STAR GONE
Ex-BBC star who was brains behind Disney shows before touring the world with partner dies peacefully in hospital aged 73
Mr Lee was the front of house in The Puppeteers’ Company, which he co-founded with his partner Peter Franklin
AN EX-BBC star who was the brains behind Disney specials has sadly passed away aged 73.
Esteemed puppeteer, Steve Lee, died peacefully on August 2 at Brighton General Hospital, after battling acute .
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The talented showman dedicated much of his inspirational career to the Walt Disney Company, and appeared on the BBC.
Mr Lee was the front of house in The Puppeteers’ Company, which he co-founded with his partner Peter Franklin.
The pair performed highly polished marionette cabaret on cruise liners across the world.
Their skill saw them impress fans at arts festivals in Japan, Hong Kong and Europe, eventually earning them a spot on television in the 1980s.
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In 1985, they were guests on Stilgoes On, a BBC children’s programme and in 1988 on the Paul Daniels Boxing Day Special on BBC1.
Mr Lee was even commissioned by the Walt Disney Company to write scripts for two primetime Disney Time specials.
They were broadcast in the UK and across Europe to be watched and loved by many.
Mr Lee leaves behind his partner Gril Mulluish, sister Barbara and niece Kerry.
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Stellar career
Mr Lee was born in 1951 at Southampton General Hospital.
From a young age he displayed a flare for photography and the theatre.
In 1968 he attended the International Puppet Festival in Colwyn Bay and this sparked his puppeteer ambitions.
From 1971 to 1980 Mr Lee fined tuned his skills working for the Da Silva Puppet Company.
It was there he met his future partner Peter.
They wrote, directed and performed puppeteer productions that were displayed at local schools and events.
In1980 the couple, who lived together, made the leap to go out on their own and co-founded The Puppeteers’ Company.
The company’s production of Coppelia in 1984 saw them shoot to fame.
They went on to create a highly successful performance of Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince (1986).
In an amazing demonstration of their prowess, the pair performed with ten different types of rod and hand puppets.
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