea and Tim O’Brien
  • “The Center of My Universe” by The Bellamy Brothers
  • “Cheatin'” by Sara Evans
  • “Crazy from the Heart” by The Bellamy Brothers
  • “Crying Shame” by Michael Johnson
  • “Daddy’s Come Around” by Paul Overstreet
  • “Deeper Than the Holler” by Randy Travis
  • “Didn’t We Shine” by Waylon Jennings
  • “Forever and Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis
  • “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers
  • “Give Me Wings” by Michael Johnson
  • “Good as I Was to You” by Lorrie Morgan
  • “The Greatest” by Kenny Rogers
  • “Guardian Angels” by The Judds
  • “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her” by Mary Chapin Carpenter
  • “Heart of the Matter” by The Kendalls (1980), Loretta Lynn (1983)
  • “Heroes and Friends” by Randy Travis
  • “Houston Solution” by Ronnie Milsap
  • “I Could Be Persuaded” by The Bellamy Brothers
  • “I Feel Lucky” by Mary Chapin Carpenter
  • “I Know Where I’m Going” by The Judds
  • “I Take My Chances” by Mary Chapin Carpenter
  • “I Think About It All the Time” by John Berry
  • “I Think About You” by Collin Raye
  • “I Watched It All (On My Radio)” by Lionel Cartwright
  • “I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love” by Tanya Tucker with Paul Overstreet and Paul Davis
  • “If I Could Bottle This Up” by Paul Overstreet
  • “If I Never See Midnight Again” by Sweethearts of the Rodeo
  • “If You Can Do Anything Else” by George Strait
  • “I’ll Be Lovin’ You” by Lee Greenwood
  • “In Terms of Love” by SHeDAISY
  • “Learning to Live Again” by Garth Brooks
  • “Leaving’s Not an Option” by Chris Cummings
  • “Like Father Like Son” by Lionel Cartwright
  • “Long Shot” by Baillie & the Boys
  • “Looking for a Sign” by Chris Cummings
  • “Loved Too Much” by Ty Herndon
  • “Midnight Girl/Sunset Town” by Sweethearts of the Rodeo
  • “My Arms Stay Open All Night” by Tanya Tucker
  • “Not Too Much to Ask” by Mary Chapin Carpenter with Joe Diffie
  • “Oh Heart” by Baillie & the Boys
  • “Old School” by John Conlee
  • “On the Other Hand” by Randy Travis
  • “One Promise Too Late” by Reba McEntire
  • “Point of Light” by Randy Travis
  • “Richest Man on Earth” by Paul Overstreet
  • “The River and the Highway” by Pam Tillis
  • “Ready and Waiting” by Deborah Allen
  • “Rockin’ with the Rhythm of the Rain” by The Judds
  • “Satisfy You” by Sweethearts of the Rodeo
  • “Say What’s in Your Heart” by Restless Heart
  • “Say Yes” by Dusty Drake
  • “She Deserves You” by Baillie & the Boys
  • “Sowin’ Love” by Paul Overstreet
  • “Stand a Little Rain” by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
  • “Strong Enough to Bend” by Tanya Tucker
  • “True Heart” by The Oak Ridge Boys
  • “Turn It Loose” by The Judds
  • “When You Say Nothing at All” by Keith Whitley (later covered by Alison Krauss & Union Station and Ronan Keating. Keating’s version was in the film Notting Hill, and made it to number one on the British charts.)
  • “Why They Call It Falling” by Lee Ann Womack
  • “You Again” by The Forester Sisters
  • “You’ll Never Be Sorry” by The Bellamy Brothers

Known personally for his thoughtful demeanor and dedication to craft, Schlitz maintained a stable family life, and died on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at age 73. Don Schlitz is survived by his wife, Stacey; his daughter Cory Dixon and her husband Matt Dixon; his son Pete Schlitz and his wife Christian Webb Schlitz; his grandchildren Roman, Gia, Isla, and Lilah; his brother Brad Schlitz; and his sister Kathy Hinkley.

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Walter Reeves

Walter Reeves was born in 1951 and raised in the American South, where his early interest in plants led him to pursue formal education in horticulture and a career that combined scientific knowledge with public outreach, ultimately becoming one of Georgia’s most recognizable gardening experts through his

long-running radio program on WSB in Atlanta as well as newspaper columns, television appearances, and books that translated complex horticultural concepts into practical advice for everyday gardeners; his work with the University of Georgia

Cooperative Extension helped bridge academic research and community application, earning him widespread respect and recognition in both broadcasting and horticulture circles, while his approachable personality made him a trusted figure among

listeners and readers; maintained a devoted family life, and continued engaging with his audience even after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Walter Reeves died on Friday. April 10, 2026 at age 74.

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Author: Doyle

I was born in Atlanta, moved to Alpharetta at 4, lived there for 53 years and moved to Decatur in 2016. I've worked at such places as Richway, North Fulton Medical Center, Management Science America (Computer Tech/Project Manager) and Stacy's Compounding Pharmacy (Pharmacy Tech).

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